It’s rare to see a talent like Shedeur Sanders getting overlooked as badly as he is right now. Heading into the draft, it felt like he was standing right on the doorstep of stardom. Sure, people criticized his attitude a bit, but no one really expected this sharp turn. As names were called and rounds passed, Shedeur stayed unpicked. Can you imagine being a top-tier talent and still having such trouble making it to the big league? It’s wild, right? After putting up historic numbers and showing real leadership, how did the narrative flip so quickly?
Even his father, Deion Sanders, known as “Prime Time,” was certain his son would go early. “We’ve already won… Shedeur’s getting drafted… He’s going in the first round,” he confidently said. For Deion, this was more than pride; it was about legacy and family. He reminded everyone, “When that last name is on your back, you’re going to be attacked.” Sadly, no matter how loudly he believed, the draft didn’t go the way he had hoped.
Things got even more interesting when Gabrielle Union decided to show her support publicly. She posted a screenshot of a tweet saying, “The NFL is forcing me to root for whatever team that drafts Shedeur because all of this is some bullshit.” Not stopping there, she added, @shedeursanders I’m buying whatever jersey you rocking! We ALL know what’s going down and we 10 toes down.” This message of support from her came at an interesting time as the 49ers just passed on Shedeur, picking Upton Stout instead, which made Gabrielle’s words even more surprising.
Gabrielle’s support for the 49ers was never a secret, especially during her Super Bowl excitement days. Just last year, she proudly shared, “I’m here for Usher but I hope the 49ers win,” showing her loyalty. Now, with her message to Shedeur, things seem different. It appears she is not happy with the way Shedeur is being passed on by the teams. Her post feels like a strong break from her past team love.
Why Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide sparks a bigger NFL debate
It’s not every day a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders stirs up this much chaos before even hitting the field. His draft fall wasn’t just about talent: it peeled back bigger worries teams had. Some scouts admired his touch and leadership. Yet others whispered about missed practices and a brand-first mentality. Now, everyone is wondering: was it really about skills or something deeper?
In truth, Sanders’ biggest hurdle might be something he can’t fix overnight—his name. Being Deion Sanders’ son brings pressure no scout can ignore. He’s seen as a future star before throwing a pro pass. That star power sounds great, until teams realize it might shake up their locker room chemistry. Who wants backup drama before the season even begins?
As surprising as this draft slide felt to many, others weren’t shocked at all. Former NBA star Jeff Teague broke it down simply. On the Club 520 Podcast, Teague explained that today’s NFL demands quarterbacks who can move. “They need dual threats,” he said, pointing at stars like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Sanders, in his view, lacked that athletic edge teams wanted.
Even with Teague and others agreeing that Sanders had first-round talent, mobility mattered more. DJ Wells chimed in, saying movement defines success now. Despite the critiques, they praised Sanders’ achievements at Colorado. Yet for teams balancing risk and reward, Sanders’ style felt a step behind the league’s evolution.
Interestingly, Teague saw a silver lining in Sanders’ draft slide. He shared how dropping out of the first round helped him when he entered the NBA. “Now he come out here and perform well and becomes a star quarterback. He got a story to tell”, Teague said. If Sanders rises now, the doubters will have no choice but to eat their words—and Sanders will have a story nobody can deny.
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