When Shedeur Sandersdeclared for the NFL Draft, it felt like the Buffaloes were losing more than just their quarterback. They were losing the face of a program that had gone from irrelevance to highlight reels in under a year. Shedeur wasn’t just Deion’s son-he was the engine behind Colorado’s surprising 9-win season.

Now that he’s headed to the Cleveland Browns, the big question has been hanging in the air: can anyone fill that role.

Turns out, Deion Sanders has already stacked the deck.

He’s not picking between chaos and collapse. He’s choosing between two quarterbacks who both bring serious upside. Kaidon Salter, who transferred in after a strong season at Liberty, offers dual-threat versatility and real game experience. Then there’s Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a blue-chip freshman with elite accuracy and poise well beyond his years.

Not Just Replacing Shedeur – Reimagining the Offense
Shedeur could thread a needle from the pocket, but he wasn’t known for mobility. That’s where Salter shines-his ability to extend plays and escape pressure could be exactly what Colorado needs behind an offensive line still trying to find its footing.

And while Lewis doesn’t have Salter’s wheels, he’s already turning heads with a 66.4% completion rate from high school that suggests he could grow into the starting role faster than expected. According to Fox Sports’ RJ Young, both QBs “patch the cracks” that last year’s offense couldn’t quite fix.

The new quarterback room might not match Shedeur’s production overnight-but it might not need to. Especially not with Deion’s revamped staff guiding them.

Hall of Famers like Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp are now in Boulder. So are NFL veterans like Robert Livingston and Pat Shurmur. This isn’t a vanity project. It’s a coaching staff built to elevate young talent quickly, and they’ve got the tools to do it.

That said, there’s still one concern even Coach Prime can’t ignore.

The offensive line remains the biggest wild card. With Zack Owens and Cash Cleveland gone to the transfer portal, Colorado is leaning on new faces like four-star recruit Carde Smith. Developing that group quickly will be essential if the Buffaloes want to avoid falling behind in a loaded Big 12.

Colorado opens the 2025 season on August 29 against Georgia Tech. That game won’t define the season, but it will say a lot about how fast this offense can find its rhythm.

The ceiling? Still high. The floor? Well, Vegas has them at -176 to finish under 6.5 wins. But if the QB room clicks, Colorado could surprise again-just like they did last year.