144 Reasons to Get Real about Shadeur Sanders

The modern-day athlete has more power than ever before. Deservedly so, college players 144-reasons-to-get-real-about-shadeur-sanderscan now profit from their own image and likeness unlike in years past when only boosters and the NCAA did. It has traction in professional leagues as well where star athletes have even more leverage than ever before in making their own decisions about the trajectory of their careers. Cue Jimmy Butler. All of this has led to an unprecedented amount of conversation about the current state of sports and where the leagues are headed. It is because of this sudden shift in the balance of power that Shadeur Sanders felt heading into draft day, the likelihood of him not getting drafted in the first round or early second round was slim to none. Three days passed before Sanders heard his name called and he was drafted to a team with a rotating roster of quarterbacks. While the pundits described this fall as a tragedy, the truth of the matter was this was a lesson in humility.

Take nothing away from the allure Sanders and his father brought to the Colorado football program. The excitement their presence brought cannot be overstated. But overall, statistics included, Sanders is considered an average quarterback. If not for his namesake, the word tragedy would not even be used in describing his fall to the 144th pick. It would have been expected. He also chose not to do pre-draft workouts with teams. Also, his father, Deion Sanders, made it very clear they would hedge a way out, if drafted by a undesirable team. He alluded to what Eli Manning did when he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. (All my fellow Giants fans may ask why they even bring up that ancient history?) Sanders’ own decision making contributed to his fall.

It is indeed painful to watch the football life of a young man hang in the balance of one of the most publicized events of every year. Through discomfort, the reality is that the NFL is not for the faint hearted. It is a league that relies heavily on a player’s own mortality and whether they can find their way on a field to make a substantial difference. Retired players say that the NFL Hall of Fame is the hardest to get into because of its standard. Shadeur Sanders didn’t take it as seriously as he should’ve and the result was reminiscent of that lackluster mentality.

Cleveland’s quarterback room is in one word…circumstantial. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett don’t necessarily move the needle. Dillion Gabriel was picked before Sanders and there still begs the question of whether he is even a franchise QB. And does anyone even think there is a future in Cleveland for Watson? Every quarterback is in that room due to random circumstances. If anything, if Sanders is the quarterback for the Browns, he should excel amongst his competition.

This is an opportunity for Shadeur Sanders. Most people would say to prove himself. To prove that all the hype his namesake generated was worthy of its conception. That would be the common opinion. But truthfully this an opportunity for Sanders to show his maturity. His commitment to playing football.

All the glitz and glamour that comes with being a college star can be addicting. You walk into a room and the air changes. People hang on with your every word. In the NFL, success is determined by what you do on the field. Tom Brady would have never been considered the GOAT if he didn’t win and then in turn, win multiple Super Bowls. Eli Manning would have never been considered for the Hall of Fame if he hadn’t won a Superbowl…then, two. Dan Marino, even without the Superbowl win, still excelled on the field and his throwing ability almost feels like one of urban legends. Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Randy Moss, Barry Sanders…any legendary player of the past…proved themselves on the field between the lines. There is a world in which Sanders never gets the opportunity. Trade talks have already begun, even the possibility of Sanders going to the Canadian Football League. In some ways, it is more of a tumble even from being the 144th pick. In danger of being almost completely irrelevant in the 2025-2026 NFL season is a strong possibility for Shadeur.

One of the best things Deion Sanders has done in his illustrious career was being the coach of Jackson State. In a world where historically African American colleges are under funded and disregarded in some ways, Deion and Shadeur did something great. What was or was not accomplished at Colorado does not deter from the work they did at Jackson State, and that shepherded their path to Colorado.

I think most star athletes deal with some version of an ego. Most certainly to be great at any sport you must have full confidence in your ability. But there is a fine line between ego and arrogance. Even with a slight ego, you should have some sense of humility about what you have accomplished. In two years, where will Shadeur Sanders be? It’s a thin line between ego and humility but the line between one and 144 is even wider.