Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s standout quarterback and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has been one of the most polarizing figures in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft. While his talent as a poised pocket passer is undeniable, recent reports from the NFL Scouting Combine have raised concerns about his attitude during team interviews—an essential part of the pre-draft process.
Reports of Shedeur’s Alleged Unprofessionalism at the Combine
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff discussed Sanders’ interview performance during the Combine, noting that two high-ranking personnel from teams drafting in the top 10 were unimpressed.
According to Middlekauff, these officials felt Sanders “didn’t take a professional approach” and appeared indifferent about impressing them. One team representative described Sanders as “not taking it seriously at all,” while another remarked that he lacked a sense of urgency to make a positive impression.
Todd McShay echoed similar sentiments during The McShay Show, citing conversations with executives who felt Sanders approached his interviews without the seriousness expected from a top quarterback prospect.
McShay emphasized that while there was no overt disrespect or lousy behavior, Sanders left decision-makers with the impression that he was unconcerned about their evaluation of him.
In her tweet on X, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson expressed her disappointment in the quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top seven that referred to Sanders as “brash” and “arrogant” in his team interview.
Anderson questioned the coach’s evaluation, citing, “…this coach’s personal assessment is the direct opposite from how Sanders came across to many reporters in his press conference with the media at the Combine…He seemed cordial, polite, witty, thoughtful along with being confident (as many athletes are).”
She went on to speculate about the coach’s opinion, “said QB coach seems to have issue with ‘the culture’ of athletes who have broad fame and financial success before entering the NFL, and…have a problem (with) certain athletes.”
Anderson issued a warning about how this coach’s evaluation can twist the perception of a top prospect, declaring, “This is how pre-Draft evaluations can get jacked because of evaluators who don’t seemingly possess the discernment to detect intangible traits that are connected to the will and drive to win without being a stat, or delineated in an analytics report”.
The award-winning journalist concluded with profound comments, “Hopefully any potential biases towards ‘the culture’ are being checked at the door, as not to unduly impact stock & business. The modern day college athlete is evolving, as is the scale of business and opportunities surrounding them before entering professional leagues. Adaption sounds necessary, and not just for Sanders.”
I am disappointed to hear that a quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top 7 referred to Shedeur Sanders as coming off “brash” and “arrogant” in his team interview and making his assessment known to a number of people, per source. I’m purposely not naming the team, as… pic.twitter.com/OjCTciEZIa
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 3, 2025
The Combine interviews are referred to as “first job interviews” for NFL prospects. They offer teams insight into players’ personalities, leadership qualities, and ability to fit into their culture. For quarterbacks, these interviews carry even greater weight. While one quarterbacks coach might view Sanders’ attitude as a supposed lack of professionalism due to a misalignment on culture, players in the huddle might love Sanders’ style.
Deion Sanders has publicly stated his desire for Shedeur to land with the “right organization” and has hinted at steering his son away from specific teams. This would explain why Shedeur’s approach seemed less enthusiastic in specific interviews—it may have been strategic rather than careless.
Leading up to the 1989 NFL Draft, Deion famously told teams that didn’t have a high draft slot that he’d be gone by the time they picked.
NFL Draft Stock: Where Does Shedeur Stand?
Despite these negative reports, Shedeur Sanders is still a highly regarded prospect who excels as a pocket passer with accuracy, touch, and poise. However, questions about his athleticism and tendency to hold onto the ball too long have led some evaluators to rank him below Miami’s Cam Ward.
PFSN’s Dalton Miller feels otherwise. In his big board of Top 100 NFL Draft prospects, Miller has Sanders ranked 25th while Ward placed 40th. He notes, “Sanders is the evolution of the pocket passer…he fits into the Geno Smith or C.J. Stroud-like mold.”
In his 7-round mock draft, PFSN’s Brentley Weissman projects Sanders as the third overall pick to the New York Giants—a team desperate for quarterback help. Weismann added, “This is admittedly much higher than I think Shedeur Sanders should go, but…with the Giants regime squarely on the hot seat, it makes sense to take a swing here… and grab Sanders, who can provide some excitement at the position.”
Evaluations of Sanders Highlight Bigger Issue
The debate surrounding Shedeur Sanders highlights an ongoing tension between talent evaluation and personality fit in NFL scouting. While teams value elite physical traits and production on the field, they prioritize leadership qualities and professionalism. Colin Cowherd once knocked Baker Mayfield for wearing his hat backwards, yet Mayfield’s teammates have said they’d run through a wall for him.
Joe Schoen, the General Manager for Sanders’ potential future team, has been raked over the coals for his evaluation of impending free agents Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney during the 2024 NFL offseason.
Schoen severely misjudged the market value for each player, not taking into consideration the leadership each captain brought to the clubhouse. Both players excelled with their new teams while the Giants broke a franchise record for most losses in a season.
Sanders has a prime opportunity to silence the haters in upcoming private workouts and pro days. If Sanders shows out and impresses, these reports painting him in a negative light will serve as career-long motivation to not just prove the doubters wrong, but to embarrass them.