Shedeur Sanders‘ journey from a projected top-three NFL draft pick to a fifth-round selection continues to spark conversation across the football world.
Despite a rocky draft outcome, the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, who played under his father, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, is still commanding more attention than many of his higher-drafted peers.
On Tuesday, former NFL MVP Cam Newton offered his take on the situation, acknowledging Shedeur‘s rising profile this offseason while questioning the parenting approach Coach Prime has taken.
Newton‘s comments arrived during a segment on his 4th and 1 podcast and added a new layer to the ongoing debate about whether Deion’s style may be helping or hurting his son’s chances of succeeding in the league.
“I think what Shedeur was doing, what Shedeur was saying, what his father was saying-and I have the utmost respect for Prime, and the way the father was kind of engulfed his children in a way that we all, you know, as parents, want to make sure that our children are protected and taken care of,” Newton said.
“But there’s also certain things-when you put a microscope to. Okay, you’re playing quarterback. Okay, you’re going into this league. Okay, you understand how we’re doing things. There are certain things that you got to incorporate too, you know what I’m saying?”
Shedeur’s path isn’t following the traditional script
Shedeur Sanders‘ draft slide shocked many, especially considering the buzz around his name during the college football season. Scouts lauded his poise, mechanics, and leadership at Colorado, where he was one of the faces of the Buffs’ nationally followed transformation under Coach Prime.
But as the NFL Draft neared, a shift in perception began. Teams reportedly had growing concerns about Shedeur‘s attitude during interviews and how he handled pre-draft meetings, leading to his unexpected fall to the 144th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns.
That slide has since become a lightning rod for criticism of his father, who has often been both Shedeur‘s coach and most vocal promoter. Newton isn’t the only voice raising concern. Veteran commentator Jason Whitlock echoed the sentiment recently, stating flatly that Coach Prime’s larger-than-life persona and unconventional methods directly contributed to his son’s draft day woes.
“Shedeur was being viewed through the lens of his father, and the league wasn’t buying into the Coach Prime show,” Whitlock said during a segment of Fearless. “That cost Shedeur tens of millions of dollars and a real opportunity to start as a franchise quarterback from day one.”
Still, Shedeur‘s name remains front and center. Despite not being drafted until the fifth round, he’s reportedly received more media attention and fan engagement this offseason than Cam Ward, the actual No. 1 overall pick. The discrepancy reflects not only Shedeur‘s popularity but also the ongoing curiosity about his NFL potential-and whether he can thrive outside of his father’s shadow.
Now entering Cleveland’s training camp, Sanders is expected to battle for a roster spot in a quarterback room that includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Read the full article here
