Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, is among the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback is projected to be an early first-round pick — perhaps even going No. 1 overall.
The Buffaloes star had his father on the sidelines guiding him for the majority of his high school and college football career. Heading into the upcoming NFL Draft, Sanders has received criticism from fans for his father’s involvement in his life.
The Colorado QB was in attendance at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl but strictly to meet with teams and reporters. He met with reporters, and the 22-year-old hit back at the haters questioning his father’s role in his career.
Shedeur Sanders Shuts Up Critics Spreading Negativity About His Father
Sanders met with three teams at the East-West Shrine Bowl, and it should come as no surprise it was with those who hold the first three picks in the current NFL Draft order — the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the New York Giants.
During one of his interviews, one reporter mentioned that some people believe Coach Prime is too involved in the young QB’s career: “So many people look at your dad and are like ‘His involvement is a bad thing,’ but how much has it been a positive thing for you to just be ready for these bright lights?”
The Buffaloes QB had the perfect response in his mind.
“I didn’t know your parents being involved and wanting the best for you is a problem,” he said.
Shedeur Sanders on his dad's involvement: I didn't know your parents wanting the best for you and being involved was a problem. pic.twitter.com/csecsOtMNy
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 25, 2025
“I think as parents, each and every one would want the best for their kids. The fact that he has the opportunity to do that for me and he has the best quarterback in the country, he’s supposed to do that,” Sanders said.
Sanders enjoyed a strong season with the Buffaloes this year and was a big reason for their team’s success. During the campaign, he had 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdown passes, and only 10 interceptions.
The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has been very vocal about the hate he has been receiving. Recently, he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to let people know about his mindset.
Sanders explained how he appreciated and enjoyed the criticism and doubt he had been receiving lately. He also outlined how it will make his ongoing football journey that much better.
“I love the doubt and the negativity, it makes the story even more Legendary !” Sanders stated.
I love the doubt and the negativity,
it makes the story even more Legendary !— Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) January 24, 2025
With so many teams vying for his services, Coach Prime has made it clear that he will be helping his son navigate the NFL landscape.
During an appearance on the “Tamron Hall Show,” Prime Time did not mince any words when speaking about his son’s future. According to him, as a former NFL superstar, he must show his son the right path.
“That’s my son. [If] you’ve got a child going into an occupation that you’ve already dominated in, come on, you think I’m not going to sit there like a navigational system? [I’ll] tell him, ‘Take a right there, take a left right there. Uh uh, not that [turn], no no.’ That’s my son! I’m not gonna let my son get down to no foolishness,” Sanders said.
The Buffaloes coach has made it clear that there are a few teams the youngster is prohibited from joining.
“It’s not like that,” Sanders clarified. “It’s not who I would like him to play for — it’s a couple teams I wouldn’t allow him to play for. This is my profession! I know what’s behind the curtain! We ain’t gotta get back there for me to understand what’s behind the curtain and what’s not [best] for my son. I’m not doing it. Ain’t no way in the world.”
It remains to be seen where Shedeur Sanders ends up in the NFL Draft. The Titans, Browns, and Giants hold the first three overall picks, and conventional wisdom suggests Sanders is falling to one of these three quarterback-needy teams.
Sanders’ PFN’s 2025 NFL Draft Projection
In Pro Football Network’s recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft completed by Derek Tate, Sanders was selected No. 1 overall by the Titans.
As Tate notes, “If you were to poll Tennessee Titans fans on whether they would like to see another year of Will Levis under center, I would venture to guess the vast majority of the fan base likely wants to see the team go in a different direction. Personally, I’d be shocked if Brian Callahan isn’t willing to jump at the opportunity of bringing in a new face of the franchise under center.
“Shedeur Sanders threw for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns over his two years at Colorado, but his interceptions more than tripled from his junior to senior year.
“Sanders is far from a perfect prospect, with some limitations in his arm talent and eyebrow-raising responses to the media when things haven’t gone well in Colorado, but his flashes of processing, anticipation, and off-script creation all project favorably to competently running an NFL offense.”
Sanders clearly has the ability to make a difference at the professional level and be the missing piece the Titans have been looking for at quarterback. Meanwhile, as evidenced by his social media posts, Sanders is embracing the criticism from the fans and media ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.