When Shedeur Sanders—once pegged as a top quarterback prospect—slipped all the way to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the football world collectively blinked. How could a player with such visibility, production, and marketability fall so far? While the word “collusion” was thrown around, most notably by Stephen A. Smith who compared it to Colin Kaepernick’s blackballing, the broader picture paints a very different story—one rooted more in perception, risk management, and power dynamics than in conspiracy.
Shedeur Sanders' draft slide: Not collusion, but a reality check on NFL power dynamics
The idea of collusion—owners and teams uniting to deliberately freeze out Sanders—might sound sensational, but it lacks credible backing. Former ESPN president John Skipper, speaking on Pablo Torre Finds Out, tackled the issue head-on, noting, "The NFL talent managers did not believe he was a first, second, third round choice." Despite Mel Kiper Jr.’s high expectations for Sanders, NFL teams clearly didn’t see the same upside.
In fact, a report by The Athletic revealed that when ten general managers were asked about Sanders, they responded that he wasn’t even high on their draft boards—if at all. That’s a telling sign that the skepticism wasn't isolated, but rather widespread across the league. While Stephen A. Smith’s collusion claim sparked debate, it failed to address the more nuanced reality of how teams make decisions—especially regarding quarterbacks, where risk aversion often trumps buzz.
John Skipper further explained the disparity: “This is, I think, the greatest disparity ever between a player [Kiper] expected to be taken very high… They probably didn’t want the distraction of Deion Sanders, because among other things, the first time your quarterback doesn’t perform well, you think Deion’s going to be on SportsCenter talking about, ‘When are they gonna play my son?’” That potential media circus isn’t just speculation—it’s a real factor in locker room dynamics.
To understand Shedeur Sanders’ drop, it’s essential to separate talent from the noise around it. Shedeur isn’t just any quarterback—he’s Deion Sanders’ son, and that comes with unique complications. NFL teams likely viewed him as a package deal with Coach Prime’s towering personality looming large in the background. That visibility may be great for TV ratings, but for franchises looking to build quiet, stable quarterback rooms, it raises red flags.
Pablo Torre made a key point on the podcast, saying, "It's not collusion, it's a test of power in which every NFL team was like...'This guy is not good enough to demand the treatment, the power that he thinks he deserves.'" The NFL is a league that rewards production, yes, but it also penalizes perceived entitlement—especially if the player in question hasn’t proven himself at the pro level.
Some executives reportedly viewed Sanders as “mercurial,” suggesting that personality and fit within team culture factored heavily into their draft decisions. It's not that he lacked talent, but rather that his off-field narrative threatened to overshadow his on-field potential. That’s a tough balance for any franchise to accept, especially in a draft class considered weak at the quarterback position overall.
Interestingly, the public’s interest in the NFL Draft remains sky-high. The first day of coverage averaged 13.6 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and other platforms—an 11% rise from the previous year. Day two saw an even bigger leap, boasting a 40% increase and becoming the second most-watched in history. As Skipper put it, “It’s not interesting to watch, but it’s hard to quit watching, particularly if you care about a team.” This speaks volumes about the NFL's grip on public imagination—even when a controversial figure like Shedeur Sanders becomes a subplot.
For the Cleveland Browns, who finally took a shot on Sanders after drafting Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, the move is a low-risk, high-reward proposition. Whether Shedeur becomes a starter or fades into the background remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—his draft slide wasn’t about being frozen out by the league. It was a message.
No team wanted to be held hostage by media narratives, family influence, or expectations not yet backed by performance. And while the “collusion” cry grabs headlines, the truth is far less conspiratorial and far more revealing: in the NFL, reputation alone doesn’t get you drafted high. Not even when your last name is Sanders.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders' net worth: How much money does the new Browns quarterback have?
Shedeur Sanders' draft slide: Not collusion, but a reality check on NFL power dynamics
The idea of collusion—owners and teams uniting to deliberately freeze out Sanders—might sound sensational, but it lacks credible backing. Former ESPN president John Skipper, speaking on Pablo Torre Finds Out, tackled the issue head-on, noting, "The NFL talent managers did not believe he was a first, second, third round choice." Despite Mel Kiper Jr.’s high expectations for Sanders, NFL teams clearly didn’t see the same upside.
In fact, a report by The Athletic revealed that when ten general managers were asked about Sanders, they responded that he wasn’t even high on their draft boards—if at all. That’s a telling sign that the skepticism wasn't isolated, but rather widespread across the league. While Stephen A. Smith’s collusion claim sparked debate, it failed to address the more nuanced reality of how teams make decisions—especially regarding quarterbacks, where risk aversion often trumps buzz.
Former ESPN president John Skipper pushes back on the theory that there was "collusion" by NFL teams against Shedeur Sanders.@PabloTorre: "It's not collusion, it's a test of power in which every NFL team was like ... 'This guy is not good enough to demand the treatment, the… pic.twitter.com/mffhGwmw4R
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) April 29, 2025
John Skipper further explained the disparity: “This is, I think, the greatest disparity ever between a player [Kiper] expected to be taken very high… They probably didn’t want the distraction of Deion Sanders, because among other things, the first time your quarterback doesn’t perform well, you think Deion’s going to be on SportsCenter talking about, ‘When are they gonna play my son?’” That potential media circus isn’t just speculation—it’s a real factor in locker room dynamics.
To understand Shedeur Sanders’ drop, it’s essential to separate talent from the noise around it. Shedeur isn’t just any quarterback—he’s Deion Sanders’ son, and that comes with unique complications. NFL teams likely viewed him as a package deal with Coach Prime’s towering personality looming large in the background. That visibility may be great for TV ratings, but for franchises looking to build quiet, stable quarterback rooms, it raises red flags.
Pablo Torre made a key point on the podcast, saying, "It's not collusion, it's a test of power in which every NFL team was like...'This guy is not good enough to demand the treatment, the power that he thinks he deserves.'" The NFL is a league that rewards production, yes, but it also penalizes perceived entitlement—especially if the player in question hasn’t proven himself at the pro level.
Some executives reportedly viewed Sanders as “mercurial,” suggesting that personality and fit within team culture factored heavily into their draft decisions. It's not that he lacked talent, but rather that his off-field narrative threatened to overshadow his on-field potential. That’s a tough balance for any franchise to accept, especially in a draft class considered weak at the quarterback position overall.
Interestingly, the public’s interest in the NFL Draft remains sky-high. The first day of coverage averaged 13.6 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and other platforms—an 11% rise from the previous year. Day two saw an even bigger leap, boasting a 40% increase and becoming the second most-watched in history. As Skipper put it, “It’s not interesting to watch, but it’s hard to quit watching, particularly if you care about a team.” This speaks volumes about the NFL's grip on public imagination—even when a controversial figure like Shedeur Sanders becomes a subplot.
For the Cleveland Browns, who finally took a shot on Sanders after drafting Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, the move is a low-risk, high-reward proposition. Whether Shedeur becomes a starter or fades into the background remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—his draft slide wasn’t about being frozen out by the league. It was a message.
No team wanted to be held hostage by media narratives, family influence, or expectations not yet backed by performance. And while the “collusion” cry grabs headlines, the truth is far less conspiratorial and far more revealing: in the NFL, reputation alone doesn’t get you drafted high. Not even when your last name is Sanders.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders' net worth: How much money does the new Browns quarterback have?
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