Shedeur Sanders didn’t work out at the 2025 NFL Combine, but the buzz was undeniable. The Colorado star, projected as a top pick, met behind closed doors with NFL teams. The Cleveland Browns, holding the No. 2 pick, sat down with him. So did other QB-needy teams picking in the top 10. And the New York Giants? They’ve been watching him closely. But then came the whispers. Well, the pre-draft process is always a circus, but this time, the disrespect hit different. And for Shedeur, it felt personal.

Here, Shedeur Sanders’ confidence rubbed some the wrong way. Yes, one QBs coach from a top-seven team labeled him ‘arrogant’ and ‘brash,’ per Josina Anderson, an NFL insider. But Anderson pushed back, citing her own meetings with Sanders and his composure at the combine. But then came more critiques. Well, veteran draft analyst Todd McShay reported that two teams felt Sanders didn’t care about their opinions during interviews, calling it ‘not a professional approach.’ As if now, while the pre-draft process is brutal, for Sanders, the scrutiny is in full swing.

Regardless of the reports’ veracity, they could impact Shedeur’s draft stock. But his mother, Pilar Sanders, wasn’t having it. And she became the wall, standing strong against the critics. In her latest IG story, she reshared a post from Shedeur himself—one he captioned “Legendary.” And then came the reply from adamson1988: “🔥🔥.” Although it is simple, but loud. And Pilar? She used that very post as a bold response to the NFL coaches who dared to disrespect her son.

Safe to say, Pilar Sanders didn’t just clap back—she made a statement. In her IG story, she wrote, “Wait who said what ???” Albeit a simple question, but one packed with fire. And just to turn up the heat, the background music said it all. Well, Young Dolph’s “It Feel Different” played over the post, with lines that hit deep: “For some strange reason, I just love the hustle, dawg (I love this sh-t)/ I told all my ni–as, ‘I just wanna see you ball’ (for real though)/ Ain’t nobody hand me sh-t, I had to kick down the wall (get in there).” Honestly, no explanations needed.

As of now, the message was clear—Shedeur wasn’t asking for respect; he was taking it. But the draft is unpredictable. The whispers of doubt have grown louder, and some believe he might not just slip out of the top six, but possibly out of the first round. However, not every coach views Shedeur through the same lens of disrespect. Some see the swagger and the confidence.

A defensive approach to Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur found support—not just from fans, but from fellow QBs like OSU’s Will Howard. And then came Coach Prime. His father, never one to stay silent, took to social media to back his son. And Deion re-posted clips from The Facility and Breakfast Ball, calling out the critics and shutting down the noise. However, the message was loud and clear—doubt Shedeur if you want, but he’s built for this.

Here ex-NFL LB Emmanuel Acho made a powerful statement on The Facility, saying, “I think Shedeur Sanders’ security makes a lot of people insecure. I think Shedeur Sanders realizing, ‘Wait a second, I’ve made money before I got to the NFL. Wait a second, my pops has already taught me about the value not only of money but the value, most importantly, of myself.’ Shedeur Sanders has realized, ‘Wait a second, who are you to dictate how I should feel, how I should think, how I should act, and how I should move?‘”

But Acho didn’t stop there, and he doubled down on his stance, saying, “So when Shedeur Sanders comes off as confident, comes off as secure, comes off as knowing who he is, you, insecure, dictate his security as something that’s an issue.” Honestly, Shedeur’s confidence isn’t the problem, but the insecurity of others is.

Look Mark Schlereth, co-host of Breakfast Ball, has a similar view, and he called out the doubters, saying, “A lot of draft evaluators are stupid. Show me a quarterback who’s not arrogant. Ever sit with a guy who’s going to be a star quarterback? Most of them are arrogant. Most of them have a lot of belief in what they do.” So, in his eyes, confidence isn’t a flaw—it’s a requirement.

Now, with all that confidence, let’s see where Shedeur ends up in his NFL journey.