You are a product of your environment. As labored as this cliche sounds, it rings true nonetheless. Especially for quarterbacks, let alone ones stepping in raw and malleable from the college level. Situations that a QB walks into can alter the trajectory of their careers. Deion Sanders knows the importance of a good environment conducive to growth and success. So when Shedeur Sanders comes off that draft board in April, he wants him to steer clear of certain ones that are a bit of a dumpster fire right now.

Take the best in the sport, for instance. Patrick Mahomes walked into a franchise with Andy Reid at the helm. He deputized and learned the ropes behind Alex Smith, a former no.1 overall pick and 3x Pro bowler. The well-oiled machine in Kansas City aided Mahomes in being who he is today. But not every front office is good enough to facilitate a dynastic run. Not every ownership group is as shrewd in their decision-making. All NFL franchises are created somewhat equal, but they diverge into very different propositions. For every dynasty, you have a perennial bottom-feeder. The general consensus dictates that Sheduer Sanders will be a top 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, conservatively. That condenses down the field of potential landing spots drastically. One franchise seeking a spark that can kick them into life is said to be “all in” on Shedeur.

Over on IG, @nflrookiewatch relayed some news pertaining to Shedeur Sanders to their 44k followers. This also goes for his X page with 163k on there. The post included intel about where Shedeur’s draft process stands ahead of the Combine later this month. Amidst a few important updates, one stood out. “The Cleveland Browns are reportedly “all in” on Shedeur right now and have them tabbed as their guy at No. 2.” Instinctively, it seems viable. But zoom out for a bit of a bird’s eye view and you can see why Deion Sanders has hinted he’ll maneuver his son to a franchise of his liking. Something that’s perceived as unethical from a football POV, but shrewd from a paternal POV. Not to mention the massive elephant in the room Brows fans wish they could evade.

The Cleveland Browns could soon be in proverbial hell due to their cap situation. QB Deshaun Watson has far from reciprocated the value of his contract. It’s difficult to move off him. If the Browns do draft Shedeur Sanders, then it’s safe to assume they’ll have to cut Watson. That would induce a massive cap hit. So big that the first few years of Shedeur’s career will be rendered almost futile. Apart from WR Jerry Jeudy, the Browns have somewhat substandard weapons on offense currently and won’t be able to add more in free agency owing to the financial situation. Plus, there’s a personal issue for Shedeur too. Something Deion will be more wary of.

Utilizing a QB’s rookie-scale contract is really important for a franchise to become a contender. The Browns are not in a situation to build a high-caliber offense around Shedeur for about 3-4 years. This will inadvertently hamper Sanders’ own performances. It could in turn reduce the chances of Shedeur getting paid big money if his play is unproductive due to the lack of help. Not to mention, the NFC North already has two of the best QBs in the sport offering direct competition in Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. All these factors, alongside the fact the Cleveland Browns have historically been underachievers, do make it rational why Deion will want to avoid them. But should he have any say? A former no.1 pick has leveraged his opinion on Deion probing into his son’s landing spot.

Deion and Shedeur Sanders’ potential “picking and choosing” has precedence in NFL history

Atlanta Falcons’ icon Michael Vick discussed affairs pertaining to Shedeur and Deion Sanders on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast. Asked whether the Sanders are in the right if they refuse to be drafted by certain franchises, Vick said “It’s been done before, on a couple different occasions. The guys kind of dictated where they wanted to go. I think that’s fair.” Vick brought up the most famous, or infamous, precedent for this. Eli Manning refused to play for the LA Chargers pre-draft in ‘04. He even mentioned Phillip Rivers and John Elway opting for a similar path. 

“[Shedeur] has a father in his life who cares about where his son plays and his son’s well-being,” remarked Vick. This said, Michael Vick proceeded to put the onus on Shedeur if Deion Sanders does indeed send him down a certain direction. Vick stated “I’m not saying [Shedeur deserves] special treatment in the sense of he’s just gonna pick where he wants to go…You gotta make it work when you get there. Eli was very successful. Philip Rivers was very, very successful. It worked out. So I think when you do that, it has to work out. But it’s so fair for [the Sanders] to try to navigate, you know, the path to success.”

Just this year, Jayden Daniels has shown you can indeed walk into a relatively poor situation and make it work. Shedeur Sanders has tons of talent and even more self-confidence. He’d back himself to be successful wherever he goes. Yes, going to the Cleveland Browns could turn out to be disastrous. But Shedeur could also become a revered messiah if he turns their fortunes. Sometimes, you’ve just gotta play the hand you’re dealt.