The 2025 NFL draft was surprising for many fans who followed the pre-draft process as projected first round pick, University of Colorado, Boulder quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wasn’t taken until the fifth round. Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s most prominent draft analyst, projected the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year to be selected all the way up at pick nine.
Instead, Sanders wasn’t even among the top five quarterbacks selected and was kept waiting until the Cleveland Browns, who had already selected another QB, former Oregon star Dillon Gabriel, picked him at number 144. There was no obvious explanation for this fall, which is one of the most dramatic in the history of the NFL draft.
While Sanders’ athleticism was sometimes critiqued, as was his penchant for taking sacks, even the bearish pundits still had a second-round grade on the quarterback, who was commended by many for his “pro-readiness,” accuracy, and improvisation. Instead, the culprit likely lies off the field. It’s hard to separate Shedeur Sanders from his father, former NFL superstar and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
Shedeur followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado, where the quick turnaround from a 1–11 record in 2022, to a 9–4 record in 2024, gave Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes national acclaim. While Sanders performed excellently under his father’s system, there were rumblings that he might not be able to take the next step to pro football. Sources were concerned not only in terms of the game, but also in his readiness to succeed in a system that wasn’t designed for him, and whether his attitude and leadership was a detracting factor. This attitude, according to anonymous sources within the NFL, bled into his pre-draft meetings with NFL teams.
“Sanders was the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life,” one long-time executive said to Yahoo Sports. “He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates. … But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”
Sanders was panned by many after publicly criticizing his offensive line after a loss to Nebraska in September of 2024.
“It didn’t go great in our interview,” an executive said to Newsweek. “He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.”
This was certainly not the consensus, as other team personnel had positive things to say, but this was almost definitely a factor in his slide. His father’s potential influence on his pro career has also been something NFL teams likely noted in the pre-draft process.
In an interview with FOX Sports in 2024, Deion Sanders was asked if he would intervene if he feels the “wrong organization” tries to draft Shedeur.
“Yeah, but I’m not gonna do it publicly,” Deion replied. “I’ll do it privately.”
Shedeur is certainly not the first prospect to attempt to control where he was drafted, as John Elway famously refused to play for the Colts. Sanders isn’t even the first prospect to have an ex-pro dad making decisions, as Archie Manning demanded his son Eli be traded away from the Chargers on draft day.
Deion was also a bit flippant during the pre-draft process, saying in 2017 about a 1989 interview with the New York Giants, “‘What pick do you have in the draft?’ They said, I think, 10th. I said, ‘I’ll be gone before then. I’ll see y’all later.’”
The difference between Shedeur and these players might be talent. Peyton Manning and John Albert Elway Jr. were both generational quarterback prospects that went first overall, despite saying they wouldn’t play for the teams that drafted them. Sanders is just not the same level of player that they were, likely meaning that teams were less willing to deal with off-the-field controversy. If a team were to draft Sanders to start off as a backup, these factors combined with his national popularity might cause unwanted media attention. Sanders also did not help alleviate the concerns about his athleticism by skipping the combine, a choice which is common for top NFL prospects, but pretty rare for projected mid-to-late round players. The top prospects already know they will be drafted highly, but the later round players often relish the chance to try and improve their stock.
Ultimately, Sanders’ fall comes down to the fact that his camp and himself thought he was better than he was. Many of his pre-draft actions would not have affected the draft stock of a true top prospect, but would have caused a fall for a second-round quality player. While Sanders may have had quite a surprise on draft day, he still has an opportunity to have a great NFL career. The Browns have one of the weaker QB rooms in the league, with Joe Flacco projected as their 2025 starting quarterback. Sanders may see a starting role as soon as his rookie year, in which he will get a chance to prove all the doubters wrong.
