Did it matter for Shedeur Sanders what number he was getting drafted at? Maybe, because who wouldn’t want to be picked at number one? Or, if not number one, at least drafted in the first round. For Shedeur, he watched himself slip away from being the number one prospect to number 21. And when the day came, his name wasn’t even announced at number 21. The Colorado alum fell to the fifth round. As surprising as it was for him, it was shocking for several across the league as well. And now, with everything settled, and him having landed in Cleveland, people can’t help but point out the facts about what led to Sanders’s downfall in the draft.
People, as always, are divided on the issue. Some believe that it’s because the league had some kind of collusion to keep him out. Others argue that Shedeur was overhyped largely because of his famous last name, rather than his performance alone. Enter creator and host Brett Kollmann, who feels that Shedeur suffered in the draft selection because he did not have an agent. “An agent’s job is to give the client an accurate range of where they are projected to go so they know how to navigate the process,” Brett wrote in his X post. The Colorado alum’s guide during his draft process was his father, Deion, himself.
After some thought, I think part of the issue for the Shedeur Sanders camp is that they didn’t hire an agent. An agent’s job is to give the client an accurate range of where they are projected to go so they know how to navigate the process.
Shedeur approached the process like a…
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 29, 2025
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini also reported the same. On Tuesday’s episode of Scoop City, she said, “I did have a team share with me this morning that they wondered as an organization if Shedeur had an NFL agent with experience with a top quarterback entering the draft. If that agent had provided maybe a little bit more insight into the preparation, into the process over the three months leading into the draft. That way, those interviews go well.” That’s where things get even more layered. It wasn’t just about not having an agent, it was about who they trusted instead.
Now, some fingers are pointing toward Coach Prime. Former WR Cris Carter gave his two cents on Shedeur’s slide.
Coach Prime’s bet on Shedeur Sanders backfired
Hall of Famer Cris Carter puts it bluntly that Shedeur was prioritizing image over substance. “For his job interview, he was so concerned about what his outfit was. His necklace was over a hundred grand. Like, he hadn’t even convinced people that you’re the face of our franchise.” The problem arose when no one was there to challenge that belief. Even if Shedeur came across as brash and arrogant, an agent might have helped reshape that image around the league.
But the Sanders family relied on Coach Prime’s brand power and media pull. Brett Kollmann writes, “Shedeur approached the process like a lock for the top 5 because that’s what the Sanders family honestly thought he was going to be. And unfortunately, they didn’t have anyone in their circle willing to tell them otherwise.” That was a huge mistake on their part, being overconfident in Deion’s influence. So, in a way, Shedeur suffered by relying solely on the family brand.
Even Shedeur’s oldest brother, Shilo Sanders, too, candidly mentioned during a live stream that maybe they needed to sign with agents. “Dad was our agent, but that hasn’t been working out too good. So today I had to sign with an agent.” Shilo, who went undrafted this year, signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent. The 25-year-old also signed with popular agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Well, the Sanders family isn’t short on supporters. ESPN host and analyst Stephen A. Smith argues that the league, due to its dislike toward Deion, excluded Shedeur. “NFL teams don’t want to deal with Shedeur Sanders because of his dad’s influence, and they can’t admit it.’ [Shedeur’s] not gonna just take instructions… he’s going to challenge your football intellect.”
At the end of the day, it seems like Shedeur’s draft slip might’ve been more about perception than his actual talent. Who knows what could’ve been different with a little more guidance along the way?
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