Giants star angry NFL owners let Shedeur Sanders drop until fifth round: 'You can’t knock his talent'
Malik Nabers, a wide receiver for the New York Giants, expressed frustration with NFL owners for allowing Shedeur Sanders, a talented quarterback from Colorado Buffaloes, to fall to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Nabers criticized the decision, citing Sanders' impressive completion rate despite playing with a subpar offensive line, and his ability to escape tackles and make significant plays. He suggested that Sanders' personality and off-field ventures may have contributed to his draft slip, though he argued that these should not overshadow his football skills. Nabers also defended Sanders' character, attributing his behavior to his upbringing by his father, Deion Sanders, a Hall of Fame athlete. Ultimately, the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders, adding him as their fourth quarterback for the season, despite the controversy surrounding his draft position.
Malik Nabers, a Giants wide receiver, criticized the NFL for allowing Shedeur Sanders to fall to the fifth round in the draft, arguing that his talent is undeniable and should not have been overlooked.
Nabers noted Sanders' impressive performance, including a 70% completion rate despite a poor offensive line, and his ability to evade tackles and make successful plays down the field.
Reports suggested that Sanders' off-field personality and various ventures might have deterred teams, leading to his unexpected draft position, which Nabers dismissed as irrelevant to his football abilities.
Nabers defended Sanders' character, explaining that his behavior is a result of his upbringing by his father, Deion Sanders, known for his own successful sports career.
The Cleveland Browns eventually drafted Sanders, making him their fourth quarterback addition, despite other quarterbacks like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel being selected earlier.
Nabers argued against judging Sanders based on his personality or comments, stressing the need to separate personal traits from professional performance on the field.
The controversy surrounding Sanders' draft fall also highlighted the broader issues of perceived biases in how players are evaluated for their off-field demeanor versus on-field talent.