The Unseen Giant: Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Dilemma

As Shedeur Sanders descended deeper and deeper in the NFL draft, I detected an awkward topic surfacing beneath it all. Television commentators evaded it, leading football journalists tiptoed around it, yet the theme dominated discussions over the weekend in my texts, face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and social media:

The NFL, as per my friends, aimed to “humble” Shedeur and his father, Deion Sanders. The league wished to place these unrepentant, bold, opinionated Black men “in their designated spot.”

That “spot” turned out to be – whether cruelly, justifiably, or somewhere in between – the fifth round of the draft, at pick No. 144 by the Cleveland Browns, after four other quarterbacks had already been chosen. Shedeur was not labeled a star prospect, but he is clearly a significantly superior player than his final selection indicates. That reality relayed a clear message to a multitude of Black football enthusiasts, and by the conclusion of the third round on Friday night, my phone was buzzing intensely.

At this moment, you might be pondering, Just who are these friends, and do they also believe that Tupac Shakur is thriving in Cuba? That Bill Cosby was framed to hinder his NBC purchase? That Beyonce and Jay Z lead the Illuminati? That NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell texted the group chat: “Conditions are FAVOURABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/DRAFT CENTCOM we are a GO for OPERATION DESTROY DEION”?

No, the friends are not indulging in that conspiracy nonsense (although, personally, I think the theory about crack in Crazy Horse malt liquor deserves further examination). There are numerous clear explanations for why Shedeur’s prospects declined so sharply; ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper was almost shouting at clouds:

Shedeur did not perform well in interviews with some teams, possibly on purpose to discourage them from choosing him. Few teams were in need of a quarterback. Limited teams accept parents like Deion. Shedeur’s average speed and athleticism categorize him as a projected backup in the near term, which teams often deem unworthy of all the “distractions” associated with the Sanders family. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in urgent need of a quarterback, have a Black head coach in Mike Tomlin, and one of the most progressive ownership groups in the NFL – yet they bypassed Shedeur with an agile T.J. Watt swim move.

Teams may tolerate “challenges” if the talent is exceptional – the Browns infamously signed peak Deshaun Watson to a record-setting quarterback deal despite numerous allegations of sexual misconduct – but Shedeur is more akin to, say, Bo Nix than Jayden Daniels. All the aforementioned led to an avalanche of discussion regarding Deion and his son learning a lesson. Which isn’t untrue.

And yet …

There exists a long-standing history of disdain and sometimes retribution aimed at Black sports figures who are unapologetic, who defy what many perceive as “appropriate” or “respectful” behavior, who challenge the established order. Let’s not pretend that America hasn’t tried, and occasionally succeeded, in putting these individuals “in their designated spots.”

Jack Johnson, the inaugural Black heavyweight boxing champion, was placed behind bars. The un-silenceable Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing for three years. John Carlos and Tommy Smith were expelled from the Olympics. Many in the media attempted to box Georgetown coach John Thompson into a racist narrative, but he overcame it by succeeding on the basketball court, in academics, and against the

NCAA. 

In recent years, we have observed the NFL’s wealthy proprietors mistreating Black quarterbacks in ways concealed from even the most embedded media insiders, which appeared questionable. Colin Kaepernick has not participated in football again due to his demonstrations against police brutality, despite being evidently superior to many quarterbacks in the league. The star Lamar Jackson received a chilling reception in free agency from team owners who took a firm stance on guaranteed contracts. Let’s not pretend that owners and teams don’t exchange information.

Deion Sanders, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and head coach at the University of Colorado, occupies this historic continuum. Not because he speaks out against racial injustice, but for refusing to conform to the mold of respectable, mainstream Black figures like Rosa Parks, Colin Powell, Michael Jordan, and Barack Obama (no disrespect intended to these luminaries) who have typically been allowed to flourish in American establishments.

Beginning approximately 36 years ago, when he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated resembling MC Hammer’s relative, we witnessed Deion audibly vocalize more than any athlete since Ali in his (you guessed it) prime. Deion managed to get away with extensive showboating because he played football in a manner unmatched by anyone before or after, while also hitting home runs for the Yankees during his off days. Deion understood the consequences of such self-assuredness: “Some individuals will come out to watch me succeed. Some individuals will come out to see me fail,” he once proclaimed. “But whether you love me or loathe me, they will come out.”

The audience continues to show up – observe Colorado’s television viewership. Many individuals still harbor disdain – perhaps even more now than during Deion’s playing days, because contemporary media is far more susceptible to manipulation (often by Deion himself) and omnipresent. I’ll confess that while I greatly enjoyed Deion’s player persona, some aspects of his Coach Prime performance irritate me, even as I admire the way he nurtures and supports the athletes he does not push into the transfer portal.

“Nobody gets paid to be humble,” is among Deion’s most widely quoted remarks. I hold that modesty is a virtue, and that the antithesis of any virtue is something to be cautious about. Shedeur appears to be a commendable young man, but some of his bravado seems performative or presumptive, rather than earned like his father’s. Yes, you’re talented, Shedeur, but the “Legendary” branding? After a 9-4 season? And Deion allowed Colorado to retire your jersey already? Ouch.

If the Black individual composing this article feels occasionally exasperated, imagine the sentiments within the NFL hierarchy.

Deion had already fired a warning shot at the NFL. In a January interview with Tamron (no relation to Cam’ron) Hall, Deion explicitly declared his plan to “intervene” if Shedeur was not chosen by “the right team,” mentioning that there were “a couple of teams I won’t permit him to play for.” One of those teams, at least back in 2018, included the Cleveland Browns.

So when Shedeur landed in the town that Deion disparaged? Naturally, the friends will assert that the NFL is placing Sanders, both father and son, “in their proper place.”

Adding insult upon injury, the Browns utilized their third-round selection to draft another quarterback before Shedeur, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who is 5-foot-11, “lacks arm strength,” and demonstrates “inconsistent” ball placement. When they finally selected Shedeur in the fifth round, the Browns remarked they acquired him at a “bargain” – the ultimate humiliation for a family brand literally built on the dollar sign.

It’s notable that Shedeur was overlooked due to non-football matters while not so long ago, two white college quarterbacks with off-the-field issues – Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel – were chosen No. 1 and No. 22 in their drafts. (Mayfield evolved into a very competent NFL player; Manziel flopped.) Moreover, Deion attempting to direct his son to a favorable outcome was viewed quite differently than former NFL quarterback Archie Manning influencing the 2004 draft to “situate” his QB son Eli with the New York Giants rather than the San Diego Chargers.

Efforts to erase historical contexts are currently trending. However, history remains steadfast. I’m pleased that my community won’t allow me to forget it.

I doubt there was a deliberate scheme to undermine the Sanders men. There didn’t need to be. History persists for a purpose. Would Shedeur have been drafted higher if he were a superior player, if he exhibited greater humility, if Deion demonstrated less hubris? Certainly. Is the NFL, and our society at large, influenced by a predominantly white male power dynamic that often coerces the considerable majority of Black individuals to conform or be marginalized? Unquestionably.

America still embodies that kind of environment.