Coach Prime sends confident message on where Colorado football son Shedeur Sanders would've gone in 2024 NFL draft

Coach Prime is confident that his son, Colorado football quarterback Shedeur Sanders, would've been the No. 2 pick, and the No. 2 QB, taken during the 2024 NFL draft had the "Grown QB" declared for it.

"He wouldn't have been the first quarterback off the board," Deion Sanders said Wednesday, per The Athletic's David Ubben (subscription required) (h/t Bleacher Report). "I think he had the ability but he probably would have been the second quarterback off the board."

Coach Prime grew defensive of his stance, asserting that he knows powerful people in the NFL who backed his claim up.

"The only reason I know that, don't you think I know people in the NFL?" Sanders questioned reporters on March 20.

"I'm sorry, I played for how many years, 14? Got a gold jacket at the crib, I think. I think I know some people. Jerry Jones. Arthur Blank. I know some people in the game. Roger Goodell. So when I speak I'm not just throwing stuff out of my head. I'm throwing stuff based on knowledge. So let's just get that straight."

Shedeur Sanders didn't declare for NFL draft and leave Colorado football due to 4-8 record

Shedeur admitted that he didn't leave the Buffs for the 2024 NFL draft due to how poorly CU performed when push came to shove in 2023 after a hot start.

“I couldn’t leave on that note, it didn’t feel right,” Sanders said of the 1-8 collapse to end the season after the 3-0 start (h/t Denver Sports). “It didn’t end the right way.”

Having said that, Shedeur now has quite a bit of pressure to perform in 2024 to prove he's actually worthy of a top draft pick. With an improved offensive line ahead of him and new weapons in the passing game, Sanders has the means to make that a reality.