As I begin my thoughts here, I think it’s important to point out a few things. First, I have no direct evidence to support any claims I will make against the NFL and professional sports in this op-ed—aside from what those leagues reveal to us every year. I also acknowledge that I am writing this from a place of privilege as a white male who no longer watches the NFL (for reasons beyond what I’m about to discuss).
With that out of the way, let’s address the elephant in the room. The free fall Shedeur Sanders experienced in the 2025 NFL Draft is nothing short of billionaire collusion—completely in line with what league owners have demonstrated time and time again.
Sanders has dominated at every level. His record-setting performance and high draft stock had little to do with his father, Deion, and certainly nothing to do with nepotism. In 2024 alone, Sanders passed for over 4,000 yards with 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, completing a record 74% of his pass attempts—all while being sacked 42 times. Over two years at Colorado, he endured 94 sacks yet missed only two games across his entire collegiate career.
Keyboard warriors will undoubtedly point to Colorado’s 4-8 record in 2023—a result of a coaching staff in their first year at the D1 level and Sanders’ first year there. A 4-8 season that basement dwellers wish they could string together themselves.
But beyond college stats, what did the scouts truly say about Sanders?
Mel Kiper Jr., the most respected draft analyst in the game, called Sanders the best quarterback in the draft.
ESPN’s Steve Muench provided this scouting report: “Sanders is physically and mentally tough. He takes big hits to make plays and can elevate his game in critical situations. He held onto the ball too long and tried to make too much happen in 2024, but he’s shown the ability to get the ball out and pick defenses apart with short to intermediate passes over the course of his career. Sanders can throw receivers open, holding safeties with his eyes and getting through his progressions given time and space. He keeps his eyes downfield as he moves around the pocket, and he makes off-platform throws. His arm is strong enough to make every throw, and he can pass into tight windows when he gets the ball out on time and with anticipation. He also can scramble for first downs.”
But it wasn’t just experts backing Sanders—the odds supported him as well. In December 2024, his odds of being drafted number one were so strong that a bettor would need to wager $180 to win $100. By the week of the draft, that same bet would have returned $18,000.
So, what changed?
Some media outlets attribute it to his NFL Scouting Combine interviews. Unnamed front-office officials from certain teams labeled him “arrogant” and “unprofessional.”
Arrogant? What record-setting D1 quarterback isn’t arrogant? If arrogance were an issue, why was Travis Hunter still selected second overall? And why did Caleb Williams go number one in 2024, with Marvin Harrison Jr. taken fourth?
I believe the real issue lies in how the wealthy white men running teams interpret the word “unprofessional”—a criticism Deion Sanders himself has frequently heard at the collegiate level. But we all know what Houston Texans owner Bob McNair means when he says “unprofessional.”
Collusion is something people often accuse NFL owners of. And although the league’s special deals with the government—along with certain owners’ relationships with past and sitting U.S. Presidents—have kept it from ever being convicted of collusion, even the casual fan can see that it’s there.
Sure, Colin Kaepernick may have benefited from how the fallout of his kneeling protests played out, becoming a martyr rather than just an above-average quarterback. But how does a Black quarterback who led a team to a Super Bowl get locked out of the league while a white placekicker who regularly makes anti-LGBTQ remarks continues receiving support from his owner? And how did Ben Roethlisberger continue his career after settling a rape lawsuit?
Of course, plenty of Black athletes get away with things, too—Houston’s Joe Mixon is a prime example. But Mixon played by the rules. He nodded when told to nod. He said what his PR team scripted for him.
Shedeur Sanders, just like his father Deion, refuses to conform to the outdated mold of a 1980s quarterback—the Father Figure the NFL owners desire. Just like Deion, Shedeur will continue breaking barriers, evolving the position, and reshaping the league to appeal to a new, younger audience. An audience fed up with Boomer Billionaire Bullsh*t™. An audience that wants end-zone celebrations in the NFL, bat flips in MLB, and ice-in-the-veins gestures from NBA stars who nail clutch three-pointers.
As Sanders fell down the draft board, I kept thinking about the more than $200 million the Cleveland Browns gave to sex offender Deshaun Watson. Or the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers are still openly pursuing the human equivalent of a soiled diaper in Aaron Rodgers. It’s abundantly clear that team owners would rather tolerate legal and social scandals than deal with the media frenzy that comes with drafting Deion’s kids—or accepting the inevitable cultural shift within the league.
But sure, white football fans can keep insisting it’s Shedeur’s “arrogance” knocking him down a peg—while they proudly wear their Trevor Lawrence jerseys. And let’s not pretend Watson and Rodgers don’t walk around with more arrogance than Brett Favre and Tom Brady combined.
Yeah. Now that I think about it (and read my cease and desist letter from the NFL), it’s clearly the arrogance—not owner collusion—that’s devaluing yet another flashy athlete.
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