Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson Alleges Shedeur Sanders Fell Victim to NFL Draft Collusion
NFL Draft Controversy: Eric Dickerson Alleges League Collusion Against Shedeur Sanders
By Jake Nisse, US Sports Writer | Updated: 13:48 BST, 22 August 2025
Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson has sparked controversy by claiming the NFL instructed teams to avoid selecting Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 Draft. Sanders, once projected as a first-round pick, plummeted to the fifth round before the Cleveland Browns drafted him at No. 144.
Dickerson asserted on the Roggin and Rodney podcast: “The NFL told teams, ‘Do not draft him. We’re gonna make an example out of him.’” He cited a “very good source” who allegedly warned the Browns against picking Sanders.
[Image: Shedeur Sanders at Browns training camp with caption: Sanders faced an unexpected slide to the fifth round.]
However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer dismissed the conspiracy theory, attributing Sanders’ fall to football concerns. “He fell out of the first round for football reasons,” Breer stated on The Dan Patrick Show. “Quarterbacks rarely go in the second or third rounds. Teams didn’t see him as a Day 1 starter.”
Scouts reportedly questioned Sanders’ maturity and leadership during interviews. His decision to skip throwing drills at the Combine further fueled doubts. Despite a standout college career under his father, Deion Sanders, at Colorado, his stock dwindled.
[Image: Eric Dickerson speaking on a podcast with caption: Dickerson accused the NFL of conspiring against Sanders.]
Sanders’ rocky transition to the NFL continued in Cleveland. Owner Jimmy Haslam distanced himself from the draft decision, while Sanders sits fourth on the QB depth chart behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookie Dillon Gabriel. Though Sanders threw two touchdowns in his preseason debut against Carolina, a recent oblique injury sidelined him for Week 2.
[Image: Sanders celebrating a preseason TD with caption: Sanders shined briefly in preseason before an injury setback.]
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Sanders could return for the preseason finale against the Rams, but his long-term role remains unclear. Critics argue his draft slide stemmed from attitude concerns, while supporters echo Dickerson’s claims of unfair targeting.
[Image: Browns QB room featuring Flacco and Pickett with caption: Sanders faces tough competition in Cleveland’s QB lineup.]
As the season approaches, Sanders’ journey from draft-day drama to proving his worth in the NFL will be closely watched—whether as a cautionary tale or an underdog story.
