NFL Insiders Quietly Sending Message About Colorado's Draft Prospects

Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes struggled in 2025, which appears to have impacted the NFL draft stock of their top players.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Colorado Buffaloes football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a palette of dark green, gold, and navy blue, conveying the fractured nature of the team's 2025 season.The Colorado Buffaloes' struggles in 2025 have cast a shadow over their NFL draft prospects, as the team looks to rebuild under Deion Sanders.Boulder Today

Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Colorado Buffaloes are hoping to have several of their players drafted. However, it seems the NFL insiders are sending a quiet message about Colorado's draft prospects in relation to the program's 3-9 record in the 2025 season. None of Colorado's players were invited to the 2026 NFL scouting combine, significantly limiting the attention these prospects can receive. Despite strong individual performances from players like cornerback Preston Hodge, the lack of team success seems to have negatively impacted the draft stock of Colorado's top prospects.

Why it matters

Colorado's struggles in 2025 under head coach Deion Sanders have created challenges for the program's top NFL draft hopefuls. Without the exposure and accolades that come with a successful college season, these players face an uphill battle to get noticed by NFL teams. This highlights the importance of building a winning culture and developing talent at the college level to maximize players' professional opportunities.

The details

Several of Colorado's top prospects, including cornerback Preston Hodge, wide receiver Sincere Brown, guards Zarian McGill and Xavier Hill, and quarterback Kaidon Salter, had strong individual performances in 2025. However, the team's 3-9 record and lack of a presence at the NFL Combine have seemingly dampened the interest in these players. Hodge led the Big 12 in pass breakups, while Brown, McGill, and Hill showcased their athleticism and skills at Colorado's pro day. Salter's dual-threat abilities as a quarterback also make him an intriguing developmental prospect. Despite these individual accomplishments, the overall lack of team success appears to have sent a quiet message to NFL insiders about Colorado's draft prospects.

  • The Colorado Buffaloes had a 3-9 record during the 2025 season.
  • None of Colorado's players were invited to the 2026 NFL scouting combine.
  • Colorado held its pro day, where several players showcased their skills for NFL scouts.

The players

Preston Hodge

A cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes who led the Big 12 in pass breakups during the 2025 season.

Sincere Brown

A wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes who had a strong pro day, running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and averaging 17.1 yards per catch in 2025.

Zarian McGill

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes who started all 12 games in 2025, playing 774 snaps and allowing just one sack, one quarterback hit, and eight hurries.

Xavier Hill

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes who played 703 snaps in 2025, allowing three sacks, one quarterback hit, and 11 hurries, and showcased his athleticism at the pro day with a 4.99-second 40-yard dash.

Kaidon Salter

A quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes who has great athleticism, recording a 35.5-inch vertical jump and a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the pro day, and could be a developmental prospect for the NFL.

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What’s next

For the future of the Colorado program, Coach Prime must figure out a way to find consistent success so the Buffaloes can become a pipeline to the NFL. A successful 2026 season could reset the standard for Colorado and help some of these Buffaloes players fulfill their dream of playing in the NFL.

The takeaway

Colorado's struggles in 2025 have created challenges for the program's top NFL draft prospects, highlighting the importance of building a winning culture and developing talent at the college level to maximize players' professional opportunities. The Buffaloes will need to bounce back in 2026 under Deion Sanders to help their players get the attention and exposure they need to be drafted.