Deion Sanders Issues 3-Word Demand to NFL After Son Shedeur’s Draft Slide Triggers $100M Trouble

It’s never strictly about the ball. Call it a blanket ban on drafting him that late into the draft or not, Shedeur Sanders became the man with arguably the most precipitous slide in draft history. And if you think it all started with that infamous NFL Combine interview of Shedeur Sanders, then you are massively misguided. Sure, the QB’s interview did not come across as humble in the eyes of the NFL GMs as they’d like, but he has always been a certain way. But does that make it right? Hardly. And in case you were wondering, the little birds have finally spoken, albeit on conditions of anonymity.

In an exclusive interview with USA Today on Friday, a high-ranking decision-maker, whose team was clearly in the market to draft a quarterback, said, “We liked Shedeur. But you can’t separate the other stuff from the physical abilities.” Now, “the other stuff” isn’t the everyday stuff his HoF dad Deion Sanders said during the entirety of his pre-draft process or the off-field issues that significantly weighed on people’s minds. It’s the razzmatazz that Shedeur unapologetically comes with. Whether it’s about flexing a customized, diamond-studded watch that he wore during games or promoting his personal clothing line, “2Legendary,” the franchises didn’t want a walking stick of a brand; it was the rigor of being “a teammate and earning a job” that it all came down to.

Beyond pure football and medical (that studies the impact of past injuries), there’s often a third aspect to assessment, the intangibles—off-the-field concerns, culture fitment, and the like. If not for his bragging rights, others had him flagged for his dad’s overt involvement. And even if one were to keep his dad’s antics aside, one top NFL executive stated, “It was talent-based. There were other factors, but you can’t chalk it all up to that.” Regardless, like they say, old habits die hard. Deion Sanders is far from done, and he couldn’t hold himself back but flexed some more on his QB son’s stats. On top of that, he had a three-word response to sign it all off on his IG story:

“Did they forget?” But more important than this brief statement was the stat sheet the head coach posted with his message. The sheet posted with Shedeur’s photo read, “Among the 35 NCAA QBs that faced 140+ pressures last year, Shedeur Sanders had the most TDs (12), the highest passer rating (95.6), and the most passing yards (1,117).” Is any of this true?

Well, the above statement is more complex than it looks. For context, in terms of PFF’s overall grade, Shedeur was the third-rated QB in all FBS teams, with a rating of 90.9 in 2024. Moreover, the QB’s pressure-to-sack rate was 20.1%, and he stood 19th overall in the country last year. As for the PFF under-pressure grade, it becomes even lower as Shedeur’s performance under pressure declined significantly. Here are some stats for you to consider:

• PFF Overall Grade: 90.9 (3rd)
• Big-Time Throw %: 5.0% (14th)
• Turnover-Worthy %: 1.3% (3rd)
• Adjusted Completion %: 81.8% (3rd)
• Pressure-to-Sack Rate: 20.1% (19th)
• PFF Clean Pocket Grade: 94.1 (3rd)
• PFF Under Pressure Grade: 64.3 (8th)

The former Buffs QB has a 64.3 grade from PFF and stands in 8th position amongst all QBs in terms of performance under pressure. Sure, the stat sheet Deion Sanders posted is incredibly accurate when you see it from a sheer numbers perspective. But when you scrutinize it deeper, several layers start unearthing themselves. Yet, does that mean that Shedeur deserved to go in the 5th round? Certainly not. Graded 4th in the draft class, Shedeur’s deep throws graded a 94.8 rating and play understructure without RPO showed throws under 2.5 seconds is .

The player never failed to deliver on the field, as we saw the QB delivering more than 7,000 yards at Jackson State. And in Colorado? Well, Sheduer’s influence on the field became more pronounced as he delivered 4,134 passing yards in 2024 and took a lesser-known Buffs team to a 9-4 finish. To put things into perspective as to how massive the feat was: The last time the Buffs produced a winning season was almost a decade ago in 2016. So, with these records and stats in the glaring spotlight, Deion Sanders couldn’t hold himself back.

Top Comment by Amber Rutter

In all fairness and to clear the air THESE teams with merit that passed on him should come out public...more

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But this is not where things end. Shedeur Sanders’ downward spiral in the draft also led to some unfortunate effects.

$100 million trouble for NFL teams after Shedeur’s draft snub?

Well, the NFL draft this year had more thrills and spills than one would have predicted. It had every unexpected turn, and with Shedeur’s shocking case? It became a nightmare for the QB and his supporters. And one of those fans has recently sued the NFL, demanding $100 million in compensation.

The person identified as John Doe from Georgia alleged that the NFL teams used their influence through reports and leaked statements that suggested Sanders about bad interviews and him being too cocky before the draft. The plaintiff also stated that the league violated the quarterback’s rights as a player and hinted at racial discrimination.

In addition to seeking punitive damages of $100 million, the plaintiff has demanded:

• An official acknowledgement of the emotional distress they caused the plaintiff.
• A reversal of the statements made about Shedeur Sanders before the draft and an apology.
• Implementation of fair practices in the drafts.
• Additional remedies that the court deems as appropriate.

“Despite Sanders’ demonstrated skills and significant attention during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the NFL drafted him at the 144th pick during the 2025 NFL Draft,” the plaintiff had complained. However, the NFL hasn’t publicly released a statement yet.