Jarrett Bell of USA Today spoke to multiple NFL executives who expressed that Hall of Famer Deion Sanders' involvement in Shedeur's pre-draft process played a part in his massive drop down the draft board.

The son of Deion Sanders and the AP All-American selection was widely viewed by the media as a potential top-five pick, but ended up sliding to pick No. 144. In addition to being the fifth quarterback taken overall, he was the second one taken by the Browns, who also drafted Oregon's Dillon Gabriel with pick No. 94.

As Shedeur Sanders inexplicably fell down the 2025 NFL Draft boards, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, implored NFL owners to take a chance on the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback.