As Shedeur Sanders enters the NFL, his outspoken demeanor and confident approach have drawn criticism, however, the former NFL wide receiver, Aaron Lockett, sees things very differently.
Many league insiders and analysts have pointed to his intense personality as a reason behind his surprising drop in the 2025 NFL Draft, from a projected early-round selection to a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns.
But in an exclusive conversation with The SportsRush, Lockett defended Sanders‘ attitude, arguing that the quarterback’s “alpha” mindset is exactly what he needs to survive and thrive, in the unforgiving environment of professional football.
“I think every individual is different,” Lockett said. “I think if the talent is there and teams buy into it, then they get drafted.
“If he had been drafted in top-five, this wouldn’t be a conversation. It wouldn’t have changed the way he approached it.
“I think at the end of the day, you just have to be yourself. Do what you do. At the end of the day, you need an alpha coming into that locker room.”
According to the ex-pro, NFL teams and media often react based on where a player is drafted, rather than the substance of their personality or performance. If Sanders had been taken earlier, then his confidence would be seen as leadership.
The former San Francisco 49er also issued a blunt assessment of what it takes to survive inside a professional locker room; a space where egos, competition, and pressure define daily life, and players need more than physical talent-they need presence.
“Being a nice guy and being sensitive may sound good to society,” Lockett continued. “It stinks in the locker room.
“They can be an alpha to come in and own that.”
He also compared Shedeur‘s mentality to that of his father, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, a Hall of Famer known for his flamboyant confidence and unwavering self-belief. That swagger helped build a career and brand, and Lockett believes Shedeur is following that blueprint.
Sanders receives brutal Bailey Zappe comparison
The 23-year-old completed an impressive 74% of his passes and threw for 37 touchdowns in the 2024/25 NCAA season, an elite statistical campaign that led the nation in completion percentage and proved he definitely has the talent.
Yet despite those numbers, he was passed over repeatedly in the draft and his fall didn’t go unnoticed as the sports broadcaster, Colin Cowherd, ridiculed Sanders‘ draft position of 144th overall.
“Bailey Zappe got drafted higher… I don’t know what to make of it,” Cowherd said of the youngster, who enters a crowded quarterback room in Cleveland, where he’ll compete with veterans like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Fortunately, the Browns‘ quarterback competition remains wide open, and training camp presents a proving ground. If Sanders continues to apply his work ethic then he could rise above the doubt and claim a meaningful role.
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