If you want to take a swing at Shedeur Sanders, you’ve got to go through his family too. It’s almost time to bury that polarizing prospect narrative. The former Colorado QB is likely going to be a first-round pick despite a lot of criticisms and attempted drag-downs. More than 7,300 yards and 64 TDs over two seasons in Boulder. Broke several Buffs football records. And even had his No. 2 retired (that one still sparks debate). Still more potential achievements on the way. 

You see, Shedeur Sanders is set to make history on Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He’s likely going to be the first Buffs QB to ever be picked in the first round at the 2025 NFL Draft. It could be the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 or the New York Giants at No. 3, or perhaps even the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. But the possibility of an R1 pick isn’t out of the question. 

As always, talks are circulating around his pre-draft process with not-so-subtle hits to Shedeur Sanders. So, just a few moments before the draft, Deiondra Sanders isn’t keeping it under the covers. In her new X post on April 24, she fired at the NFL — “When the hate don’t work. They start telling lies.” Looks like she’s had enough of all the drama surrounding her brother.

Now, hate never leaves the Sanders. Just a day before the draft, an anonymous NFL coach told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that during his pre-draft process, Shedeur Sanders had the “worst formal interview ever.” “He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks,” the coach said. “He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates. But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.” 

And there’s another veteran AFC executive planting bombs — “It didn’t go great in our interview. He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.” Well, we might never know. But Shedeur Sanders has long learned to shut down such noises. “Whenever I talk to all these coaches and the teams, they really don’t care about all the stuff people say on media,” he said. “That’s why I don’t respond, that’s why I don’t say anything anymore… I’m just the darkhorse, I guess.” And along with Deiondra, their dad, Deion Sanders, isn’t buying into the lies. 

Deion Sanders defends Shedeur Sanders from the negativity

Deion Sanders has done it before. He tracked down a particular QB coach who gave Shedeur Sanders the “brash” and “arrogant” labels at the NFL Combine. He previously said on The Skip Bayless Show, “That was a lie. You know me, I’m going to get to the bottom of it, so I called that team, because I tracked it down and I knew who it was. I called the head coach and we had a candid conversation… I said… ‘this guy on your staff lied and said it did. So you need to check him.’ And he did check him.” You don’t mess with Prime Time! 

But back to the present, Deion Sanders declared that his family is “built for this” — the criticism, the ridicule, the attacks. But the pride is that they’ve won above all these derogatory narratives. “We came from a private school. And we came from an HBCU. We’ve won,” he said. “Shedeur’s getting drafted. He’s going in the first round. Shilo’s going to do his thing. All he needs is his opportunity. We’ve won, man. We’ve already won.” As for Shedeur Sanders’ mindset before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes the podium, he’s ready. “I’m built for whatever today may bring,” he wrote on X. 

The next few hours will be tinged with excitement and anxiety as the world watches how Shedeur Sanders transitions into the NFL.