NFL GM Pushes Back on Shedeur Sanders Being Described as 'Polarizing,' Says Insider

Few players have received as much attention leading up to the 2025 NFL draft than Shedeur Sanders, and at least one general manager reportedly believes the Colorado quarterback isn't "polarizing" despite all the headlines.

"I was having a conversation with a general manager this morning about that word 'polarizing,'" Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Tuesday. "He was pushing back a little bit. He's like, 'I wouldn't call him polarizing. I just think there's a bit of a show around him, and that's just part of the process.' 

"And if you're willing to sign up for that, and some teams would be, that's what's made him so interesting and perhaps maybe a little controversial. Because he's just not the classic quarterback."

That Sanders has received so much attention comes as no surprise, as he is the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, regularly appears on social media videos and podcasts, and even released his own music.

He also thrived on the field during his time with the Buffaloes, which is the reason he is drawing first-round consideration.

Still, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said during a January appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that "there's pretty split opinions around the league, it's pretty polarizing, actually," when discussing Sanders.

There is plenty to like about the quarterback's game after he helped Colorado go from 4-8 in 2023 to 9-4 in 2024 while completing 74 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to take home the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award.

At this point, Sanders is widely seen as the likely second quarterback to be drafted behind Miami's Cam Ward. B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected the Colorado product to land with the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 overall in its latest mock draft, which would make some sense considering the NFC South team's need for a long-term answer under center.

New Orleans would just have to be prepared for some additional headlines if it made that selection.