Unsurprisingly, 2025 NFL Draft prospect Shedeur Sanders has become a polarizing figure even before being drafted. He is, after all, the son of legendary cornerback Deion Sanders.
The elder Sanders is one of the best players to ever play the game; there’s no disputing his talent. He helped two different teams win Super Bowls, was selected to eight Pro Bowls, and earned six first-team All-Pro nods. But he rarely pulled punches and built a reputation for saying exactly what was on his mind. And apparently, his son has inherited that same trait.
Shedeur Sanders Goes on Accusation-Filled Social Media Rant
Most analysts consider the younger Sanders the second-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward. Early mock drafts had the two jockeying for the top spot, but more recent projections show Sanders slipping.
There are questions about his time playing for the Colorado Buffaloes, where his father was the head coach. Critics point out that Colorado didn’t face the same level of competition as Alabama, Georgia, or even Miami. Some analysts also believe Coach Prime called plays in a way that padded the stats of both his son and two-way star Travis Hunter.
Neither Sanders nor Hunter participated in the NFL Combine, which didn’t sit well with everyone, but they did take part in Colorado’s Pro Day.
Many believe, however, that Pro Days are easier for players since they’re held in familiar environments. All of this sparked Sanders’ social media blowup with a post on X.
“Y’all wake up and think ‘how can I hate on the SANDERS family (including trav) today?’” he posted.
This post has since been deleted, but it likely won’t be the last time Sanders claps back online. Earlier this offseason, Deion stepped in to shut down a conversation involving Micah Parsons and others about Shedeur. New York Jets safety Andre Cisco claimed the younger Sanders has a “giveaway” because he pats the ball before throwing.
Parsons noted that it can lead to sacks. Giants receiver Darius Slayton jumped in to defend the Colorado QB, saying Tom Brady also held the ball longer than most. Parsons countered that by comparing Shedeur Sanders to Brady isn’t fair since the latter is considered the greatest of all time.
That led Deion Sanders to comment that everyone should “just get along.” He also snapped at a scout during Colorado’s Pro Day after the scout appeared to be offering a player some advice.
The Colorado head coach responded, “Y’all start how y’all wanna start. **** this man here. Do y’all thing. Do what you all do.”
In short, he told his players to ignore outsiders and stay focused.
While Pro Football Network’s most recent mock draft has Sanders going No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns, other projections have him sliding as far as into the 20s. It remains to be seen which team is willing to take a chance on him — and possibly take on the extra attention that comes with it.