"It's a Lot of Hate": Shedeur Sanders fires back at NFL draft critics—Is he being unfairly targeted?

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s star quarterback, finds himself at the center of a heated debate. Despite being a projected high draft pick, Sanders has faced a wave of skepticism and criticism—something he addressed head-on during a recent interview with NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks at the Big 12 pro day.


When asked about the draft process and the intense scrutiny surrounding him, Sanders acknowledged the challenges, saying, "It's definitely a learning experience that a lot of things aren't in your control... I'm thankful that I have those resources". The 22-year-old QB, son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has remained composed in the face of what some see as an unfair media narrative against him.
Being the son of a football icon comes with both advantages and disadvantages. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick recently pointed out that much of the criticism directed at Sanders stems from his lineage. “Shedeur, in particular, is uniquely equipped to handle the media firestorm that’s going to surround him,” Riddick said. “A lot of it is going to be directed at him simply because of what his last name is and how big and larger than life his father is”.
Deion Sanders, never one to hold back, also defended his son against the perception that he is arrogant. In an interview with the NFL Network, the elder Sanders dismissed the claims as "lies" and even considered calling out the source of the misinformation before deciding against it.

Beyond the criticism of his demeanor, another major talking point surrounding Shedeur Sanders is his playing style. Unlike many of today’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, Sanders prefers to operate from the pocket. When asked why he doesn’t run as much, he had a clear response: “I mean, it always worked in the league. Look at the history of the league. Not everybody was, you know, big-time runners back then... The greatest quarterback ever, Tom Brady, he (didn’t) run too much”

With over a month left before the draft, the scrutiny surrounding Shedeur Sanders will likely intensify. However, much of the criticism appears to be rooted in off-field narratives rather than an honest assessment of his on-field abilities. As Riddick put it, “Deion will tell you... this young man has been wise and mature beyond his years... He can handle any environment that he is going to go into.”
Ultimately, Sanders' performance at the next level will be the real answer to the doubters. But for now, he seems content letting his play—and his words—speak for themselves.
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