Colin Cowherd Blames Deion Sanders for Shedeur Browns Draft Slide

Shedeur Sanders experienced a surprising fall in the 2025 NFL Draft, sliding from a projected first-round pick to being selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, a drop many attribute to his father, Deion Sanders' outspoken and highly visible role. Analyst Colin Cowherd criticized Deion for overexposure and excessive involvement, suggesting that his media presence and management of Shedeur’s career may have hurt his son's draft stock. While Shedeur’s college stats were impressive, some scouts questioned his processing ability and athleticism, and others speculated that off-field perceptions, including his brash personality and potential racial biases, contributed to his draft slide. Despite the crowded quarterback room in Cleveland, head coach Kevin Stefanski has expressed confidence in giving Shedeur a fair chance to compete and prove himself at the professional level. The Manning family's contrasting low-profile approach with Arch Manning was praised by Cowherd as a model for protecting draft prospects from negative exposure. Shedeur has acknowledged that much of the criticism he faced was connected to his father, and now has the opportunity to carve out his own NFL legacy independent of Deion’s influence.