Shedeur Sanders’ most pre-draft decisions could very well be thought to be masterclass moves. Not participating in the Combine in Indy because the conditions aren’t controllable? Check. Working out on the Pro Day in a strategized manner to showcase your strengths? Also check. Of course, he was fathered and trained by one of the greatest football players in the NFL history– Deion Sanders. But then 31 teams passed on him, many had at least three chances to draft him, but they never did– until the Cleveland Browns in round 5. So, what went wrong?

Deion had mentioned before “There’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen… It’s gonna be an Eli,” but things are different in the two cases. Just like Shedeur, Eli had a Hall of Famer father Archie Manning. He too was reportedly swayed by his father’s decision for him back in 2004 to not play for the San Diego Chargers to ultimately get traded to the Giants. But Shedeur was drafted at 144th overall over Eli’s first. Now Shedeur re-ignited the fire lost for at least two decades for the Colorado Buffaloes. He finished in top names amongst the Heisman trophy nominees, won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. But many teams saw the connections, public perception, and legacy too.

One thing that simply cannot be overlooked is his last name– Sanders. That reality carries enormous weight in any discussion about his football journey. Deion is the man who not only learned the skill of improving his stocks with the Prime Time and Coach Prime persona but also someone who has mastered the NFL draft process. Remember when he walked into the New York Giants’ interview and asked where they would be drafting? When they said 14th overall, he walked out saying, “I’ll be long gone by then.” That wasn’t arrogance, but realistic awareness. But could it be that Coach Prime, who acted as Deion’s agent, didn’t read the situation the way he should have? At least some think so.

Enter co-host of the Bootleg Football podcast, Brett Kollmann, who feels that Shedeur suffered in the draft selection because he did not have an agent. “After some thought, I think part of the issue for the Shedeur Sanders camp is that they didn’t hire an agent. An agent’s job is to give the client an accurate range of where they are projected to go so they know how to navigate the process. Shedeur approached the process like a lock for the top 5 because that’s what the Sanders family honestly thought he was going to be.

“And unfortunately, they didn’t have anyone in their circle willing to tell them otherwise. If he went into it knowing teams had day two grades on him, who knows…he may have done things differently. That’s why agents are important,” Brett wrote in his tweet.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, on Tuesday’s episode of Scoop City, said, “I did have a team share with me this morning that they wondered as an organization if Shedeur had an NFL agent with experience with a top quarterback entering the draft. If that agent had provided maybe a little bit more insight into the preparation, into the process over the three months leading into the draft. That way, those interviews go well.”

CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones mentioned how the draft slide is a reflection not of Sanders’ play, but his process. That’s where things get even more layered. It wasn’t just about not having an agent; it was about who they trusted instead. For many, the Sanders family should’ve asked Coach Prime to stay back and Daddy Prime to take over and hire an agent who would suggest the correct means to Shedeur. But as it may, that didn’t happen. And as per Jones, “This is clearly a way for the NFL, and its teams, to let [Shedeur] and anyone else after him know, you can’t comport yourself in this way moving forward.”

Now, some fingers are pointing toward Coach Prime. Former WR Cris Carter gave his two cents on Shedeur’s slide.

Coach Prime’s bet on Shedeur Sanders backfired

Hall of Famer Cris Carter puts it bluntly that Shedeur was prioritizing image over substance. “For his job interview, he was so concerned about what his outfit was. His necklace was over a hundred grand. Like, he hadn’t even convinced people that you’re the face of our franchise.” The problem arose when no one was there to challenge that belief. Even if Shedeur came across as “brash” and “arrogant,” an agent might have helped reshape that image around the league.

But the Sanders family relied on Coach Prime’s brand power and media pull. And as Brett wrote, presuming where Shedeur would land instead of accepting honest advice from an agent was a huge mistake on their part, being overconfident in Deion’s influence. So, in a way, Shedeur suffered by relying solely on the family brand.

Even Shedeur’s oldest brother, Shilo Sanders, too, candidly mentioned during a live stream that maybe they needed to sign with agents. “Dad was our agent, but that hasn’t been working out too good. So today I had to sign with an agent.” Shilo, who went undrafted this year, signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent. The 25-year-old also signed with popular agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Well, the Sanders family isn’t short on supporters. ESPN host and analyst Stephen A. Smith argues that the league, due to its dislike toward Deion, excluded Shedeur. “NFL teams don’t want to deal with Shedeur Sanders because of his dad’s influence, and they can’t admit it.’ [Shedeur’s] not gonna just take instructions… he’s going to challenge your football intellect.”

At the end of the day, it seems like Shedeur’s draft slip might’ve been more about perception than his actual talent. Who knows what could’ve been different with a little more guidance along the way?