Deion Sanders Says Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter Could Pull an Eli Manning

Podcast comments by the Colorado coach have raised some eyebrows.

Colorado v UCLA / Ryan Kang/GettyImages

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback Travis Hunter are two of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Even though we're a long way from that conversation actually holding any substance, some are predicting the Colorado duo will be among top four players selected. Count Buffaloes coach and Shedeur's father Deion Sanders among them.

While appearing on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, Deion was asked to predict where Shedeur and Hunter will be drafted. He started by saying one would be picked first overall and the other won't slip past the fourth pick, before adding this little nugget:

“There’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen… It’s gonna be an Eli.”

Sanders is referring to the 2004 NFL Draft, when Eli Manning informed the then-San Diego Chargers he wouldn't play for them if selected with the No. 1 overall pick. The Chargers did pick Manning before trading him to the New York Giants shortly thereafter. Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants, while the Chargers wound up getting Philip Rivers in the same draft, a great player who was unable to get them over the hump. Since then, no top overall pick has forced a trade by refusing to play for a franchise.

It's impossible to know which franchises Deion is referring to with this threat, but it will be interesting to see what he says ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft when we know the selection order.

Shedeur is currently slotted at No. 1 in multiple 2025 mock drafts and Hunter is going as high as No. 3 in a several. Because they both already have multiple NIL deals and are paid as social media influencers, they could theoretically threaten to not play for a team that drafted them knowing they can create other revenue.

Unsubstantiated rumors emerged suggesting presumptive No. 1 pick Caleb Williams did not want to play for the Chicago Bears if they selected him first in this year's draft. Those were refuted and ultimately shot down, but the fact that they were out there certainly raised a few eyebrows. Sanders' statements aren't a rumor because he certainly has access to the thought process of his players.

Whether they actually follow through with this threat when next year rolls around remains to be seen. But the groundwork has been laid for an intriguing 2025 NFL Draft where we could see the ultimate power struggle between player and franchise.