Sanders speaks out about pre-draft criticism: 'It's a lot of hate'
While NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders has received some pre-draft criticism, the quarterback is choosing to ignore it.
"We always understood to block out the noise, even from Jackson State and Colorado," he said Thursday, per USA Today's Mike Freeman. "It's a lot of critics, it's a lot of hate. But we know what to do, we know how to handle that in every way. So we remain happy."
The 23-year-old, who was Colorado's starting passer for the past two seasons, was called "arrogant" and "brash" by an anonymous quarterbacks coach after a team interview, a source told NFL insider Josina Anderson on March 3.
That assessment of Sanders was met with pushback, with former NFL players coming to the quarterback's defense.
"You get these coaches that are not accustomed to dealing with, or having these conversations with individuals at this position that have a certain snap, crackle, pop to them," former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson said on Fox Sports' "Speak" podcast. "And (Sanders is) smiling, and being himself. They're not used to that. They want him to be something that he's not."
Sanders is among the highest-profile prospects and is expected to be selected in the first round. Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father and current Colorado coach, jokingly threatened to take action against the anonymous critic Thursday.
"Don't make me pull behind the curtains and step in," Deion said on the NFL Network.
The quarterback has discussed his ability to "change the franchise or the culture" at every stop in his football career.
"I've been through six different OCs, so I'm able to adjust to every offense and any scheme and make it work," Sanders said Feb. 28. "We went from Jackson State to Colorado and just changed two programs back-to-back. You don't think I can come to an NFL franchise and change the program again? It's history."
Sanders finished the 2024 campaign with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns to go along with a 74% completion rate. Colorado ended the season 9-4, losing to BYU in the Alamo Bowl.
The 2025 NFL Draft takes place from April 24 to 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.