Deion Sanders’ tough love to one of his ‘favorites’ ahead of NFL Supplemental Draft proves prophetic
Deion Sanders‘ tough love statement toward his former Jackson State wideout Malachi Wideman — who was eligible for the 2023 NFL Supplemental Draft on July 11 but, like Purdue product and fellow receiver Milton Wright, wasn’t drafted — turned out to be prophetic.
No players were selected in today’s NFL supplemental draft, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 11, 2023
That means the two players eligible, Jackson State WR Malachi Wideman and Purdue WR Milton Wright, are now free agents.
“Prime Time” called Wideman one of his favorites on Thee Pregame Show, but he also criticized his demeanor off the field — calling his lack of professionalism a reason why NFL franchises might not yet see him as a true professional just yet.
“I’m not going to tell you the team, but it’s a team who just called me yesterday about Malachi, and I told him the truth about Malachi, (He’s) a Florida boy, so you know he’s one of my favorites,” Sanders said (h/t HBCU Gameday). “There are certain things that Malachi has to work on as a young man to develop himself to being a professional. A lot of these guys think when you go pro, you go pro. So you got to be a pro before you’re pro. You don’t get to the pros and say, I’m a pro. Malachi just has to work on some personal things that constitutes that he’s a pro even before he makes it to the pro.”
Did Deion Sanders cause Malachi Wideman not to be drafted?
It’s a legitimate question whether or not it was Sanders himself who tanked Wideman’s draft stock ahead of the biggest day in his life, the NFL Supplemental Draft. Hearing Wideman’s high-profile coach basically say he isn’t ready for the highest level of pro football certainly doesn’t inspire confidence in any NFL general manager.
Ultimately, though, GMs were likely set in their decision long before Sanders weighed in on his former big-play threat in Jackson, Mississippi. Wideman’s 2022 season was a major step back from a 12-touchdown, 34-catch, 540-yard season, and if Sanders is correct in his character assessment, front offices may understand the writing on the wall as to why that was.