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NFL analyst tells Deion Sanders it's time for Shedeur to be his own man

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeff Hauser | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 2:28 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders' fall in the 2025 NFL Draft will be remembered for years to come. While everyone in the media is trying to figure out why it happened, one NFL analyst says it's time for Deion Sanders to move on and stop talking about it.

During an appearance on FOX Sports' "The Herd" on Tuesday, SI's Albert Breer compared Coach Prime to Archie Manning in 2004. However, the situations aren't nearly the same. Eli Manning was a top overall pick and Shedeur Sanders became a fifth-rounder.

The conversation recapped Sanders' comments on Asante Samuel's podcast over the weekend. He talked about the disappointment of his son's drop and fill-in host Jason McIntyre pointed out Prime needs to let it go at this point.

"I know a lot of people have made a big deal out of what happened 21 years ago when Eli Manning forced his way from the Chargers to the Giants," Breer said. "At the time, I think there was that concern out there, 'Is Archie going to be hovering over Eli's career?' And you know who we didn't hear much from after Eli Manning became a Giant? Archie Manning. You know, you didn't hear much at all from him."

Sanders has been radio silent before his comments on Friday night. But for Breer, it's about allowing your kids to let their careers stand on their own without interjections.

"It's fine if dads want to be involved in the pre-draft process," Breer added. "Sometimes there are some things that go into it where a father's counsel can really help. But I think once they become pros, it's an important thing for the parents to push away and let the kid be his own man.”

There were several instances of Deion trying to overextend his reach with Shedeur during the pre-draft process. The "pull an Eli" comment on the Million Dollarz Worth of Game podcast was the start of it all. Whether Coach Prime wants to believe it or not, it's a perception versus reality battle. Anonymous NFL executives have said Deion's influence was a factor in teams passing on Shedeur.

Sanders now battles for a roster spot in Cleveland. He has performed well in Browns OTAs with some saying he's the best QB currently on the roster. At this stage, Shedeur is about soaking up the playbook and co-existing with his teammates. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has praised Sanders for his ability to do all the right things.

Sanders doesn't need to be QB1 right off the bat. He'll compete with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and veteran free agent pickups Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Cleveland still has Deshaun Watson on the roster, although he'll likely be out for the 2025 season with an Achilles injury.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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