Are Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders “pulling an Eli”? That’s the buzzing question as the NFL Draft inches closer and teams jockey for quarterback clarity. It’s a scenario that recalls 2004, when Eli Manning famously steered himself away from the Chargers and toward the Giants. Now, nearly two decades later, all eyes are on Boulder. As Coach Prime and his son navigate their own version of NFL chess. With some projecting Sanders as high as the No. 2 overall pick, and others seeing him slide toward the bottom of the first round. The Sanders camp isn’t just sitting back and waiting. They’re in the driver’s seat—and they know it.

Though neither father nor son is making bold public declarations. Deion Sanders offered some eyebrow-raising clarity during a sit-down with Yahoo Sports. Without naming names, he admitted he’s already spoken to “all the parties of the teams that fit that description.” The description? Teams Shedeur Sanders reportedly wouldn’t be too thrilled about joining. “I’m not going in that direction right now because I know who they are,” Deion said.

“We’ve had kind of like a meeting of the minds so they can ensure me… some of those teams probably won’t pick my sons anyway.” Deion then added, “You don’t have to get ruffled up over something that ain’t going to happen no way. Direct like we know you’re going there. I would probably do something behind the curtain, but I don’t need to.” Translation? The chessboard’s set, and the Sanders family is already five moves ahead. This isn’t smoke and mirrors. It’s strategy—and very much by design. Deion Sanders’ got enough star power and NFL pedigree to command rooms without ever raising his voice. And as Shedeur lines up pre-draft visits, the dots begin to connect.

There’s been clear communication with several teams already, and the unspoken message is that this family knows how to control the narrative. While some might call it manipulation, others would argue it’s just smart business. No one wants to walk into a dysfunctional franchise, and Sanders isn’t shy about leveraging his position to avoid just that. Then came the big one—Deion went on record about the Browns. Cleveland, armed with the No. 2 overall pick, may very well hold the key to this whole thing. “I think one of those two guys (Shedeur or Hunter) is going to be there (Cleveland),” Coach Prime said on April 4. It’s a bold statement, especially when paired with Shedeur’s growing list of official visits.

He’s already met with the Browns, Titans, Raiders, and Giants—all teams that could be in the market for a franchise QB. And in a juicy subplot, CP also opened up about the New Orleans Saints. “I like their colors, I like the city, I like the food, I like the people, I like the possibility,” he said, practically pitching New Orleans as a dream landing spot for his son. The Sanders family had recently visited the Big Easy during Super Bowl week, and it left an impression.

Meanwhile, the public face of this saga remains carefully curated. Shedeur, for all the noise, hasn’t made any grand declarations. The messaging is tight, polished. Publicly, the line is that S$S’s happy to go wherever he’s drafted. But read between the lines, and a different picture emerges—one where the Sanders camp is anything but passive.

They’re listening. They’re evaluating. They’re picking their spot. And when the clock starts ticking on draft night, don’t be surprised if the path has already been paved. This kind of maneuvering might ruffle feathers, but it’s nothing new in NFL circles. Top-tier quarterbacks with leverage tend to use it.

Shedeur Sanders to the Saints? That’s the dream, not the drop

The Pittsburgh Steelers recently wrapped up a visit with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. But with their first pick sitting at No. 21 overall, snagging Sanders would likely mean trading up in a big way. That’s not impossible, but it does feel like a long shot unless Steel City is ready to make a bold move.

Meanwhile, another team not-so-quietly rising in the Sanders sweepstakes? Saints. Sure, some folks may debate whether New Orleans is the “perfect” landing spot, but others think it could be the ideal launchpad for Sanders’ NFL career. Count ESPN’s Louis Riddick among the believers.

“This young man’s going to be just fine. And you know what? I hope he doesn’t go in the top three picks. I hope he doesn’t,” Riddick said. “And I think his camp would tell you the same thing. There are other teams they want to go to.” The Saints are still searching for their quarterback of the future, and Sanders could be exactly what they need. Forget chasing a top-three pick—fit matters.