Shedeur Sanders may have experienced a dramatic fall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Ryan Clark believes the Sanders family emerged from the weekend as undeniable winners. On an episode of “The Pivot,” Clark passionately praised the family’s poise and professionalism during what many viewed as a disappointing outcome for the former Colorado quarterback.
“This is just my opinion personally—the Sanders family won the weekend in what felt like a loss,” Clark said. “I got to talk to Deion, I talked to Shilo, I haven’t talked to Shedeur, but Shedeur Sanders, composure, poise, grace, elegance, gratitude, behavior throughout this entire week said professional. It said maturity.”
Ryan Clark Hails Shedeur Sanders’ Family for Their Resilience Despite Draft Night Setback
Once projected as a first-round selection, Sanders’ unexpected slide through the draft raised questions among fans and analysts alike. Some scouts pointed to pre-draft interviews and concerns about his on-field tendencies, including holding the ball too long. Yet Clark argued that Sanders’ treatment by NFL teams went beyond football.
“The Sanders family won the weekend.”
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“I always said that people would draft based on someone’s ability to help them win because their job counted on that,” Clark noted. “That changed this weekend.”
Referencing other quarterback selections, including Cam Ward, Jackson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Dylan Gabriel, Clark questioned the decisions made by franchises.
“I know enough football to know that Dylan Gabriel is not a better quarterback than Shedeur Sanders. I know enough to know that he’s not more talented than Shedeur Sanders.”
Clark also suggested that the Sanders family’s high profile may have influenced front offices. He referenced Deion Sanders signing his Colorado contract early, possibly to avoid being seen as a threat to coaches considering drafting Shedeur.
“Maybe if I don’t win, they’ll go get Deion Sanders,” Clark said, explaining the mindset some coaches might have held.
Still, Clark focused on Shedeur’s reaction to the adversity.
“Look how smart he is—not only does the first thing he do is go do community service, he goes to workout,” Clark said. “Whether or not he’s going to be this top-tier talent… I don’t know, but he has all of the other stuff.”
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Clark closed by highlighting Shedeur’s grace in the face of disappointment, including his lighthearted interaction with the Olbrick family, who had pranked him.
“It says a lot about him. Says a lot about the woman and man who raised him and who that family is.”
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