The star quarterback didn’t mince his words.
Shedeur Sanders spoke on Friday at the NFL scouting combine about his expectations for the draft and what he expects out of himself and out of whichever organization drafts him.
When asked if he is capable of turning a franchise around, Sanders didn’t hesitate to answer.
“That’s the plan,” Sanders said.
He also made it clear that whoever drafts him needs to be ready to commit to change.
“If that’s not what you’re trying to do, don’t get me,” Sanders continued.
“If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me.
“You should know that history repeats itself over and over and over.
“I’ve done it over and over and over, so it should be no question why an NFL franchise should pick me.”
Sanders was his charismatic, brash and confident self as he spoke to the media.
He also was realistic and knows he likely isn’t going to be the first overall pick.
And knows he probably won’t even be the first quarterback taken.
“The number where you go don’t matter,” Sanders said.
“I reference Tom Brady, because he is the best of the best in all categories. He ain’t go first. So, the number you get picked don’t matter.
“I wasn’t the top-rated quarterback coming out of high school, because there a lot of things that people will like and don’t like about me.
“I’m realistic, and I’m realistic about my family and everything that people say that comes with it.”
But don’t confuse Sanders as someone who isn’t ready for the moment or the pressure that comes with being a franchise quarterback.
“I know nothing can faze me,” Sanders said.
“No pressure, no situation, these cameras, nothing fazes me. I grew up with it.”
The son of Deion Sanders noted that he’s already turned two programs around, referencing his time at Jackson State and Colorado, and that the hate he receives may just be because of who his father is.
“I’ve done it at two locations already, so it’s simple,” Sanders said
“That’s why when people say I’m not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, it’s what are y’all going based off of, because I did year after year after year after year and you see the progression.
“So, obviously it’s got to be some type of external hate that you have for the last name for anything, because I know I proved myself on the field.”
There are a handful of quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft who will be very interested in Sanders’ services.
The Tennessee Titans own the first overall pick and need a QB.
The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are right behind them.
The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets are lurking.
Could he pull an Eli Manning and refuse to go a team who drafts him?
While unlikely, don’t rule it out.
Wherever Sanders gets drafted, will be must-watch television regardless.
And he said it himself, if whoever drafts him isn’t ready to change the culture, then “don’t get me.”