Overview
Initially of final 12 months’s faculty soccer season, many NFL specialists had predicted Shedeur Sanders to be picked first general in final week’s draft. Nevertheless, minimize to at this time, and the 23-year-old quarterback was picked 144th within the fifth spherical by the Cleveland Browns.
Sanders’ draft inventory might have fallen barely all through final season, with some specialists arguing he takes too many pointless sacks, in addition to missing top-level arm power, however he was nonetheless a consensus first-round choose.
Some mock drafts had him going as excessive as quantity three to the New York Giants, and lots of had the Pittsburgh Steelers taking him at 21. Both of those outcomes would have had Sanders because the second quarterback to be drafted, however ultimately, he wasn’t even the primary quarterback drafted by his workforce. The query is, what brought about this unprecedented slide?
Embed from Getty Photos
As said, there have been some considerations over his capacity, however he had proven sufficient high quality to cement himself as at the very least one of many three most gifted quarterbacks on this 12 months’s draft class. The principle points groups appear to have with Sanders is all off-field.
Questions Over Angle
Final month a member of NFL employees spoke on Sanders’ time at a pre-draft scouting mix. They said that he got here throughout as “brash and smug” and through his interviews appeared “unprofessional and disinterested.”
Moreover, it was just lately reported by the Ringer that Sanders had a nasty personal exercise and subsequent assembly with the New York Giants, clashing with Head Coach Brian Daboll. The report states that the previous Colorado QB got here into the assembly unprepared, and when referred to as out on it, responded in a method that offended the Giants’ coach.
Lastly, an nameless assistant coach mentioned that their assembly with Sanders was the “worst formal interview” he had ever been a part of. This identical assistant additionally voiced concern over the QB’s historical past of blaming his teammates, significantly his offensive line, after losses.
One other downside usually cited is Shedeur’s father, NFL Corridor of Famer Deion Sanders. The previous Dallas Cowboys defensive again has not solely been a mum or dad but additionally Shedeur’s faculty head coach and agent. This opened up two points with NFL entrance workplaces: Firstly, it may very well be argued that Deion’s model of play at Colorado was designed to guard and improve his son’s notion.
Moreover, Deion has a popularity for being vocal together with his opinion. Now, whenever you’re broadly considered the best cornerback ever to grace the game, this may work; nonetheless, NFL executives questioned whether or not having Sander’s father probably questioning workforce selections can be value it for a participant of Shedeur’s capacity.
The NFL’s Downside with Black QB’s
Then again, Sanders’ supporters argue that that is simply one other instance of the NFL exhibiting bias in direction of a particular kind of black quarterback. Traditionally, there was a widely known reluctance from NFL groups to make use of a black quarterback.
This has improved in latest seasons with this 12 months’s primary choose, Cam Ward, being an instance. Nevertheless, workforce house owners and executives are nonetheless reluctant to take probabilities on black QB’s they view as too ‘in your face’. You want look no additional than the way in which Colin Kaepernick was hounded out of the league.
So, while his critics name Sanders smug and abrasive, others would argue that that is one other instance of the league being offended by a assured and outspoken younger black man.
Embed from Getty Photos
What the Future Holds
Total, this entire saga has, if something, added intrigue to the brand new Cleveland Browns quarterback. He’s undeniably a really gifted participant when it comes to his high quality on the sector and goes right into a workforce the place the beginning spot is up for grabs.
The query remaining is whether or not groups had been proper to go on this high-potential prospect within the NFL draft as a result of off-field questions, or have they simply added gas to the fireplace of a future prime QB?
