“So, it’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen. It’s going to be an Eli.” That’s how it all began—Deion Sanders laying it out a year ago, making it loud and clear: his son, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter should be the top two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. No debates, no doubts. Well, it didn’t feel like a stretch. Shedeur just led Colorado to a surprise 9-4 season, throwing for a whopping 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. But even with all that flash, Shedeur and his brother Shilo were constantly fighting off “nepo kid” chatter—critics questioning if they’d be in the spotlight without the Sanders name. Then came the Combine and Pro Day season. Shedeur, opting out of workouts, let his interviews do the talking. Some said he sounded cocky. Others chalked it up to confidence. Either way, he didn’t shy away from calling himself the best quarterback in the draft. His goal? Top pick. Nothing less.

But reality had other plans. Field Yates projected him to go No. 6. Shedeur’s response? “That’s crap bruh. I ain’t going 6th.” Then came more brutal forecasts. CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli slotted him at No. 22. USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz dropped him even further—to No. 26. And this is what Deion said back in Feb. “We didn’t aim to be the first pick, we just aimed to be the first round. High in the first round… His goal and his dream is to be drafted higher than I was, and I feel as though we’re gonna achieve that as well.” But with the draft now just days away, Shedeur’s latest admission might’ve just shaken that promise.

For the longest time, Shedeur followed his dad’s playbook. From Jackson State to Colorado, he stayed in Coach Prime’s orbit—benefiting from a father who also happened to be his head coach. But with the NFL on the horizon, Shedeur’s about to step into a world where Deion can’t call the plays. In an ESPN Originals interview, Shedeur admitted: “Everything my dad did been legendary. I am here to carry on the family name. Dad definitely will be missed, but it’s time to move on. Time to be legendary.” But here’s where things get interesting—and where that promise to outdo Coach Prime might hit a wall.

On the April 22nd episode of 2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders, co-host Darius Sanders asked him straight-up: “You said before, it was your goal to be drafted before your dad. He went number five. Has it changed overall, or is that still a goal of yours?” Shedeur came up with a laugh, “Haha!” Followed by, “Uh (a short pause for thinking). 50/50.” Why so?

The Buffs quarterback continued, “Because it could be what’s best for you. It could be, but it’s not best for you. So it was more of a goal at first, I would say, because you’re just looking at that, but you’re not looking at like life after that.” Let’s time travel back to the 1989 NFL Draft. Deion ran 40-yard dash times of 4.27 and 4.29 at the 1989 Combine. So, it was obvious that he was going to be top-5 selection. He was drafted fifth overall by the Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft, where he spent five of his 14 NFL seasons. The GM back then, Ken Herock, said there was no hesitation—it was a done deal.

But for Shedeur, things aren’t that simple. His outlook now? “The best situation for me is what’s going to happen on draft day and I’m sure of that cause I talked to God… So, if it’s before him or if it’s after him it truly doesn’t matter.” And that’s the blunt admission—he’s no longer chasing his dad’s shadow. He’s choosing fit over flash, situation over status. That statement alone cracks the once-rock-solid goal of being drafted above Coach Prime.

And yeah, that’s how it’s been—from ‘pulling an Eli’ to a No. 6 projection, then a high first-round goal, and finally, ‘it truly doesn’t matter.’ Turns out that the NFL suitors are still pursuing Shedeur for who he is and not whose son he is.

Mike Tomlin’s interesting take on Shedeur Sanders

Then came the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pre-draft buzz had Shedeur in Pittsburgh’s sights—possibly at pick No. 21. With both a veteran QB search (Aaron Rodgers was reportedly on their radar too) and an eye on young talent, the Steelers’ interest seemed legit. But people assumed that with Deion Sanders and Mike Tomlin’s longstanding relationship, this would be a cakewalk. Wrong.

Tomlin made sure to kill that narrative. “It was a normal pre-draft visit,” he said. “To spend time with a young man, to talk ball, to get to know him as an individual, to get to see how he processes and sees the game and how he articulates his football experience. From that standpoint, it was a very normal visit and a very productive one.” No special treatment. No “Coach Prime’s kid” advantage. Just ball talk. Just Shedeur. And the QB was impressed too….

Fresh off his Pittsburgh visit, Shedeur was clearly feeling the good vibes. When quizzed about his biggest takeaway, he didn’t hold back, dropping some serious praise on Mike Tomlin. “I get why they win so much,” Shedeur said, impressed by Tomlin’s character and the team’s values, which he found “similar to my dad’s.” That’s high-level respect right there, comparing Tomlin’s leadership to Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. As for the visit itself? Shedeur kept it simple: “It was a 10.”

Ironically, Pittsburgh may not even be the destination Coach Prime has in mind. In an interview this past March, Deion let it slip: “Let’s hope it’s New York.” For Shedeur to land with the Giants, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns would have to pass on him. But now that the Buffs quarterback is more interested in painting his own story, without borrowing the colors from his dad’s past, the Giants might not stand a chance. It’s about Shedeur stepping out, even if it means falling short of that once-sacred top-five goal. And it just might be the first true sign he’s ready to stop chasing a legacy—and start building one.