Bart Scott doesn’t hold back with Shedeur Sanders opinion in ESPN rant
Shedeur Sanders was considered a top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Bart Scott has responded to the quarterback being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round
Bart Scott has called it "laughable" that Shedeur Sanders was only picked in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Many experts had predicted Sanders would be a first-round selection following his standout performance at the Colorado Buffaloes, where the quarterback won the Golden Arm award and earned the title of Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Being coached by his father, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, heightened expectations for him to be a top prospect.
However, Sanders signed for the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, despite the team already having selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Rumors swirled that Sanders' attitude during pre-draft meetings might have caused his stock to fall, but ex-NFL linebacker Scott criticized other teams for not picking Sanders earlier.
"I think it's laughable that so many teams passed on him over and over again," Scott said on ESPN. "They cut their nose to spite their face.
"Whatever statement they were trying to make - a lot of those guys that made those picks, I guarantee you, at least or four of them is going to be in the unemployment line, and it's going to be because they didn't find a quarterback that they were looking for, either general manager or head coach."
Sanders faces competition to carve out a spot with the Browns, going up against Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow newcomer Gabriel, even with Deshaun Watson sidelined. Scott argued that Sanders could have been a more significant asset for several other squads.
"At least five of them was wrong, right? Because they need a quarterback in the best way," Scott argued. "You talk about from extremes, you said fighting for a roster spot to potentially being a starter. There's a lot of in between. You mean to tell me that's a fifth round pick?
"You used to tell me a lot of stuff but one of the things you used to tell me was, 'Production breeds tolerance.' His college production breeds tolerance. It may not be the first round tolerance, maybe not the second round, but, come on, the third round?"
Taking aim at two teams in particular, Scott continued: "The Jets, you're going to put all your faith in Justin Fields reviving his career, knowing that Jordan Travis was potentially going to retire from football? If you're the Saints, you understand that [Derek] Carr is going to retire from football?
"You won't throw something against the wall in the fourth round? Those are throwaway picks. Half of those guys don't even make your roster."
Scott dismissed the idea that teams might be hesitant to select Sanders due to concerns about his father potentially taking over as coach in the future. "You deserve to be fired if you're afraid of a man taking your job, so you don't take his son," Scott said.
Regarding the young quarterback calmly dealing with the situation, Scott explained: "His only job is to prove them wrong. He's not going to show you the inside stuff, outside. His job is to show that everything is ok here and still project that confidence. His father is supposed to speak for him."
When asked whether it would be idiotic for the Browns to choose Flacco, Pickett, or Gabriel over Sanders, Scott gave a straightforward answer: "Yes."