Over a week has passed since the end of the 2025 NFL Draft, yet the shocking fall of Shedeur Sanders continues to shock the football community. Once projected as a top-five pick, the Colorado quarterback unexpectedly dropped to the fifth round—a slide that stunned fans and cost him millions in potential earnings.
Now, controversy has erupted as Dr. Umar Johnson steps into the discussion, calling for Sanders to sue the NFL over his draft position. Johnson argues that the quarterback was unfairly passed over despite his first-round talent, citing racism, discrimination, collusion, and mishandling as the key reasons behind Sanders’ dramatic draft day slide.
Calls Grow for Deion Sanders to Take Legal Action Against NFL Over Shedeur’s Fall — Was It ‘Collusion’ or Just Coincidence?
Before diving into the controversy sparked by Dr. Umar Johnson’s recent comments, let’s look at Shedeur Sanders’ earnings. Before entering the NFL, the former Colorado quarterback earned $6.5 million annually through NIL deals with the Colorado Buffaloes.
But his rookie NFL contract, after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, is worth just $4.6 million over four years—that’s about $1.1 million per year, far less than his college income.
Now imagine this: if Sanders had gone in the first round as initially projected, the financial outcome could have been dramatically different. Take Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick—his contract is worth $48.8 million, with a $32.2 million signing bonus. Shedeur’s deal includes just a $446,553 signing bonus and zero guaranteed money.
That’s a $47 million difference—money Shedeur may never recover. He could have earned $40-48 million over four years if drafted in the top five as projected before the draft event.
This massive financial gap is at the heart of Dr. Umar Johnson’s outrage. The well-known psychologist and activist believes Shedeur’s fall wasn’t about football. He claims it was about racism, collusion, and discrimination.
Dr. Umar tells Deion Sanders to sue the NFL collusion, and get back the $40 million plus that Shedeur Sanders lost on Draft Day.
(🎥: The Art Of Dialogue/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/6jWBzEqkEX
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 1, 2025
In a passionate video, Dr. Umar expressed his support for the Sanders family. He urged Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father, to take legal action against the NFL and even sue the NFL for $40 million, the amount he believes Shedeur lost on draft day.
KEEP READING: NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon’s Advice for Shedeur Sanders: ‘You Can’t Act Like a CB When You’re Playing QB’
“I stand in solidarity with the Sanders family over this because this is wrong,” Dr. Umar said. “I’m hoping that Deion and Shedeur will sue the NFL. If he sues and wins, he will get all of the 40-plus million dollars they robbed from him. And he can change the rules to ensure it never happens again.”
Despite all the controversy, Shedeur Sanders is now officially an NFL player. His father, Deion Sanders, hasn’t publicly addressed the calls for a lawsuit against the league.
Realistically, suing the NFL seems unlikely. Instead, Shedeur can let his play do the talking. If he shines wearing the Browns’ jersey in the 2025–26 season, it’s hard to imagine Cleveland not rewarding him with a new, lucrative contract next year.
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