NFL Owners’ Secret Plot To Make Example Out Of Shedeur Sanders
NFL Owners' Secret Plot To Make Example Out Of Shedeur Sanders

The 2025 NFL Draft produced one of the most unexpected storylines when Shedeur Sanders, once considered a potential top-five selection, experienced a dramatic fall that left analysts and fans questioning what transpired behind closed doors.
The former Colorado quarterback had built significant momentum heading into draft week, with many projecting him as an early first-round pick based on his standout collegiate performance.
Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson recently made explosive allegations suggesting the league deliberately orchestrated Sanders’ draft slide as a form of punishment.
According to Dickerson’s claims from a league source, multiple NFL teams received guidance to avoid selecting the quarterback, ultimately resulting in Sanders falling to the fifth round where the Cleveland Browns finally selected him at pick 144.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: According to NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, the NFL told teams NOT to draft Shedeur Sanders.
“The NFL told teams, ‘Do not draft him. We’re gonna make an example out of him. Somebody called the Browns and said, Don’t do that. Don’t draft him.’”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/FHJXe3TLf4
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 21, 2025
The controversy has reignited discussions about the inner workings of the NFL draft process and whether external factors beyond football talent influence team decisions.
Eric Dickerson Says The Browns Were Not Going To Draft Shedeur Sanders Until They Got A Call
Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson made explosive allegations about the NFL’s handling of Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 draft process. The former running back claimed that league officials actively discouraged teams from selecting the Colorado quarterback.
During an appearance with Dan Patrick and Albert Breer, Dickerson detailed what he described as a coordinated effort to bypass Sanders. He stated that the NFL issued direct instructions to franchises regarding the quarterback’s draft status.
Key Elements of Dickerson’s Claims:
- The league wanted to use Sanders as a cautionary example
- Teams received explicit guidance to avoid drafting him
- The Cleveland Browns initially planned to follow these directives
- An intervention changed the Browns’ decision-making process
According to Dickerson’s account, the Browns had no intention of selecting Sanders despite his collegiate accomplishments at Colorado. The Hall of Famer suggested that Cleveland’s front office was prepared to comply with the league’s alleged guidance.
The situation reportedly changed when an unidentified individual contacted the Browns organization. This communication allegedly persuaded team officials to reconsider their approach and ultimately draft the quarterback in the fifth round at pick 144.
Dickerson’s specific quote indicated that someone told the Browns organization not to participate in the alleged boycott.
The former NFL star’s revelations add another layer to the ongoing speculation about Sanders’ unexpected draft slide. Multiple theories have emerged attempting to explain why the highly-touted quarterback fell significantly lower than many analysts predicted.
Sanders had been considered a potential early-round selection based on his performance with the Colorado Buffaloes. His eventual fifth-round selection by Cleveland marked a dramatic departure from pre-draft projections and generated considerable discussion about the evaluation process.

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.