The NFL world was stunned Friday night when star Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders remained undrafted through the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft – and no one voiced their anger louder than Stephen A. Smith.
Smith, known for his unfiltered opinions, shared a fiery post on X, claiming that Sanders‘ dramatic fall wasn’t just about football ability.
“This is a bad look for the NFL. This feels like (Colin) Kaepernick-level collusion,” Smith wrote, referencing a message he said he received and agreed with “absolutely.”
The 21-year-old Sanders, once discussed as a possible No. 1 pick, watched as five quarterbacks – including Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, and Dillon Gabriel – were taken ahead of him.
Smith suggested this snub is less about Sanders‘ skills and more about lingering tensions involving his father, Deion Sanders, and the way some teams perceived their influence.
Sanders’ draft slide damages NFL credibility
Smith didn’t stop at a single post. He doubled down later in the night, accusing NFL owners of creating a narrative that could permanently damage the league’s reputation.
“All the hard work the NFL League Office puts in to eradicate these kinds of perceptions, only to turn around and watch as the OWNERS look like they’re colluding, messing up everything,” Smith added.
“What has been done to Shedeur will outshine everything else in this draft. We’ll never believe this is about just talent evaluation again.”
Smith also directly linked Sanders‘ situation to Kaepernick‘s, referencing the controversy that followed Kaepernick‘s protests during the national anthem in 2016.
Kaepernick accused NFL teams of colluding to keep him out of the league and eventually settled his lawsuit in 2019.
“This is a damn disgrace,” Smith wrote. “How in the hell is @Shedeur not off the board, not drafted yet. Y’all still think this doesn’t have anything to do with teams hatin on @DeionSanders.
“This kid is a first rounder. In a different way, this is Kaepernick all over again…..being kept out. A damn disgrace. I don’t care what anyone says!”
Despite being ranked as the No. 1 quarterback by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Sanders drew criticism from some scouts for holding the ball too long under pressure and for perceived struggles in team interviews.
NFL insider Jonathan Jones also reported that Sanders “sandbagged” interviews with teams he didn’t prefer, leading to frustration among front offices.
CBS Sports labeled it a “repudiation by the NFL” over how Sanders and his camp handled the pre-draft process.
Meanwhile, The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reported that Sanders‘ brashness may have also hurt his standing with teams wary of potential future headlines involving his father.
Rounds 4-7 will continue Saturday, meaning Sanders still has a chance to be drafted. However, the conversation around his dramatic fall, fueled by Smith’s bold accusations, will linger far beyond this weekend.
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