Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders and quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) talk with the media after the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft was one of the most shocking moments of this year’s draft. Considering coach Deion Sanders’ confidence in his son’s stocks, it was nothing short of an insult for the Sanders.
Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
NFL media personality, Colin Cowherd, has tried to explain the probable reason behind Shedeur’s high fall in the ranks, accusing coach Prime’s poor parenting of the output. In a recent episode of The Herd, Cowherd said,
“Why Shedeur Sanders dropped like a Rock in the draft and ended up going in the fifth round with the Cleveland Browns where he’s splitting scout team duties with Bailey Zappe? Deion Sanders admitted the Eagles and the Ravens called his son before the draft, but he didn’t want to be a long-term backup. Deion is quoted as saying, ‘I never sat on the bench and learned a lot. I mean who learns sitting on the bench?’
Cowherd further added, “Oh, I don’t know Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith. So, two great organizations said ‘Would you like to come into our house and learn from us?’ Naah. Yeah, not great parenting.”
Shedeur Sanders was widely projected as a potential first-round pick, or at least an early-round pick. Yet, he was drafted as the 144th pick overall by the Cleveland Browns, where he is among the five quarterbacks in the squad, with Joe Flacco as the frontrunner. With Deshaun Watson on the injury list, Sanders and Bailey Zappe are on the line as the 3rd options.
Thus, Cowherd believes that Shedeur could have benefited by being a backup to either Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts instead as the Ravens and the Eagles are some of the most successful franchises in the NFL.
However, Jackson and Hurts are young QBs with years of football left in their career. Thus, backing up for them would have reduced the chances of playing for Shedeur. Hence, Coach Prime had to decline the offer. In fact, coach Prime believes that Shedeur would start for the Browns this season.
In the short run, it has turned out to be a disastrous decision, as Cowherd explained. Hence, he has accused Coach Prime of being the culprit behind Shedeur’s current fate.
