The prank callers who cruelly duped NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders into thinking they were going to draft him have been identified following the release of a new video.
The ex-Colorado quarterback – son of NFL legend Deion Sanders – was widely expected to be a top-five pick in the class of 2025 on Thursday night.
Despite the initial deception, Sanders faced a surprising turn of events as he went undrafted in the first four rounds, prolonging his anticipation of being picked up by a new team until Saturday, when the Cleveland Browns eventually selected him in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick.
Every year, the draft gives all 32 NFL teams the opportunity to take their pick of the cream of college football.Â
Sanders, a prominent and highly regarded student-athlete, experienced a mix of recognition and dejection as he endured public embarrassment on Thursday before facing a disheartening continuation of his draft ordeal on Friday.
The quarterback thought his long slide had ended when he received a call, purportedly from general manager of the New Orleans Saints, Mickey Loomis.
Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a cruel prank call during the NFL Draft on FridayÂ
A clip of the hoax was posted on social media on Saturday, as Sanders still waited to picked
The ex-Colorado quarterback had to wait until the 144th pick to be selected by the Browns
Sanders was tipped to be a top-five pick but was overlooked in each of the first four rounds
Sanders was informed that he would be selected with New Orleans’ next pick, only to soon discover that the call was a hoax. ‘You’re going to have to wait a little longer,’ he was told.Â
On Saturday, a clip of the prank callers was posted on social media. It showed a young man – wearing an Ole Miss sweater – calling Sanders.Â
His friend, who was sitting nearby on the couch, was left open-mouthed and had to walk away after hearing Sanders answer.
‘This is Mickey Loomis here, the GM of the New Orleans Saints, how are you doing?’ the caller asked Sanders, who replied: ‘Good, I’ve been waiting on you’
The prankster continued: ‘It’s been a long wait, man, (but) we are going to take you as our next pick right here.’
After Sanders replied, ‘that would be legendary’, he is told ‘you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that!’
The caller then hung up, prompting hysterical laughter among his friends. ‘Oh my God, he bought it!’ one could be heard shouting.
Sanders was left looking puzzled before realizing that he was a victim of a prank call. The moment was caught on the quarterback’s livestream of his draft party, which was swiftly cut off following the humiliation.Â
Sanders’ long wait to be selected was finally ended by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday
How the pranksters managed to call Sanders is a mystery. The quarterback later revealed that he was using a ‘specific phone number’ that was ‘not in my name, not in anything.’Â
He explained: ‘Nobody had that number. The number was only in the email threat that the NFL sent out to only teams.’
Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were the only quarterbacks selected in Thursday’s first round as Sanders’ wait extended into the weekend.
Three more were picked on Friday night – Tyler Shough went to the Saints in the second round (pick No 40), before round three saw Jalen Milroe head to the Seahawks (No 92) and the Browns select Dillon Gabriel (No 94).
Cleveland then added Sanders to a busy quarterback room. Heading into the draft, the Browns’ roster already included veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
After selecting Sanders, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about the prank call. He branded it ‘sad’ and insisted: ‘People are morons’
