There is yet another question on Shedeur Sanders’ leadership skills. After the Xavier Smith and Cormani McClain debacle, Shedeur has been under fire. Despite this, he is considered the marquee superstar QB of the Colorado Buffaloes and is suiting up for the 2025 NFL draft and every challenge that would come with it, even tackling the ‘nepotism’ ones. Now that Shedeur Sanders is walking down that path, he would also need to take care of how he presents himself as a leader if he aims to be a starting QB of an elite-level franchise.

Amid all this, getting compared to the iconic Aaron Rodgers would be a major accolade for any college QB, let alone Shedeur Sanders. However, it is a bit different this time. This time, Shedeur Sanders’ leadership is compared to A-Rod’s. Mike Farrell explains how it would be a problem once he enters the NFL.

Shedeur Sanders branded selfish

Remember the time Shedeur Sanders took the headlines by storm when he donned a camouflage orange and olive-green LV gear for walking on the ramp for Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter 2024 show in Paris? Yes, that was the time when he chose to strut as a model over his QB duties at 2024’s first Buffs team meet in Boulder. Per Mike Farrell, “This is an instance where NIL has gone too far,” also the reason why he thinks CU performs badly in-field.

Now this ‘selfishness’ appears strikingly similar to that of Aaron Rodgers to Mike Farrell. The NFL expert thought of Sanders’ haute couture stint when talking about the New York QB missing on a mandatory minicamp, the reason for which per Daily Mail was an ayahuasca retreat. This ditching of events that are important for a team sets the wrong tone since both A-Rod and Shedeur are leaders of the team. They set the tone.

Or, as Mike Farrell puts it, “As the franchise QB, his commitment to the team is vital, and this sends a message to the rest of the team.” Per Farrell’s prediction, this ‘selfishness’ by Shedeur, and Deion Sanders allowing it, would negatively affect the Buffs locker room. The direct effect of this would be evident on-field this season, the season which is extremely important for Shedeur Sanders.

Why the 2024 season is vital for Shedeur Sanders

Choosing NIL over their team might not put out a ‘desirable QB’ image for Shedeur, especially if he is expecting to be drafted by some of the top teams in the NFL or the first round. His father Deion Sanders expects him to pull an Eli Manning, aka to be in a position in the 2025 NFL draft where he gets to choose which team would draft him.

Now this is a living embodiment of irony, as the early 2025 mock drafts do not see Shedeur Sanders as a QB1. It is Carson Beck who is stealing the position. Some don’t even see Shedeur Sanders as a first-round pick. His leadership was severely questioned when he called one of his former teammates Xavier Smith “mid.”

Now add the NCAA analysts pulling the ‘favoritism card’ against the QB and his father. Jason Whitlock is one to do so, not mincing his words while claiming that Deion Sanders practices ‘nepotism’. With all this, Shedeur Sanders’ journey till the NFL draft would be one roller coaster ride.