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Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft slide was the main storyline in this year’s event. The signal caller was once a projected first overall pick. He slipped to the fifth round after being passed over by professional organizations.
Since, narratives surrounding that freefall have circulated social media. The latest involves his reported non-existent football IQ.
Sanders finished up a star-studded college career at Colorado after transferring from Jackson State. The passer set NCAA records for completion percentage in Boulder.
Across two seasons with the Buffs, Sanders threw for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns. He led the Big 12 in passing as a senior while helping Colorado win nine games.
That production made him a legitimate threat to be the first player taken at the NFL Draft. Those projections changed during the months leading into the selection process.
Shedeur Sanders failed his pre-draft tests.
A number of teams were linked to the quarterback during the offseason. The most notable included the Giants, Saints, Steelers, and Browns.
Sanders worked out privately with New York, the team that held the No. 3 pick in the draft. It went poorly according to subsequent reports.
“The Giants, they give players an install, and there are mistakes intentionally put in the install. [Sanders] didn’t catch them and got called on it. It didn’t go well after that… He was p—d that they did that to him”
-Albert Breer
Rumors of his inability to read the playbook surfaced after his $44 million draft tumble. The Giants weren’t impressed by his preparation (or lack thereof).
They’d later use a first round pick on Jaxson Dart as Shedeur Sanders fell to Day 3. An old offensive coordinator is now voicing support of his former player.
Michael Pollock took to X to post a message on the rumors. He rejected the narrative currently surrounding the passer.
I was the first Offensive Coordinator that Shedeur Sanders had in college, and I have been with him throughout his college career. He has had multiple OC’s in college and has NEVER had a problem learning a new system, being prepared, and executing at a high level. STOP THE LIES!
-Michael Pollock
Pollock is the special teams coordinator on the Buffs football staff. He’d previously held roles of co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and director of operations at Jackson State. He did his part to nix those recent reports.
Sanders was eventually selected by the Cleveland Browns. He’s already started his revenge tour with an eye towards competing for the starting role.
Attitude and ego were said to be the factors most responsible for the draft slide. He has at least one former coach in his corner attempting to quiet those “lies.”