Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected slide in the NFL Draft has sparked controversy, with some suggesting league owners are deliberately avoiding the former Colorado standout. Among those voicing this belief is ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who has openly criticized teams for passing on Sanders.
Initially projected as a potential first-round pick, Sanders was not selected on Day 1—a development that, while surprising, had become more plausible in recent weeks. However, few anticipated he would remain undrafted well into the later rounds. By the time the fourth round began on Saturday, Sanders was still on the board, leaving many questioning the reason behind his dramatic fall.
As Sanders continued to be overlooked during Friday’s third round, Smith took to social media to express his frustration. He called the situation a “disgrace” and implied that NFL teams were intentionally excluding Sanders due to his connection with his father, Deion Sanders.
“This is a damn disgrace,” Smith posted on X. “How in the hell is @Shedeur not off the board yet? Y’all really think this isn’t about teams hating on @DeionSanders? This kid is a first-round talent. In a way, this feels like Kaepernick all over again—being kept out. A damn disgrace. I don’t care what anyone says!”
Some have drawn parallels between Sanders’ situation and that of Colin Kaepernick, who many believe was blackballed by the NFL due to his activism. While the circumstances differ, the common thread may be the media attention surrounding Sanders. As the son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer and a high-profile college coach, Shedeur naturally attracts significant scrutiny. Teams may view him as more of a distraction than his talent justifies—a concern that also followed Tim Tebow during his NFL career. Despite Tebow’s potential as a capable backup, many franchises were hesitant to deal with the constant spotlight he brought.
Only time will tell whether teams made a mistake in passing on Sanders multiple times. However, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has suggested that whichever team ultimately selects him could end up with a major steal—while those who overlooked him may come to regret it.
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