Before the calendar even read the year 2025, many had an opinion on where quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, would end up in the National Football League. Interestingly enough, the Hall of Famer wanted his son to play for the New Orleans Saints
Deion made his opinions known on a podcast with former Saints quarterback Derek Carr and his brother David, who is also a former NFL QB. "I wanted my son to be on the same team that you were on because I know what you would pour into him," Sanders said to Carr. "I really did want my son on the same team so that you could guide him and lead him, I’m telling you, man."
Unfortunately for Deion, the Saints would select a quarterback not named Shedeur Sanders (Tyler Shough) in the second round come draft time. Shedeur would have to wait until the third day of the draft to hear his phone ring, when the Cleveland Browns selected him with the 144th overall pick.
Even if Shedeur Sanders landed in New Orleans, he wouldn't be learning from Derek Carr
To make the whole situation worse for the Sanders family, Derek Carr, the quarterback who Deion said he wanted to guide his son, would unexpectedly retire back in May. So, even if the Saints did select Shedeur, he wouldn't be learning from who his pops wanted him to.
When Shedeur landed in Cleveland, the quarterback room was crowded with five people, including himself, taking up space (Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillion Gabriel were the others). Now, heading into week six of the 2025 NFL season, he is listed as the Browns' backup QB behind starter Dillion Gabriel, while Deshaun Watson, who is expected back at some point this season, is still rehabbing an Achilles injury.
In New Orleans, Sanders would have found himself in competition with Spencer Rattler, just like Shough did. We obviously don't know how that would have played out, but what actually happened in New Orleans tells you it would have been no walk in the park for Shedeur.
Still, this revelation tells you Deion meant exactly what everyone thought when he said "I like these colors" at Colorado's Pro Day. It clearly wasn't an indication of the Saints' interest in Shedeur, but it certainly was an indication of his interest in the Saints.