‘Tough’ Shedeur Sanders spent his life preparing to take over $6bn NFL team and learned swagger from dad Neon Deion
Shedeur Sanders has the talent to be the top pick in the NFL Draft. Sanders also struggled through a 4-8 season, spent the months leading up to the first round constantly being dissected, and lives life daily as Deion Sanders‘ son. Shedeur Sanders is the most debatable player in the NFL DraftGetty In the week leading up to the 2025 draft, Sanders was attached to the New York Giants and the No. 3 overall pick. He also was the most likely prospect to fall out of the first round and be forced to wait until the second day of selections on Friday. Fiction is often more interesting than fact with Sanders. Separating the truth from the noise has only become more difficult as the No. 1 pick announcement inside Lambeau Field has approached. “You have to start with the fact that he was a four-year starter, two years at Jackson State, two years at Colorado,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT. “He elevated each program, which is something that you like to see when a quarterback can come in and make those teams better and do it almost immediately. To build Jackson State, to build Colorado back, was certainly impressive.” Then Miller highlighted what can separate Sanders in the pros. His father has been known as Coach Prime, Neon Deion and Prime Time. Deion was a trailblazer and groundbreaker during his athletic peak, trading NFL positions while bouncing between football and baseball. While Travis Hunter could change the modern NFL, Sanders learned his toughness and swagger from one of the best to ever combine both assets at the same time on multiple playing fields. GettyDeion Sanders’ son has no problem representing himself[/caption] GettyOne NFL fanbase will be very happy when Sanders’ name is called[/caption] GettyHe’s also fashion savvy and has embraced his off-field personality[/caption] “He’s incredibly tough,” said Miller, referring to a 6ft 1in and 212lb QB. “He will stand in the pocket and take hits that a lot of other quarterbacks simply fold when they’re hit as hard as he is. “But he has that love of the game. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. … It’s impossible to separate him from who his dad is. “Living in that saddle has given him a chip on his shoulder, where he wants to prove that he’s his own guy, that he’s his own player. He’s making his own name for himself.” Sanders completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns at Colorado, and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting last season. On numbers alone, he should be taken before expected No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. “I personally have Shedeur Sanders rated above Cam Ward,” NFL Draft analyst Simon Clancy exclusively told talkSPORT. “But I would suspect that Ward will go over Sanders, just because of some peripheral, off-the-field stuff.” Miller praised Sanders’ accuracy, but acknowledged that his arm strength is a concern. “He’s not the most mobile quarterback,” Miller said. “But he is incredibly accurate and he’s able to, with good field vision, find his guys. He’s able to fire off bullets to get the ball where it needs to be. “I think the biggest concerns are size. He’s 6-1. He put on weight for the combine. He got up to 212 pounds. He’s closer to 200, 205 pounds is what he played at. … What he does is, he kind of carves you up from the pocket with touch and timing.” Sanders also has the inner confidence to lead an NFL franchise, which averages $6.5 billion in worth. Some teams love his constant swagger. GettyDeion and Shedeur shared many football moments at Colorado[/caption] Others are put off by his me-first approach. Which is why potentially the best QB in the 2025 NFL Draft could go as high as No. 3 or fall out of the first round. “Every team I’ve talked to so far has liked his personality,” Miller said. “It’s this tough line to walk between wanting your quarterback to be confident but not cocky. He’s 22 years old. He’s very confident. It’s in his DNA to be confident, right? “I’ve not heard anyone say that they had a bad interview with him or that he gave them a negative perception during their 15 minutes that teams get to spend with these guys. “I would caution everyone: We all remember going on our first date with our spouses, right? Yeah, the first 15 minutes are important. You can get an impression, but they didn’t tell you the whole story about them, right? “You needed a lot more time to figure out what made them tick and who they are.” Sanders has known who he is since birth. The son of Neon Deion, and a future starting NFL quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders has the talent to be the top pick in the NFL Draft.
Sanders also struggled through a 4-8 season, spent the months leading up to the first round constantly being dissected, and lives life daily as Deion Sanders‘ son.
In the week leading up to the 2025 draft, Sanders was attached to the New York Giants and the No. 3 overall pick.
He also was the most likely prospect to fall out of the first round and be forced to wait until the second day of selections on Friday.
Fiction is often more interesting than fact with Sanders.
Separating the truth from the noise has only become more difficult as the No. 1 pick announcement inside Lambeau Field has approached.
“You have to start with the fact that he was a four-year starter, two years at Jackson State, two years at Colorado,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT.
“He elevated each program, which is something that you like to see when a quarterback can come in and make those teams better and do it almost immediately. To build Jackson State, to build Colorado back, was certainly impressive.”
Then Miller highlighted what can separate Sanders in the pros.
His father has been known as Coach Prime, Neon Deion and Prime Time.
Deion was a trailblazer and groundbreaker during his athletic peak, trading NFL positions while bouncing between football and baseball.
While Travis Hunter could change the modern NFL, Sanders learned his toughness and swagger from one of the best to ever combine both assets at the same time on multiple playing fields.
“He’s incredibly tough,” said Miller, referring to a 6ft 1in and 212lb QB.
“He will stand in the pocket and take hits that a lot of other quarterbacks simply fold when they’re hit as hard as he is.
“But he has that love of the game. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. … It’s impossible to separate him from who his dad is.
“Living in that saddle has given him a chip on his shoulder, where he wants to prove that he’s his own guy, that he’s his own player. He’s making his own name for himself.”
Sanders completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns at Colorado, and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting last season.
On numbers alone, he should be taken before expected No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
“I personally have Shedeur Sanders rated above Cam Ward,” NFL Draft analyst Simon Clancy exclusively told talkSPORT.
“But I would suspect that Ward will go over Sanders, just because of some peripheral, off-the-field stuff.”
Miller praised Sanders’ accuracy, but acknowledged that his arm strength is a concern.
“He’s not the most mobile quarterback,” Miller said.
“But he is incredibly accurate and he’s able to, with good field vision, find his guys. He’s able to fire off bullets to get the ball where it needs to be.
“I think the biggest concerns are size. He’s 6-1. He put on weight for the combine. He got up to 212 pounds. He’s closer to 200, 205 pounds is what he played at. … What he does is, he kind of carves you up from the pocket with touch and timing.”
Sanders also has the inner confidence to lead an NFL franchise, which averages $6.5 billion in worth.
Some teams love his constant swagger.
Others are put off by his me-first approach.
Which is why potentially the best QB in the 2025 NFL Draft could go as high as No. 3 or fall out of the first round.
“Every team I’ve talked to so far has liked his personality,” Miller said.
“It’s this tough line to walk between wanting your quarterback to be confident but not cocky. He’s 22 years old. He’s very confident. It’s in his DNA to be confident, right?
“I’ve not heard anyone say that they had a bad interview with him or that he gave them a negative perception during their 15 minutes that teams get to spend with these guys.
“I would caution everyone: We all remember going on our first date with our spouses, right? Yeah, the first 15 minutes are important. You can get an impression, but they didn’t tell you the whole story about them, right?
“You needed a lot more time to figure out what made them tick and who they are.”
Sanders has known who he is since birth.
The son of Neon Deion, and a future starting NFL quarterback.
