Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants requested Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders to sit out practices during the East-West Shrine Bowl week. While initially surprising, this move reveals a deeper strategic layer in the NFL scouting process.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is a valuable showcase for NFL prospects, offering players a chance to demonstrate their skills against top-tier competition. However, in Shedeur Sanders’ case, the decision not to participate in practices wasn’t due to injury or disinterest, but rather a calculated move encouraged by teams with serious interest in him.
Sanders is already a high-profile quarterback with extensive game film from his time at Colorado under the coaching of his father, Deion Sanders. By asking him to sit out, these NFL teams may be signaling that they’ve seen enough from his college tape and want to protect his draft stock. Participating in practices comes with risk—whether it’s poor performance or potential injury. For a player of Sanders’ caliber, the risk may outweigh the reward.
This action also underscores how some NFL teams operate behind the scenes. Teams often attempt to influence a prospect’s pre-draft decisions if they believe he fits their system or could be a future franchise quarterback. It’s also a way to express strong interest and establish a relationship early in the draft process.
Overall, the decision for Sanders to sit out practices highlights the blend of strategy, risk management, and pre-draft maneuvering that defines modern NFL scouting. For Sanders, it may prove a smart move as he prepares to enter the NFL Draft, preserving his value and focusing on interviews, meetings, and private workouts where teams can assess his readiness on their terms.
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