NFL Draft Slide: Was Shedeur Sanders' Draft Position Personal?

The 2025 NFL Draft saw Shedeur Sanders, quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, fall further than many analysts predicted. While some attributed the slide to concerns about his playing style and decision-making under pressure, others, like former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, believe there's more to the story.

Griffin III stated that Sanders' eventual fifth-round selection was "100% personal," implying that NFL teams might have been sending a message to both Shedeur and his father. Deion Sanders, known for his outspoken personality and unconventional coaching methods at Colorado, has often been a polarizing figure in the football world.

It's possible that some teams were hesitant to draft Shedeur due to concerns about the potential influence of his father. Others might have been wary of the media attention and expectations that come with drafting a Sanders. Whatever the reason, the draft slide has sparked considerable debate about the fairness of the process and the potential for personal biases to affect player evaluations. The Denver Broncos ultimately selected Sanders, giving the team a potentially dynamic player with a high ceiling. Only time will tell if he can live up to the hype and prove his doubters wrong.