Shedeur Sanders Drafted by Browns, Deion Criticized for Miscalculations

Shedeur Sanders' unexpected fall to the fifth round in the NFL Draft, where he was selected by the Cleveland Browns, caught many off guard, including his father Deion Sanders, though some, like former tight end Delanie Walker, had predicted such an outcome. Analysts like Chris Long believe Deion overestimated his son's value and lacked leverage with NFL teams, while others, including Cam Heyward, suggested Shedeur’s nontraditional agent situation—being represented by his father instead of a professional agent—may have hindered his pre-draft process and access to critical information. The surprise draft slide was compounded by negative media coverage and a high-profile prank call during the event, further highlighting the difficult experience for Shedeur. Meanwhile, his brother Shilo chose to part ways with Deion as his agent, seeking traditional representation after going undrafted. Overall, the Sanders family's approach and public perception were scrutinized, with some seeing their draft outcomes as a reality check or consequences of misjudged expectations.