Nearly a month after the 2025 NFL Draft, the controversy surrounding Shedeur Sanders remains a hot topic. As more details emerge, a recent investigation has shed light on why several NFL executives chose not to draft him-but there’s no clear consensus.
Once considered a top prospect after leading the Colorado Buffaloes through a succesful NCAA season, Deion Sanders’ son shockingly fell to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him 144th overall.
In interviews given anonymously, multiple executives disclosed the various reasons their teams passed on Sanders. From concerns about his physical attributes to skepticism about his high-profile personality-and even his father’s influence-it appears the Sanders saga was the perfect storm.
Each team had its own reasons
In a USA Today investigation, one high-ranking executive acknowledged, “It’s never strictly about football.” While his team liked Sanders as a player, he admitted, “You can’t separate the other stuff from his physical abilities.” The “other stuff,” in this case, refers to Sanders’ outside ventures, such as his endorsement deals and clothing brand.
Another top executive from an NFC team took a more direct stance, saying his organization simply didn’t see the talent needed at the quarterback position. “There were other factors, but you can’t chalk it up to just that.” He explained that Sanders showed strong accuracy and endurance, but his arm strength was “good, not great.”
Meanwhile, a third executive felt that Coach Prime himself may have hindered his son’s draft chances. “Some of the things his dad said, I think that weighed on people’s minds,” he admitted. Deion’s outspoken personality has often been seen as both a strength and a challenge for his son’s football career.
A lesson in humility for Shedeur
Among the executives interviewed, some admitted they had considered Sanders as a first-round pick. However, with their teams already having established starters, they weren’t targeting a quarterback in the draft.
With conflicting opinions surrounding Sanders’ talent, personality, and draft process, one executive believes this setback will serve as a necessary wake-up call. “You’re not your dad,” he stated bluntly. “You don’t have that kind of ability.”
Now, all eyes will be on Shedeur Sanders to see whether he can take the criticism-both positive and negative-and use it as motivation to carve out a successful NFL career.
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