Shedeur Sanders Dismisses Critics amid NFL Draft Rumors: 'You Know Who My Dad Is?'

Of all the top prospects in this year's NFL draft class, perhaps no one is as prepared for criticism as Shedeur Sanders.

The Colorado star addressed his ability to handle criticism a the NFL combine, reminding everyone that he's the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.

“You think I’m worried about what critics say? You know who my dad is? They hated on him too," Sanders told reporters.

Sanders hasn't been lacking for confidence at the combine, saying that he's ready for whatever situation he gets drafted into.

“You don’t think I can come to an NFL franchise, change the program again?” he told reporters.

Sanders makes a fair point: Wherever he goes, success typically follows. In Jackson State's last full season before Sanders' arrival, the Tigers went 4-8. In Sanders' first season as the starter in 2021, they finished 11-2 before going 12-1 the following year.

Sanders followed his father to Colorado in 2023, joining a Buffaloes team that went 1-11 in 2022. There were some growing pains in 2023 as Colorado finished 4-8, but the Buffaloes turned things around in 2024, finishing 9-4. It was the most wins for Colorado since 2016.

“I’ve done it over and over and over," Sanders told reporters. "There should be no question why a franchise should pick me.”

Sanders is widely projected to be one of the first players off the board in this year's draft. In the Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department's latest mock draft, he went to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall.

Landing in the Big Apple would likely lead to lots of criticism, but the brighter the lights, the more Sanders seems to shine.

If the Giants don't take him at No. 3, it's unlikely Sanders will make it out of the top 10. In his final season at Colorado, he threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

While Sanders won't work out this week, he'll look to bolster his already strong resume through his interviews at the combine.