ESPN analysts question if Deion Sanders could hurt Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft stock

Shedeur Sanders is perhaps the most polarizing player available in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some believe the former Colorado quarterback could go as high as No. 3 to the New York Giants. Others feel he could fall all the way to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21.

But whichever coach commits to Sanders “better be comfortable with his standing within the organization,” ESPN‘s Adam Schefter wrote Monday. The possibility always exists that Shedeur Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders, could eventually take over.

“Short of Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, any other coach who drafts Sanders better be comfortable with his standing within the organization,” Schefter wrote. “Because if that team struggles and the fan base is calling for a coaching change, speculation will start to swirl about Sanders’ father taking over.”

That passage from Schefter’s “NFL draft notes, intel” column sparked an interesting discussion on Tuesday’s “Get Up.” Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum knows that Giants head coach Brian Daboll is on the hot seat. His job is to focus on winning games and block out the distractions, Tannenbaum said.

“Look, if I’m Brian Daboll, my seat is warm,” Tannenbaum said. “I just want to go win as many games as possible and ignore the noise. Know that’s easier said than done being on the hot seat in New York, but here’s what I would say, you can win a lot of games with Shedeur Sanders. I think he’s Kirk Cousins. I think he’s accurate, good arm, great anticipation. He’s a lot better than what they’ve had at quarterback.

“If you’re worried about the noise, about what he brings, you’re worrying about the wrong things. I think what Adam’s saying is true, but what a great head coach does, he leads by example, and he blocks out the distractions. That’s what whatever head coach needs to do, including Brian Daboll, if, in fact, Shedeur Sanders becomes a guy.”

Shedeur Sanders, Deion Sanders combo a possibility in the NFL?

Here’s the thing: Deion Sanders has repeatedly denied interest in coaching at the next level. When Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came calling in January, the Pro Football Hall of Famer still decided to stay in Boulder.

And though he recently finalized a five-year, $54 million contract extension, his buyout is very manageable. “It starts at $12 million if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2025, then drops to $10 million if he leaves in 2026, $6 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028 and $3 million in 2029,” Schefter wrote.

Shedeur Sanders has only ever been coached by his father. Because of that, Damien Woody can’t rule it out happening in the NFL.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Woody said. “You think about it, the only person he’s ever been coached by has been his father. And so, when you bring in a prospect like Shedeur Sanders in a ‘volatile situation,’ that’s the only logical thing that people want to point to. Is this a place where Deion could possibly end up coaching his son? So, I agree with Adam in that assessment.”