What was supposed to be a celebratory night for Shedeur Sanders turned into one of the most unexpected and emotional storylines of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Once considered a possible first-round pick, the former Colorado quarterback slid all the way to the fifth round before being selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick.
The draft day tumble was surprising not only for fans and analysts, but also deeply personal for Shedeur’s father-NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
According to insider Skip Bayless, Deion was so devastated by his son’s drop that he broke down in tears-an emotional reaction he’s only experienced once before in his adult life.
That earlier moment came during one of the darkest periods of Deion’s life. In 1997, struggling with depression and the end of his first marriage, he drove his car off a cliff in what he later admitted was a suicide attempt.
He survived without serious injuries, found faith, and rebuilt his life. Now, nearly three decades later, he faced another test-watching his son endure public disappointment on a national stage.
A controversial narrative, a complicated fallout
While talent was never the question for Shedeur, his draft slide may have been influenced by off-field optics. On an episode of The Dan Patrick Show, Deion implied he was trying to steer Shedeur toward certain teams-a move reminiscent of Archie Manning’s strategy to redirect his son Eli away from San Diego in 2004.
Skip Bayless believes that comment turned many NFL teams off.
“The moment Deion compared himself to the Manning family, it rubbed people the wrong way,” Bayless said.
“That’s when the league collectively decided to humble him.”
The suggestion that Deion was trying to handpick Shedeur’s destination may have fueled league-wide skepticism.
Add to that the fact that Shedeur bypassed traditional agents in favor of family-led representation, and questions emerged about how he and his camp were handling the pre-draft process.
Despite the controversy, Shedeur now finds himself with a real opportunity in Cleveland. The Browns’ quarterback room is wide open.
Deshaun Watson’s tenure has been widely regarded as a disappointment, while veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are on short-term deals. Cleveland also selected another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, who currently sits above Sanders on the depth chart-but that could change quickly.
According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Shedeur has impressed early in rookie camp. And with the instability at quarterback in Cleveland, the door remains open for him to climb the ranks.
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