President Donald Trump didn’t think Shedeur Sanders was given a fair chance by NFL owners and general managers during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders was projected by many scouts to be a first-round pick in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes Sanders is the most talented quarterback in the class.
Sanders wasn’t taken until Day 3 of the draft, when the Cleveland Browns picked him in the fifth round at No. 144.
Donald Trump defended Shedeur Sanders
On Friday, Trump took his social media platform Truth Social to advocate on Sanders’ behalf.
“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL,” the 47th POTUS wrote. “He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!”
Despite Trump’s protest, Sanders didn’t go on Friday.
Trump’s administration would like credit
However, the two-year standout for the Colorado Buffaloes did eventually get drafted on Saturday, and the administration wants some credit.
During her meeting with the media on Monday, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if Trump deserved credit for Sanders being taken in the draft.
“All I will say is the President put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted,” Leavitt said. “So I think the facts speak for themselves on that one.”
Leavitt on Shedeur Sanders: "All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves." pic.twitter.com/rAFrAbex2s
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2025
The facts show that Sanders wasn’t taken until a “few rounds” after Trump made a statement. Clearly, the President’s efforts didn’t make an immediate impact on Sanders’ employment.
If anything, Trump’s sentiments might have hurt Sanders. NFL teams are already weary of bad PR. The fact that POTUS weighed in at all shows how much of a household name Sanders is.
Given how polarizing the Sanders family has been in the last two years, drafting Shedeur on Day 1 or Day 2 could have ruffled some feathers in the locker room who don’t think the son of Deion is mature enough to lead an NFL team.
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