Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic draft slide has become the highlight of the 2025 NFL Draft. Initially expected to be the second-best quarterback after Cam Ward and a strong Round 1 prospect, Sanders will now await his fate on Day 3.
Ironically, Colorado’s former quarterback was among the few invited to attend the event in Wisconsin, but he declined and chose to stay with his family when he received the big news.
Their plan clearly did not go as expected, as they are still waiting for the news. With the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year now looking like a possible Round 4 or 5 prospect, Sanders’ father and brother are subtly hinting at a possible conspiracy behind the scenes.
Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders Jokingly Hint at Conspiracy
The Sanders family was not dejected altogether, as one might expect, thanks to their years of experience dealing with brutal criticism. Instead, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s brother, Shilo, and the quarterback himself laughed it off while emphasizing their faith.
“It’s funny when he’s at a loss of words. But it’s fun because he never comes to a conclusion,” Shedeur said, unable to contain his chuckle after seeing his father’s reaction.
Deion appeared slightly more serious, saying, “I know what’s going on…But I like to have hope and trust God.”
“This isn’t God!” Shedeur said.
“This the devil!” Shilo added. “It wasn’t cute after 21. That was the last straw.”
“This is just unexplainable now,” Shedeur responded.
“It’s to the point where it’s like ‘Hey man, y’all got to stop,'” Deion joined in. “It’s too obvious.”
This last comment seems to be Deion hinting at NFL teams colluding against Shedeur.
Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders is Comedy 😂
“This the devil”
🎥 : @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/XIepCcngsU
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) April 26, 2025
In the final weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders’ stock dipped, but the general consensus was that he’d still be a mid-to-late Round 1 prospect. The Pittsburgh Steelers, with pick No. 21, were expected to draft Sanders. Instead, they went with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
Sanders’ draft slide came after NFL scouts reported concerns about his performance during Colorado’s pro day and pre-draft interviews. He argued that while a slight shift in his draft stock was explainable, not getting drafted until Day 3 is utterly “unexplainable.”
Shedeur has been hinting at a possible conspiracy ever since he went undrafted on Day 1.
“I don’t feel like this happened for no reason. All this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances — we all know this shouldn’t have happened. But we understand, we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be happy regardless,” Sanders said to the crowd gathered in front of his Texas residence on April 24.
It will be interesting to see which team drafts Sanders in Round 4 (or later). Regardless, he’s highly unlikely to earn a starting role in his rookie season.
Possible Landing Spots For Sanders
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are the only team remaining in the draft with a clear need at quarterback. Sanders visited the Steelers during his pre-draft visits, and many reports had Pittsburgh at No. 21 as the furthest the quarterback would fall. However, the Steelers picked Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and Sanders continued to fall.
Pittsburgh is still looking for a QB. With Mason Rudolph brought back in free agency, and Aaron Rodgers still a possibility, Sanders could be the long-term quarterback the organization desperately needs. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders “remains an option” for Pittsburgh even though the team didn’t draft him in the third round.
The Steelers are picking 123rd overall in the fourth round, and given Sanders’ free fall so far, he is likely to be available by then. If Pittsburgh selects him, Sanders would walk into a stable organization, giving them both a starter and a potential franchise quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders
With a new minority owner in Tom Brady and a new head coach in Pete Carroll, the Las Vegas Raiders want to build an instant playoff contender. Bringing in Geno Smith off his career-best season in which he recorded 4,320 passing yards (fourth in the league) and led the Seattle Seahawks to a 10-7 finish, gives Vegas a solid veteran for the job.
But if the Raiders are thinking long-term, finding Smith’s successor might be the smart move, and it would be cheaper on Day 3. Las Vegas picked up Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick and used their second and third round picks on a guard and WR, respectively. Pairing them with Sanders could be the start of long-term success for the Raiders.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford returns to the Los Angeles Rams after a weird beginning to the offseason. The team permitted him to find a trade, which would have reportedly netted the Rams over $45 million in dead money. The two sides eventually agreed to a new contract and Stafford is back in Los Angeles, but he’s not a long-term solution since he’s 37 years old and on a year-to-year basis.
Because of this, there has been some buzz that the Rams could look to draft Stafford’s successor in 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders could be that guy.
Los Angeles is another potential landing spot where he wouldn’t have to start right away, and his draft-day fall could actually be for the best if it allows him to play for an offensive mastermind like Sean McVay in a huge market like L.A.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are secure for the near future with Dak Prescott under center — the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. However, they have struggled whenever he has missed games due to injuries, and Cooper Rush is now gone after signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Jerry Jones expressed interest in adding a young quarterback in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft. Dallas acquired Joe Milton III in a trade with the New England Patriots after he flashed immense potential in Week 18 of the 2024 season.
However, Sanders is a better prospect than Milton, and given that he is available in the fourth round and potentially beyond, Jones might be tempted to add a high-upside security blanket behind Prescott who could eventually take the reins.
Also, Jones is a businessman, so he has to be thinking about the money and attention that Sanders would generate in Dallas.