NFL insider warns drafting Shedeur Sanders could trigger Coach Prime pressure if things go wrong

With just days to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, the uncertainty surrounding Shedeur Sanders’ landing spot continues to dominate the conversation.

Sanders has been projected to go as high as No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns and as low as the first pick of the second round — a testament to just how polarizing the Colorado quarterback has become ahead of his leap to the pros.

What fuels that polarization isn’t just his play on the field, but also the presence of his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. That influence, both familial and football-related, could have a major impact on his NFL future, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.

“Here’s a point that some personnel people in the league made about Shedeur Sanders: He is the rare player whose NFL experience will be a reversal of his college experience. He has played for his father Deion Sanders throughout college; he didn’t have the chance to be on his own,” Schrager said.

“Now, at the NFL level, he will be without his father’s presence in football for the first time, and he will have to adapt to his new life the way some players do when they go from high school to college. This, in the eyes of some, will be an opportunity for Sanders to grow, continue to learn and take his game to an even higher level.”

In short, Schrager implies that Coach Prime may have been a security blanket for Shedeur — and that stepping away from that comfort zone might be necessary for his growth.

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But the situation could be far from over, Schrager warns. He added that any team considering drafting Shedeur better be prepared for the long-term optics — especially if things go south early.

“Short of Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, any other coach who drafts Sanders better be comfortable with his standing within the organization,” Schrager said. “Because if that team struggles and the fan base is calling for a coaching change, speculation will start to swirl about Sanders’ father taking over.”

As long as Shedeur is in the NFL, questions about Deion potentially following him will linger. That added layer of drama — along with the inevitable media spotlight — is likely one of the many reasons teams in the top half of the draft remain hesitant. After all, whoever drafts Shedeur Sanders won’t just be adding a quarterback — they may also be inheriting a headline.

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