Deion Predicts a Shot for His Son
Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, head coach at Colorado and father of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, said he expects his son to start for the Cleveland Browns this season.
Speaking on Jason and Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast, Sanders offered advice for Shedeur: “Be patient and be ready. You got to be ready when it’s time. But when it’s time, you’re going to know. And it’s coming up. I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s going to go down. But it’s going to go down this year. … He’s going to get a shot.”
Draft Drama: Baltimore and Philadelphia
Deion confirmed reports that Shedeur told the Baltimore Ravens not to draft him in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ravens were reportedly planning to select him in the fifth round with the 141st pick, but Shedeur did not want to back up Lamar Jackson.
“I played for Baltimore, so me and [former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome] are cool,” Deion explained. “We understood that whole conversation, and he wanted to talk to Shedeur as well as he wanted to talk to me. How in the world can somebody fault him for thinking, ‘Why go back up Lamar for 10 more years?’”
Deion also revealed that the Philadelphia Eagles made a call on draft day, but Shedeur opted not to join them either. The Browns traded up to the 144th pick to select Shedeur, placing him currently third on the depth chart behind starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Shedeur’s Mindset
After Cleveland’s 13-10 Week 2 win over the Green Bay Packers, Shedeur spoke about focusing on the present. “I don’t really talk about anything in the past, and whatever happened in the past, it is what it is. I’m more focused on now, how this game went, and figuring out how to move forward,” he said.
Despite being QB3, Shedeur has been running the scout team offense in practice alongside Gabriel and practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe.
Draft Position and Performance
Shedeur Sanders entered the 2025 NFL Draft as a former top-10 prospect but fell to the fifth round, going 144th overall to Cleveland. In preseason, he completed 17-of-29 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers, although he was sacked seven times.
Deion pushed back against criticism of his son’s draft choices: “Where do these guys come from saying, ‘Oh, you should’ve sat behind and learned the game’? When have the pros ever developed anybody? By the time you get to the NFL, they expect you to know what you need to do, or somebody else will.”
Looking Ahead
For now, Joe Flacco remains the Browns’ starter, but Deion Sanders is confident Shedeur will get his chance. “You know, I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s gonna go down. But it’s going down this year. He’s going to get a shot,” Deion said.
Fans will be watching closely as the Browns navigate the 2025 season, with Shedeur Sanders’ potential debut looming on the horizon.
