Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top-5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, experienced the most dramatic slide in draft history, all the way to the fifth round, ultimately being selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. This unexpected drop has been attributed to a combination of factors that raised concerns among NFL executives, and new details are emerging about just how bad of an impact Sanders’ attitude had on his draft stock.
Despite an impressive collegiate career at Colorado, where Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final season, his pre-draft process reportedly raised red flags. According to reports, several NFL teams were put off by Sanders’ demeanor during interviews, perceiving him as “entitled” and “arrogant” . Some teams were so concerned that they removed him from their draft boards entirely.
Further complicating matters was the involvement of his father, Deion Sanders, a Hall of Fame cornerback and prominent figure in college football. Deion’s public statements about preferred destinations for his son and his influence during the draft process may have contributed to teams’ hesitations.
Analysts have also pointed to Sanders’ decision to skip certain pre-draft events and his performance at the NFL Combine as factors in his slide. Despite these challenges, some experts believe that Sanders’ talent remains undeniable and that he could prove to be a valuable asset for the Browns if given the right environment and support.
All this culminated to NFL owners telling their GMs to completely remove Sanders from their draft boards all together, per Boom Esiason.
