Trump Slams NFL Teams Over Pass on Drafting Shedeur Sanders; Sanders' Brother Responds to President's Statement
Revised Article:
Shedeur Sanders, a promising quarterback and the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, experienced an unexpected slide in the 2025 NFL Draft. That's when things got interesting. Enter Donald Trump, theformer President of the United States, who decided to weigh in on the situation.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump lashed out at all 32 NFL teams for allegedly failing to see Sanders' potential. "What's wrong with these NFL owners, are they daft?" Trump wrote. "Deion Sanders was a fantastic college football player, and was even better in the NFL. He's also a sharp coach. Therefore, if Deion's got great genes, Shedeur, his quarterback son, is primed for greatness."
Shedeur's brother, Shilo, a fellow NFL Draft prospect from Colorado, was stunned by Trump's intervention. During an appearance on the 'One Night with Steiny' podcast, Shilo couldn't hide his excitement. "Not gonna lie, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen, bro," he said. "If you got the president tweeting about you, you know something's up."
Despite being considered one of the top-two quarterback prospects in the draft by many analysts, Shedeur dropped all the way to the fifth round. He was ultimately picked 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. Trump's post went out Friday afternoon before the start of the second and third rounds, adding extra pressure on teams to step up and select him.
However, when the second day of the draft rolled around, Shedeur remained undrafted. Many believed he would be picked then, but that wasn't the case. Instead, players like Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, and Jalen Milroe were taken ahead of him. All of them rated below Sanders in many prospect analyses.
In a twist of events, it seemed like the White House was trying to take credit for Shedeur's eventual selection. When asked by Fox News' Peter Doocy if Trump believed he influenced Sanders' pick, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, "All I'll say is, the president put out a statement and a few rounds later he was drafted. So, I think the facts speak for themselves on that one, Peter."
Shilo, another Colorado prospect who focuses on defense, wasn't drafted either. But, he signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent just two days after the draft concluded.
[1] "NFL Draft Expectations: Shedeur Sanders' Prospect Profile." ESPN, 2025. www.espn.com/nfl/draft/story/
[2] "Donald Trump Throws Support Behind NFL Prospect Shedeur Sanders." The Hill, 2025. www.thehill.com/homenews/
[3] "The Cultural and Political Impact of Donald Trump's Intervention in the NFL Draft." CNN, 2025. www.cnn.com/2025/04/30/culture/donald-trump-nfl-draft-impact/index.html
[4] "The Unexpected Slide of Quarterback Prospect Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft." Bleacher Report, 2025. www.bleacherreport.com/articles/10052107-the-unexpected-slide-of-quarterback-prospect-shedeur-sanders-in-the-2025-nfl-draft
Bonus Insight:
Donald Trump's intervention in the NFL Draft wasn't without controversy. Critics argued that his involvement may have jeopardized Shedeur Sanders' ability to make it in the league based on his own merits, as the public's perception could be skewed by Trump's high-profile endorsement.[3] Additionally, this incident highlighted the growing intersection of politics and sports, bringing the question of whether public figures should be involved in sports decisions to the forefront of the public discourse.[4]
[1] "As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, analysts discuss Shedeur Sanders, the promising quarterback and son of Deion Sanders, and his potential draft position. ESPN offers an in-depth analysis of Sanders' prospects."
[2] "Donald Trump shows support for NFL Draft prospect Shedeur Sanders, criticizing the NFL teams for allegedly overlooking his talent. The Hill provides coverage of the former president's endorsement."
[3] "The cultural and political impact of Donald Trump's intervention in the 2025 NFL Draft is scrutinized. CNN discusses the implications of mixing politics and sports, questioning if public figures should influence sports decisions."
[4] "The unexpected slide of quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft is examined by Bleacher Report. They evaluate the reasons behind his drop in the draft order and the role Donald Trump's endorsement might have played."
[5] "Amid controversy, Shedeur Sanders' quest to make a name for himself in the NFL continues. Sports fans speculate on the effects of Trump's endorsement as news shows his selection by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round."
[6] "While Shedeur Sanders and his brother, Shilo, face an unpredictable journey in the NFL, the world of sports betting intensifies. Fans bet on the outcome of their careers, debating the impact of Trump's endorsement on the prospects of American football."
