Watch Deion Sanders’ reaction during crushing Shedeur 2025 NFL Draft moment

New York Post - Apr 25th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Deion Sanders expressed visible disappointment as his son, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was passed over by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite being a potential top-three prospect, Shedeur was not chosen in the first round, as the Saints selected Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. instead. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who were also in need of a quarterback, opted for Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. At a private draft party in Texas, Shedeur responded to the snub by saying it was 'fuel to the fire,' emphasizing his resolve to prove his critics wrong.

The draft outcome has significant implications for Shedeur Sanders, who was once considered a top prospect but faced scrutiny over his demeanor during interviews. His father, Deion Sanders, pointed out the added pressure of carrying a famous last name. With the Browns now emerging as the favorites to select Shedeur in the second round, his journey serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of the draft and the challenges facing young athletes under intense public scrutiny. The narrative also underscores the strategic decisions teams make, such as the Steelers' trade for DK Metcalf, reshaping their draft priorities.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and engaging account of Shedeur Sanders' experience during the 2025 NFL Draft, effectively capturing the emotional impact of the event on the Sanders family. It excels in clarity and readability, making the story accessible to a broad audience. However, the article's reliance on anecdotal evidence and anonymous sources limits its accuracy and source quality. The narrative could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives, including insights from NFL teams and analysts. Despite these limitations, the story addresses topics of public interest and has the potential to influence perceptions within the sports community, particularly regarding the pressures faced by athletes with famous family backgrounds.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a generally accurate account of the events surrounding Shedeur Sanders' experience during the 2025 NFL Draft. It accurately reports Deion Sanders' visible disappointment when his son was not selected by the New Orleans Saints, aligning with documented reactions from the event. However, some claims, such as Deion Sanders' specific actions at the draft party, are anecdotal and not directly verifiable through the story alone. The mention of Shedeur's performance as the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and his record-setting statistics at Colorado are factual and verifiable through public records and sports archives. The article's predictions about potential second-round picks, such as Shedeur's prospects with the Browns, are speculative and should be treated as such until confirmed by official draft outcomes.

6
Balance

The story primarily presents the perspective of Deion and Shedeur Sanders, with a focus on their personal experiences and reactions. This focus provides an in-depth look at their feelings and expectations but lacks the viewpoints of other stakeholders, such as NFL teams or analysts, which could offer a more balanced perspective. The article briefly mentions anonymous criticisms of Shedeur's demeanor during interviews, which introduces a contrasting viewpoint but does not delve deeply into the context or validity of these claims. Including more perspectives from scouts, coaches, or analysts could enhance the balance by providing a fuller picture of Shedeur's draft prospects and the reasons behind his slide in the draft.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, presenting the events of the draft night in a chronological and coherent manner. The language is straightforward, making the story accessible to a broad audience. The narrative effectively conveys the emotional impact of the draft on the Sanders family, using vivid descriptions of their reactions. However, the inclusion of speculative elements, such as potential second-round picks, could be more clearly distinguished from factual reporting to avoid confusion. Overall, the article maintains a good level of clarity in its presentation of the main events.

5
Source quality

The article relies heavily on the observations of Deion and Shedeur Sanders, which are firsthand but not independently verified. The use of anonymous sources to report opinions about Shedeur's behavior during interviews lacks transparency and reduces the credibility of these claims. The story would benefit from citing more authoritative sources, such as direct quotes from NFL executives or verified reports from reputable sports journalists, to strengthen its reliability. The absence of diverse sources limits the depth and breadth of the information presented.

6
Transparency

The article provides some context regarding the Sanders' reactions and the draft process, but it lacks transparency in certain areas. For example, the claims about Shedeur's perceived attitude during interviews are based on anonymous sources, which are not clearly attributed or substantiated. The article does not disclose the methodology or criteria used to evaluate Shedeur's draft prospects, leaving readers without a clear understanding of the basis for these assessments. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the validity of its claims.

Sources

  1. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44844500/shedeur-sanders-not-selected-first-round-nfl-draft
  2. https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-draft-buzz-latest-league-news-rumors-ahead-of-friday-s-rounds-2-3
  3. https://www.nfl.com/news/best-prospects-available-in-2025-nfl-draft
  4. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/shedeur-sanders-falls-in-nfl-draft-2025-predicting-landing-spots-for-top-qb-prospect-in-rounds-1-2/