Shedeur Sanders, the NFL draft's most polarizing prospect, isn't scared of the spotlight

Shedeur Sanders, the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and son Deion Sanders, has been one of the most talked about names headed into Thursday’s draft. He's okay with that.

In an NFL draft season that has largely lacked drama or intrigue, one prospect has seemingly been making up for the dearth of storylines by himself.

Shedeur Sanders, the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and son of football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has been one of the most talked-about names headed into Thursday’s event. That’s without any sort of consensus on how serious his pro potential really is, with prognosticators speculating Sanders could be picked as high as No. 3 overall by the New York Giants, No. 9 by the New Orleans Saints or outside the first round entirely. 

And as much as Sanders has been scrutinized for his play on the field, he has also been picked apart off of it. 

Shedeur Sanders #2 in the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Boulder, Colo., on Oct. 12, 2024.David Zalubowski / AP fileOne quarterbacks coach reportedly referred to Sanders as “brash” and “arrogant.” Another assistant coach told NFL Network that he was “entitled” after what he described as “the worst formal interview” he’d ever been a part of. 

It’s a narrative Sanders isn’t paying any mind ahead of the draft.