Shedeur Sanders is the subject of more column inches than almost any quarterback in recent memory.
Following Hall of Fame father — and notorious fan of the spotlight —Deion into the NFL was always going to come with plenty of headlines.
Shedeur was being tipped to compete against Cam Ward for the first overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.
But his confident display at the combine seems to have ruffled some feathers and, amid a wave of negative reports, it has been suggested that Sanders Jr. could fall out of the first round entirely.
Arguably the most visceral criticism has just landed via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
“The worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life,” said an anonymous assistant coach.
“He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates.
“But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”
Deion has hinted that he could step in to stop Shedeur, who has a relationship with Las Vegas Raiders executive and legendary QB Tom Brady, from joining the wrong franchise.
He walked back on that claim, but the 23-year-old’s confidence and assertiveness seem to have gone down the wrong way with some teams.
“It didn’t go great in our interview,” added an AFC executive.
“He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.”
Shedeur does have fans within the league.
“Shedeur is a really, really talented passer,” said an NFC quarterbacks coach said.
“Not elite arm strength, but I don’t think it’s anything that will hinder you.
“Obviously, he’s been working with Pat (Shurmur, a longtime NFL coach who’s currently Colorado’s offensive coordinator), so he knows some NFL stuff.
“He’ll have to learn to get the ball out and to play with the timing you need to play in this league. That’s everything it really comes down to.”
With the Tennessee Titans locked in to select Cam Ward, the Cleveland Browns are first in line to take Shedeur.
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The New York Giants are next in the queue but both franchises are expected to look elsewhere, with Colorado teammate Travis Hunter set to be a top-three pick.
That brings the sixth-placed Raiders into play, as well as the No. 9 New Orleans Saints and even the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st selection.
Whatever team makes a move, the head coach will need to be certain he is safe enough in his job to avoid the inevitable reports of Deion deciding to leave the Buffaloes and take over as his son’s leader just as he did in two college stops.
Steelers chief Mike Tomlin would fit that mould — and Shedeur seems to agree.
Asked to name his Mount Rushmore of QB-pass catcher duos on Raiders star Maxx Crosby‘s podcast, he named Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski before selecting Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.
“Whoever the QB for DK Metcalf and George Pickens… whoever that is this year,” he added cheekily.
The Steelers added a huge weapon for whichever quarterback takes the helm next season by trading a second-rounder to the Seattle Seahawks for man-mountain Metcalf.
It could very well be Shedeur if enough teams decide the circus isn’t worth their time.
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