Shedeur Sanders refused to throw at the NFL Combine, but he stepped onto the turf at Colorado’s Pro Day, and it was not just a workout. Held on April 4, 2025, and attended by important figures across the league, Colorado’s rendition of pro day seemed more like a production.
The details were completed to the tee, as THE SHOWCASE set the tone for what would become one of the most talked-about pro days in recent memory. NFL decision-makers noticed, and not all were impressed. But was this too much?
Was Shedeur Sanders’ Flashy Colorado Pro Day a Factor in His Draft Day Fall?
Stewart Mandel, CFB reporter for The Athletic, best captured the sentiment when he posted a picture from the event dripping with irony.
“So you are telling me NFL coaches and GMs did not think this was the greatest Pro Day ever?” His words, punctuated by an image of the extravagant production, hinted at an uncomfortable truth.
So you’re telling me NFL coaches and GMs didn’t think this was the greatest Pro Day ever? pic.twitter.com/7F1mieaSbu
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 26, 2025
The Colorado Showcase had cookies frosted in custom logos, gold lanyard credentials thicker than passports, and VIP seating for boosters. The event resembled a Hollywood premiere more than a traditional NFL audition.
And above all, a lit marquee letters boldly spelled out, “THE SHOWCASE.” Amid the glitz, some scouts and executives questioned whether the spectacle overshadowed the substance.
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders’ actual performance was nothing short of sharp. He threw 58 completions on 63 attempts, delivering a series of crisp, accurate passes that displayed the steady arm and polished mechanics scouts expected.
He connected deeply with Colorado’s draft-eligible receivers, including standout Travis Hunter, silencing critics who had doubted his arm strength.
Yet the circus-like atmosphere raised questions that raw passing stats could not answer. The lavish presentation raised pertinent questions in a league obsessed with intangibles like leadership, humility, and poise. Did Colorado have misplaced priorities? Was the Sanders clan, and by extension their camp, more interested in branding than ball?
Sources say all 32 teams were in attendance, and the interest was undeniable. The Cleveland Browns even sent owner Jimmy Haslam, a rarity for any pro day.
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But behind the handshakes and smiles, the pageantry may have quietly chipped away at Sanders’ standing, and it has all boiled down to a quarterback snub that will be remembered for centuries.
Although Deion Sanders’ event coordinator, Tysha Stewart, meticulously planned the event, admitting preparations began nearly eight months in advance, it might have done more harm than good.
There is no doubt that Shedeur Sanders belongs in the NFL, for analysts who have claimed that his college tape is exceptional and his Pro Day throwing session checked essential boxes. However, draft night painted a sobering picture, and even after Round 3, the situation seems stuck.
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