Deion Sanders Believes Shedeur Was Treated Unfairly Before Browns Drafted Him

Deion Sanders says months of scrutiny before the 2025 NFL Draft left emotional scars on his son after Shedeur Sanders unexpectedly slipped into the fifth round.

Cleveland traded up on the third day to select the former Colorado standout at No. 144 overall, ending one of the event’s biggest quarterback drops.

Before selection weekend, analysts projected the former Jackson State and Colorado passer much higher after productive college seasons that turned him into one of football’s most recognizable young players.

Speaking during an appearance on “The Barbershop,” the Colorado coach accused media narratives and portions of the evaluation system of unfairly damaging his son’s image before entering the league, reported by ESPN.

Stories circulated ahead of selection weekend questioning the rookie’s interviews, preparation habits, and interactions with NFL organizations during meetings. Sanders dismissed portions of those claims as “ignorant things” and “outright lies.”

He also described the emotional toll tied to the experience.

“When he takes off his shirt, I see the scars on his back that he’s been through hell, but he’s made it through hell,” Sanders said during the conversation.

Attention around the young passer intensified during Colorado’s nationally televised turnaround under his father, where accuracy, leadership, and production fueled expectations of an early pick.

Instead, quarterback needy franchises repeatedly passed on him before Cleveland eventually moved up late to secure him.

That decision signaled the Browns still viewed the rookie as a developmental talent with significant potential despite months of negative conversation tied to his evaluation.

The Hall of Fame cornerback also suggested his son received limited guidance early in his NFL transition, though he declined to identify individuals or coaches by name.

Neither Cleveland nor the rookie publicly addressed the remarks after the interview aired.

For Sanders, watching his son absorb criticism during one of football’s biggest moments remains difficult months after the selection process ended.