Well, Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock isn’t just slipping — it’s getting yanked like a rug under his feet. Now, the same media that hyped him as a top pick the moment he decided to turn pro is chipping away at his status. With the Combine skip and Shrine Bowl absence, things were already getting sore for him. And his bold statement — “If you’re not trying to change the franchise or culture, don’t get me,” didn’t help him either as it ended up giving him the ‘arrogant’ tag. But, with the NFL Draft only a month away, Shedeur is fighting back against media narratives, refusing to let them hijack his future.

While early Draft projections placed Shedeur Sanders in the first round, possibly even within the top ten, many analysts are now unsure about it. The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler has put him at 21st position in his latest mock draft rather than No. 2. Then, even NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein predicted that the Browns might trade up to 29th and snag the former Buffs star. Now, how much more can a person take before finally breaking? And this time, Shedeur isn’t letting it slide easily.

Shedeur Sanders didn’t shy away from the questions about his draft prospects; he confronted them directly. In a video posted Wednesday, YouTuber Bradley Martyn’s cameraman expressed hope that the Raiders would trade up from pick number six to select Sanders. But Shedeur? He isn’t even sure they’ll need to. As he says, “Well, everybody is trying to make my stock drop right now, so who knows.” Then Martyn asked him, “Who’s trying to make it drop?” Shedeur fired back, saying, “You know how life gets, but it is what it is. It’s fool’s gold. It isn’t real. Don’t believe media.” Dov Kleiman shared the conversation on X with a plea, “Leave the kid alone 😔.”

Well, it was all fun banter, but only Shedeur Sanders can understand what it takes to joke about something that bothers you a lot. Even analyst Trevor Sikkema projected him out of the top 10 picks in the drafts. Why? “The reason why I’m a little bit lower on him — I gave him a late second, early third round grade — is simply because I don’t know if he’s got that crazy arm talent to be able to compete with the Lamar Jacksons, the Josh Allens, and the Patrick Mahomes guys like that.” 

Well, Shedeur Sanders’ arm strength is a topic of debate, much like Joe Burrow‘s when he entered the NFL. Scouts questioned Burrow’s arm strength after his time at LSU. Despite not having the same arm strength as Josh Allen or the physicality as Jalen Hurts, Burrow still succeeded. This raises the question: Does a quarterback’s success rely solely on raw power? Some draw comparisons between Shedeur and Patrick Mahomes, questioning if they are valid or a stretch. Burrow excelled without a bazooka arm.

But here’s the kicker. Shedeur, despite his impressive record of over 100 touchdowns and turning around two college programs, is not a top draft pick. Why? Concerns arise due to his father, Deion Sanders, with some speculating that teams may avoid Shedeur due to the ‘Deion factor’. Mike Florio from NBC Sports suggested that coaches fear that Coach Prime might be waiting in the wings to take over their jobs if things go wrong. However, not all teams are thriving on that notion.

Pat McAfee shuts down Shedeur Sanders’ ‘arrogant’ tag

Shedeur Sanders finds himself caught in the Draft stock rollercoaster yet again. According to Matthew Berry, two unnamed team sources criticized him as “unprofessional” and “disinterested” in meetings. However, amidst the shade thrown by some scouts, others, like the Cleveland Browns, come to his defense. Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com disclosed that the Browns were “impressed” after meeting with Sanders one-on-one at the Shrine Bowl and Combine.

They didn’t find him “arrogant or brash,” refuting the recent negative portrayal of his character. Pat McAfee supports Cabot’s report, emphasizing why the Browns would be a good fit for Shedeur. McAfee highlighted Cleveland’s challenging financial situation, stating that the team can’t afford to invest heavily in quarterbacks due to limited cap space. Consequently, most people speculate that the Browns will opt for a young, cost-effective quarterback as the second overall pick — a player capable of leading the team effectively without straining their budget further.

Pat McAfee even backed the whole thing, saying, “They liked all of the good things his Hall of Fame dad poured into him, but he appreciated that he’s his own man. He exhibited the excellent leadership qualities they’re looking for in a quarterback, as did Ward.” Now, the Browns getting Cam Ward is a bit tricky with the Titans holding the first spot, and they might not trade him for anyone. However, if they choose Sanders, it would not only alter their future but could also slam the door on Watson’s future with the team.

Now, let’s just wait and see how things turn out for him in the future!