NFL Draft: Shedeur's Prime problem

Is Daddy Dearest intimidating NFL teams?

Where will former Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders go in April’s draft?

Why has the projected fate of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 Draft dropped precipitously since not working out at either the Indianapolis Combine or the Big 12 Pro Day last week?

Let’s call it word of mouth.

The mouth is mainly that of his father, Deion Sanders, although Shedeur hasn’t done himself any favors. But do NOT guess what that means before reading through this report.

First, let’s be clear that I like Shedeur as a quarterback, apparently more than most who evaluate players. He played spectacular football under constant duress for the last two years. In a mediocre draft class of quarterbacks, I rated him No. 1 — overall. I think he has the physical and emotional traits to be an elite quarterback and the face of a franchise.

I wasn’t alone. According to the popular NFL Draft Scout Draft Database, Shedeur was rated No. 1 overall by a consensus of more than 100 Big Boards from December until the middle of February, then he slid to an average rating of No. 4, which is approximately where he stands now. However, he is in the 20s on several lists.

All this without ever throwing a ball or running a 40.

At the Combine, Shedeur held a highly entertaining interview with the media. To many, it was off-putting. My response? Here is part of our report on the interview:

He began and ended the interview with the word “legendary,” which he has every expectation of becoming. Many expect this is because he is the son of a legend, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders. Shedeur reflects his dad's self-confidence, but he is very much his own man.

He makes grand statements — including that he is the best quarterback in the draft — but does so in such a matter-of-fact manner that it is not bragging. To him, it is simply the truth.

While some might find it easy to call him arrogant, I think it is just supreme confidence.

But during and after the Combine, scouts, coaches, and team executives whom I respect used a series of daunting words to describe their meetings with Shedeur, such as “arrogant, brash, dismissive.” We listened with a bit of skepticism, believing this was a predictable response from a conservative group to a very confident, outspoken young man. Are these the same people, or others like them, who grimaced at Shedeur’s media interview?

Also, some of these same NFL folks, and a few others, told me that Shedeur “didn’t do well on the whiteboard drawing and discussing plays” and showed poor recall when asked to explain a player recently discussed. Are we to dismiss this as another overstated reaction or a sign that Shedeur lacks the grasp of the game required at the next level?

Admittedly, I then looked back on his games, and the phrase playground ball came to mind. Adding to the brain cramp was a vivid memory of Brett Favre admitting after three years in the NFL that he didn’t know what they meant by a nickel defense.

Spotlight on Prime comments

But none of that bothered me as much as Daddy Deion’s vociferous reaction to these negative remarks about his son. Deion’s response to this recent batch of negativity is not in a vacuum. Last November, Prime was asked by Keyshawn Johnson of FOX Sports if he would step in during the draft process if the wrong team drafted Shedeur.

“Yeah, but I’m not going to do it publicly. I’ll do it privately,” Sanders said. “I’m gonna be Dad until the cows come home.”

How much will Prime influence where his son lands in the draft?

Deion’s response last week was anything but private in an interview with Bucky Brooks on NFL Network. During that and other interviews, Deion said he knew who was “spreading lies” and reminded that this pre-draft buildup is known as “the lying season,” during which teams say things to get players to slide their way.

Deion hinted he has a list of desirable and undesirable teams but won’t share it.

His hint:

“Somebody that can handle the quarterback he is and somebody that can handle, understanding what he’s capable of,” Deion said. “Someone that has had success in the past handling quarterbacks or someone and an organization that understands what they’re doing. Not just throwing you out there amongst the wolves if you don’t have the support and the infrastructure.”

Sanders coached his son throughout his football career, from youth leagues to high school and Jackson State, before they moved to Colorado together after the 2022 season. Sanders also reiterated he was happy to be at Colorado when asked if he would be interested in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for five seasons.

Mmmm. Jerry. Deion. Shedeur? Deion sidestepped the question as slickly as he once did coverage men on punt returns.

“Shedeur has started every game in high school, every game in college but one and he is like that, man,” Deion said. “He has a true gift. It comes from God, and he loves football. This kid loves this game and he has an insatiable appetite to win. And I want somebody to be able to propel him to the next level as well, not just get drafted by a team, because we ain’t having it.”

Replay of 2004 draft?

Taken together, Deion's remarks in November and last week certainly could cause a team to pause. And this is where I think there is a problem. I remember the 2004 draft when Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning warned some teams not to take him.

Manning — allegedly with no help from bother Peyton or father Archie — laid the groundwork for an awkward few moments on draft day when the San Diego Chargers took him No. 1 and held him hostage for a few moments. The Chargers traded him to the New York Giants for the Giants' fourth overall pick, N. Carolina State QB Philip Rivers (selected No. 4 by the Giants), along with a 2004 third-round pick (used to pick Nate Kaeding), a 2005 first-round pick (Shawne Merriman), and a 2005 fifth-round pick.

Is Deion’s intervention going to impact when and where Shedeur is drafted?

Pat Kirwan is a former team executive and co-host of Sirius XM Radio's Movin' the Chains, the best-damned football broadcast this side of a live game with Troy Aikman. Kirwan and his sidekick, former NFL quarterback Jim Miller, noted those Prime remarks last week.

"Deion is starting to have a little crack in his own armor,” Kirwan said. “You know, he is a dad … besides being a coach and a Hall of Fame player, he is a dad. And he's starting to take it a little personal. I thought Bucky Brooks tried to cool it off a little bit, but he just wanted to keep going.

“He knows the team that's doing this to his son and all. That's the stuff that people might be concerned about, Deion, that you're involved. If you're gonna say that now, what are you gonna say if the team benches your son? What are you gonna, you know, all that stuff.

“So I think Deion needs to just relax and not be a dad in this one. Try, try to be the coach, and like most college coaches, be there for your players. And don't be too emotional about what's going on. Just ride it out. It's probably all gonna work out nicely.”

Maybe, maybe not.

This entire diversion is very entertaining, but it leaves me wishing everybody would just play football and shut up.