The pre-Draft season is full of narratives surrounding prospects — some of which turn out to be nothing more than smokescreens, while others genuinely impact a player’s draft stock.
Whether it’s how a player carries himself in interviews, a previously undisclosed injury, or simply a difference in evaluations, these factors can play a major role in how teams view certain prospects.
Shedeur Sanders has been the most talked-about prospect in this year’s Draft cycle. Once projected as the potential No. 1 overall pick, some recent mock drafts now have him slipping toward the end of the first round. His personal quarterback coach spoke about the situation and offered insight into how Sanders is handling all the speculation.
Shedeur Sanders ‘Prepared’ To Drop in The Draft
After two productive seasons at Colorado, Shedeur Sanders declared for the 2025 NFL Draft — immediately drawing attention as the son of legendary cornerback Deion Sanders, who also served as his head coach throughout all four years of his college career, first at Jackson State and then at Colorado.
Even after posting strong numbers and displaying traits that are highly valued in the NFL — like field processing, accuracy, and poise in key moments — Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock seems to be slipping week by week.
Darrell Colbert Jr., Sanders’ personal quarterback coach, addressed the situation during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show.
“It’s just crazy how you go from, you know, everybody at the end of the season saying you’re going to be, at the latest you’re going number three and then you’re dropping and nothing has changed. You haven’t played any football, so how does it change?”
Ever since the college football season ended, the overall perception of Shedeur Sanders’ talent has noticeably shifted. That change may be tied to the NFL’s increasing emphasis on elite physical traits — an area where Sanders doesn’t quite match up to some of his peers. Added to that are rumors suggesting his personality might not sit well with every front office.
Last week, Sanders addressed those concerns directly, saying he interviews teams just as much as they interview him — a dynamic that has reportedly rubbed some organizations the wrong way. Still, he made it clear he doesn’t mind, as he’s simply being honest about the kind of player and person a team would be bringing into the building.
“A lot of people went into a lot of interviews, especially, you know, around combat time because you just see all the Instagram posts and what they put out on YouTube and you don’t really know who he is. But then a lot of those guys got to sit down with him and were like ‘oh, shoot, this is a great kid’. He can articulate himself well, understands the game, can relate to everybody.”
And perhaps the calm and confidence Shedeur Sanders has shown throughout this entire process comes from his father — Deion Sanders — who’s been his mentor every step of the way. With firsthand experience in how the evaluation process works, Deion understands better than most that a player’s success in the NFL often hinges less on draft position and more on landing in the right situation.
“Early on, before this even started, he said, ‘you know, man, they’re going to come out with all kind of stuff about you. They’re going to try to get you to drop so you can drop down to certain teams’. And it’s been it’s been true, like, everything he said has been true. He’s prepared him for this moment, so he’s not worried about it. And like I said, Shedeur isn’t worried about it”, Colbert added.
With news surfacing that Derek Carr’s 2025 season could be affected by injury, speculation has grown around the possibility of the New Orleans Saints drafting a quarterback — and Shedeur Sanders has quickly become a name to watch.
Holding the No. 9 overall pick, the Saints are in position to make a move, and Sanders could still come off the board inside the top 10, potentially kicking off his NFL career as part of Kellen Moore’s new offensive project in New Orleans.