Shedeur Sanders has never been one to follow the script. While most top quarterback prospects arrived at the NFL Combine in Indy ready to showcase their arms, Sanders played it differently. No throwing sessions, no forced performances—just a few carefully chosen interviews and a presence that still managed to keep him at the center of the conversation. The former Colorado Buffs star, once projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick, is no longer the consensus QB1. But if you think that bothers him, you haven’t been paying attention. Sanders is playing the draft game with a level of strategy rarely seen from a college prospect. And the league is starting to take notice.

Choosing Colorado’s Pro Day over NFL Combine shocked everyone. Now look, he’s trying to play it smart, staying low tactic even though it will be tough with his name. Even CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones noted that Shedeur Sanders has been selective in his interviews, seemingly “holding back” with teams he has no intention of playing for. It’s a bold move, one that suggests he’s not just focused on getting drafted high but on landing in the right situation. That’s what amazed NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who detailed just how calculated Sanders’ approach has been. He said on “The Insiders” about his maturity. “I want to walk you through an interesting situation for me as it pertains to Shedeur Sanders.”

Then he recalled an unusual and telling interaction leading up to the Combine. “I reached out to someone close to Shedeur, close to Deion Sanders, about a week or so before the combine, trying to see whether or not he was going to throw,” Rapoport shared. “I get a message—’Coach is going to hit you directly.’ Okay. I get a FaceTime. It’s Deion Sanders. I’m driving in the car with my boys, Deion Sanders FaceTimes. And I say, ‘Oh, you know, I’m trying to figure out what’s Shedeur going to do for the combine.’ He goes, ‘Hold on one second. Let me get him.'” What followed was a conversation that left Rapoport impressed.

“Shedeur gets on the phone, explains the whole thing to me, breaks down his goals, his plans for the combine, why he’s not going to throw, what he’s going to do at Pro Day, and sounded like a 30-year-old. That’s the kind of conversation and interaction you rarely have. And to me, one reason why he seems ready for this.” That level of maturity is what makes Sanders so intriguing. He’s not just preparing to be an NFL quarterback—he’s already moving like one.

And that’s where the draft dynamics start to shift. The same player once seen as a potential top pick now finds himself in a QB race where Miami’s Cam Ward is getting a stronger push from NFL executives. “It does seem, based on the conversations I’ve had with general managers, top evaluators, that it is Cam Ward right now and everyone else,” Rapoport said. “I’m not saying he’s going to go number one, but it does seem as it stands now that if a quarterback goes number one, it is likely him.” It’s a fascinating turn of events. So, is Shedeur Sanders in contention to be QB2? “I’m not sure that we’re there yet,” Rapoport said, making his draft position a big question mark.

At the beginning of the season, Sanders was widely regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, a dual-threat playmaker with NFL bloodlines and an elite skill set. But a tough year in Boulder, one marked by inconsistent offensive line play and a brutal schedule, has given evaluators reason to pause.

And yet, none of this seems to shake Sanders. NFL HOF inductee dad, Deion Sanders, has preached the importance of controlling your own narrative, and Shedeur appears to be taking that to heart. Come April’s draft night, the board may not fall in the order people expected months ago. Cam Ward could go before Sanders. Another team could make a surprising move up. But Shedeur Sanders isn’t worried about perception—he’s playing for longevity.

Shedeur Sanders is here to change the “culture” for his pro-league team

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner isn’t just looking to play QB in the NFL—he’s looking to transform a franchise. And if you’re not on board with that vision? Well, he’s got a simple message for you: ‘Don’t get me.’

The former Colorado and Jackson State star is in the conversation as one of the top two quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, right alongside Cam Ward. And while analysts debate whether he’ll go No. 1 overall, Sanders has zero doubt about what he brings to the table.“That’s the plan,” Sanders said when asked about his impact.

“If that’s not what you trying to do, don’t get me. If you not trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me. You should know history repeats itself over and over and over. And I’ve done it over and over and over. So, there should be no question why an NFL franchise should pick me.” Sanders has already proven he can elevate a program, and now he’s ready to do the same in the league. Only someone with vision should take the leap.