Shedeur Sanders has been putting on an electric performance despite slipping in the 2025 NFL Draft. In Cleveland, the quarterback competition is fierce, but Shedeur’s talent keeps cutting through the noise, proving he’s inherited both the skill and work ethic of his Hall of Famer dad, Deion Sanders.
From his poise in the pocket to pinpoint throws under pressure, he’s been steadily winning over teammates, coaches, and fans alike.
Now, after lighting it up in the Browns’ preseason opener, the NFL world, featuring stars like LeBron James, Jamie Foxx, analysts, and thousands of fans, is buzzing about his remarkable showing on the field.
NFL Vets Praise Shedeur Sanders’ Preseason Brilliance
The NFL world wasted no time celebrating Shedeur Sanders’ outstanding preseason opener. Michael Irvin was impressed by Shedeur’s throwing ability, sharing a video where the champ threw to the back of the endzone with the caption: “Wow what a throw by nephew @shedeursanders.”
Deion Sanders, watching his son shine under the bright lights, joined the praise. He wrote on X, “Oh yeah what now! #CoachPrime.”
Emmanuel Acho also weighed in, saying: “If anybody doubts that Shedeur Sanders game will translate to the NFL, just show them this and shush em up. 1st round stuff right here,” attaching a field video that highlighted Shedeur’s skill in reading the defensive line and moving with precision without being spotted, showing his elite level football IQ and physical talent.
LeBron James added his voice, pushing back against critics who dismissed the performance because it was a preseason game. “And I don’t wanna hear that ‘It’s only preseason’ bs. Cause if he was out there not going in y’all would be on his ass about it! So give credit and grace lames.”
The combination of respect from Hall of Famers like Irvin, support from his father, and analysts like Acho shows just how powerful Shedeur’s impact was in the preseason opener. As if that wasn’t enough, the football world gathered to call out haters and castigate the late draft of Shedeur Sanders.
NFL World Defends Shedeur Sanders After Draft Snub
The NFL world didn’t hold back after Shedeur Sanders lit up his preseason debut, with stars and analysts blasting both the haters and the league for letting him slip in the draft.
“If you hate Shedeur, you hate football,” Jamie Foxx joked sarcastically on IG reels, before adding that Shedeur is “the real deal.” Carrying the legacy of his father, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, the rookie made it clear from his first snaps that he’s not just here to participate, he’s here to dominate.
Skip Bayless was even more blunt, calling out the NFL for passing on him. “SHEDEUR SANDERS, WHO SHOULD’VE BEEN THE FIRST PICK IN THE DRAFT, SHAMED THE ENTIRE NFL TONIGHT,” he wrote. In a video, he doubled down: “Tonight, Shedeur Sanders made the entire National Football League look like a whole bunch of petty fools.”
Robert Griffin III took aim at the “it’s just preseason” crowd, firing back, “Anyone saying it’s JuST pREseaSOn regarding Shedeur Sanders’ performance can shut all the way up. ‘It’s just preseason’ is the broke cousin of ‘I was just kidding.’” He praised Shedeur for maximizing his opportunity and putting on a show, noting that if he’d played poorly, critics would’ve been all over him.
Griffin also reminded fans of the odds Shedeur faced: “Many thought Shedeur Sanders would fail after being thrown to the wolves as the starter… BUT GOD saw fit that Shedeur Sanders would come back leading the pack. Faith and hard work always pay off. Perfect Timing.”
Even Ryan Clark chimed in on the drama behind his selection: “Well at least Andrew Berry gets to take credit for the Shedeur Sanders pick all by himself… because it was made clear the owner wanted nothing to do with it! 👏🏾👏🏾”
From pinpoint passes to elite football IQ, Shedeur Sanders proved he’s ready to dominate, silencing doubters with his electric performance.