If you kept up with his NFL Draft process, you’ve probably noticed there’s been a change in the messaging out of Shedeur Sanders’ camp. A faction that essentially just comprises his doting father, Deion Sanders. At the outset of this process, Deion appeared more assertive, more in command. He was firm in his stance that he’d guide Shedeur to a franchise they liked. This is similar to how John Elway and, more recently, Eli Manning were maneuvered away from certain dumpster fires and handpicked a spot that was conducive to their success. But as time has passed, reality has crept up on the Sanders clan. Shedeur’s stock has steadily declined and brought about a change in tune from Deion. A new wrinkle in this saga, at the crux of which is a battle of leverage for Shedeur vs leverage for his suitors, has just surfaced. One side thinks it’s Deion potentially panicking. But is he just being shrewd?

Shedeur Sanders, and by extension Prime, initially projected a bullish demeanor around the NY Giants. Almost as if they were privy to the Giants being dead-certain of drafting him 3rd overall. Well, that doesn’t seem to be on the cards after their moves in free agency. With no other QB-needy franchises drafting before them, Shedeur appears to have slid till at least #9 and the Saints. Deion Sanders saw what’s coming and has begun flirting with the Saints. A franchise he probably put in the dumpster fire category not long ago. During Colorado’s Pro Day, he was asked about the possibility of Shedeur Sanders landing in NOLA. “I like their colors, I like the city, I like the food, I like the people, I like the possibility.” The implication is clear: We’re open for business. But “Is Deion Sanders using the Saints to boost Shedeur Sanders’ NFL draft stock?” That’s what a headline from John Sigler of the Saints Wire read in the aftermath. 

Sigler floated a theory that the Saints don’t actually reciprocate interest in Shedeur. It’s merely Deion Sanders manufactured and then fanning the flames of this mirage. John Sigler pointed to how Shedeur’s slide leaves little room for maneuvering if he wants to go in the top-10. Not only that, he’d very plausibly slide right out of the lottery if the Saints forego him. The next viable landing spot is the Steelers at #21. This means Shedeur could be in for a very long, almost embarrassing night in that Green Room on draft night. “There’s been a lot of buzz linking Shedeur Sanders to the New Orleans Saints — and most of it has come from his famous father,” reads an excerpt from the article. It proceeded to lay further into what’s being perceived as a ploy by Deion to salvage his son’s future.

“Maybe this is all a work. Maybe Deion Sanders is trying to bait the Steelers or another team without a long-term future at QB into trading ahead of the Saints, to make sure Shedeur Sanders ends up with a contender while securing a lucrative contract as a top-10 pick,” added Sigler. This is a fair argument. But let’s suspend disbelief and assume the Saints really aren’t all that interested. That Sigler’s correct. Doesn’t that still mean Deion’s plan is succeeding? In either scenario, Shedeur does land in the Top-10 and avoids dropping all the way down. Sure, Deion could still not prefer the Saints, a team that’ll struggle to put pieces and weapons around Shedeur. But hey, you need contingencies. This entire ordeal boils down to Deion doing what any father would. Whether they’re legends of the sport with the power to influence franchises or not.

Reasons for Shedeur Sanders’ descending NFL Draft stock

In all honesty, Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock plummeting hasn’t been all that inexplicable. He always did have holes in his repertoire as a quarterback. He’s not the most mobile in the backfield, can’t really move the sticks with his legs outside of it, and doesn’t possess a cannon arm either. His grades have always been relatively low. What keeps him on the periphery of Top-3 pick discussions is mostly a lack of quality supply at the position group to meet demand. That said, there’s a bit of prejudice affecting Shedeur too.

Being the son of Deion Sanders has its perks, but it also brings baggage. While Shedeur isn’t nearly as eccentric as Prime, he does carry himself in a way that can rub people the wrong way. Which, really and truly, is quite unfair. Apart from people veiled behind anonymity dishing out character flaws in Shedeur, he’s largely been clean. 

There are a lot of reasons for a franchise like the Saints to draft Shedeur Sanders. He’s uber-accurate. If the pocket holds up, he’s a menace. An old-school, throwback quarterback who does his damage surgically without much flash or pageantry. Most importantly, this guy’s got toughness. For someone born with a silver spoon to take as many sacks and hits as he has and remain undeterred is a testament of this. Alas, whether Deion Sanders really is creating buzz out of thin air. Whether Kellen Moore and the Saints really are interested in the player. Whatever franchise lands Shedeur will likely be glad they saw through the muddled discourse around him.