You know how the NFL draft game goes—one day you’re the golden boy, the next you’re free-falling like a bad stock. And right now? Shedeur Sanders is smack dab in the middle of that chaos. Between getting labelled “arrogant” by some anonymous scout, making heads turn with cocky words, and proving his worth on the field, Shedeur’s shown all sorts of mixed sides to the media, laying it all bare. Now, we’re talking about a $5.1 billion franchise getting hit with a serious wake-up call over this 23-year-old. A warning that’s got everyone from front offices to die-hard fans sweating. So, what’s got them so shook? Just some major red flags about Sanders’ game that could either be a ticking time bomb or just media smoke.

Once touted as a surefire top-five pick, Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft stock has taken a wild ride. Just when it seemed like he literally locked for a prime spot as QB2 behind Cam Ward, the whispers started growing louder. Former NFL scout for the New York Jets, Daniel Kelly, took to X and laid down some Shedeur Sanders rushing stats and pocket presence that are making front offices rethink their whole draft strategy.

And let’s just say, the numbers were looking rough. Back in high school, the man averaged a sad 0.9 yards per carry, according to MaxPreps. At Jackson State, it was a mixed bag—one season he’s sitting at -0.2, the next he’s at 2.0 per ESPN. But here’s the kicker: at Colorado? Negative rushing yards for two straight years, -0.7 and -0.5. Absolutely brutal. And that’s not even the half of it.

Apparently, Shedeur Sanders is holding onto the pigskin for an average of 3.00 seconds before releasing it, according to PFF. That might fly in college, but in the NFL? No way. You’re lucky if you get 2.5 seconds before some 280-pound defensive end with single-digit body fat comes charging at you like he’s got a personal vendetta.

The issue ain’t just about the yards. It’s about Shedeur’s internal clock and his wild habit of backpedaling instead of stepping up in the pocket. Basically, instead of just chucking it out or making a quick call, Sanders is drifting backward, turning what should be a five-yard loss into a 15-yard disaster.

Look, Sanders’ numbers are diabolical. Over the last two seasons with the Colorado Buffaloes, he got sacked a ridiculous 94 times. It’s like watching a magician repeatedly walk straight into his own disappearing act. Sure, he’s got a B+ arm talent. Nobody’s questioning that. During the 2024 college football season, Sanders completed 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Those are numbers to hang your hat on—if you can ignore the other glaring issues. Despite all the red flags, not everyone’s ready to jump off the Shedeur Sanders bandwagon.

Bill Simmons all-in on Shedeur Sanders and warns the $5.1 billion franchise

Well, apparently not everyone’s convinced. Sports guru Bill Simmons just fired a warning shot at the $5.15B franchise—better get it together or brace for the fallout. The Cleveland Browns—yeah, the $5.15 billion franchise everyone’s talking about—are the ones most heavily linked to Sanders. And while some analysts are throwing up red flags like it’s a penalty fest, others are practically warning the Browns to give him a shot.

The Cleveland Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, were practically tied to Sanders a few weeks ago. Now? Not so much. Word on the street is that Cleveland’s already made a move for Kenny Pickett from Philly and are even sniffing around Russell Wilson. Sounds like they’re more interested in a proven vet than rolling the dice on Sanders. Since ‘99, the Browns have been stuck on a wild QB carousel—40 different starters and still searching for the one.

Bill Simmons warned the Browns that skipping on Sanders might be a massive blunder they’ll regret big time on X. “There’s been a lot of heartbreak with Cleveland sports these past 60 years, but passing on Sanders at #2 and opting for a Kenny Pickett/injured Deshaun Watson combo would be way up there.”

Ouch. The man’s got a point. Sure, Sanders has flaws—some pretty glaring ones at that—but his potential is sky-high. Cleveland’s front office has to make a choice: bet on a QB with star power who needs polishing or settle with slightly above mediocrity with a vet who might already be past his prime. If the Browns fumble this pick, they might be regretting it for the next decade.