Before the Cleveland Browns drafted his son Shedeur in the 2025 NFL draft, Deion Sanders criticized the team on social media. Back in 2018, the NFL legend expressed his skepticism about younger quarterbacks choosing to play for the Browns. He even suggested that if he were a young QB, he would refuse to go to Cleveland, drawing a parallel to Eli Manning’s draft situation.
Deion Sanders made his sentiments clear in a tweet, stating his admiration for the Browns’ recent offseason moves but questioning the appeal of the team for young quarterbacks. Referencing Eli Manning’s decision to not play for the San Diego Chargers after being selected first in the 2004 NFL draft, Sanders implied that he would advise a similar move for young QBs.
Eli Manning serves as an example of a player who exercised his influence in the draft process. Despite being picked by the San Diego Chargers, Manning opted not to play for the team. As a result, he was eventually traded to the New York Giants, where he went on to have a successful career.
Deion’s tweet was resurrected moments after Shedeur’s draft pick was finally announced. The Browns selected Shedeur as the 144th pick in the 5th round of this year’s draft — a marked fall from draft projections that had the quarterback being selected as high as the first round.
Shedeur began his collegiate career in 2021 at Jackson State, where Deion was the head coach. The pair departed for Colorado after the 2022 season. In his senior year, Shedeur completed 74.0% of his passes, with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Many were surprised Shedeur fell to the fifth round of the draft, though some point to Deion as part of the reason why the young quarterback seemed unable to curry favor with the 32 NFL teams. While some celebrate his larger-than-life personality and confidence, others are repelled by the same energy.
If there is one thing that you can definitely say about Deion, it’s that he is an enthusiastic supporter of his son. Back in May 2024 he told someone on X that Shedeur would be “a top 5 pick” and he’s maintained that energy ever since.
But things didn’t work out for the young athlete, and NFL insiders told Tom Pelissero there are a few reasons why. “The worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life,” said one person, who remained anonymous, of Shedeur’s reported and alleged discussions with members of the New York Giants’ leadership. “He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates … but the biggest thing is, he is not that good.”
Shedeur responded to some of the criticism leveled at him at the NFL Combine in February 2025. “You think I’m worried about what critics say or what people have to say?” he asked reporters. “You know who my dad is? They hate on him, too.”
After the first round of the draft came and went without Shedeur’s name being called, Deion turned to religion. “My bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise & he chose the weak things of the world that he may put to shame the strong!” Deion posted via X on Friday, April 25. “Please know God ain’t done & God is just really getting started. Enjoy this lesson & stop stressing. #CoachPrime”
