Eric Dickerson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee, has alleged that the National Football League instructed its teams not to draft quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the most recent draft. Speaking on the Roggin and Rodney Show on AM 570 LA Sports, Dickerson stated, “The NFL told teams do not draft him. We gonna make an example out of him (… ) Somebody called the Browns, and said don’t do that. Don’t draft him. They weren’t gonna draft him.” He further maintained that his claim was based on information from a “very good source.”
These comments come amid ongoing speculation among fans and commentators regarding Sanders’ slide during the draft process. Sanders, who played at Colorado before entering the professional ranks, had been widely projected as a top prospect by analysts. Despite these projections, he was selected by the Cleveland Browns at No. 144 overall in the fifth round, after reports circulated that he may have performed poorly or intentionally tanked interviews with some teams.
Additional attention was brought to the situation by Shedeur’s father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who publicly indicated interest in influencing which franchise would select his son during the draft process. Some organizations reportedly saw this as a potential complication.
Former wide receiver Chad Johnson supported Dickerson’s allegations on social media, stating that claims of collusion were well known within certain circles.
Following his selection by Cleveland — a team predicted in some mock drafts to take him as early as No. 2 — Shedeur Sanders remains low on the team’s depth chart. Although he threw two touchdowns in a preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders has not moved up from his position as fourth-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel.
Observers continue to monitor whether Sanders will eventually get an opportunity to move up or play elsewhere.
