Shedeur Sanders defends Will Howard after tough NFL Combine

2025 NFL Scouting Combine
2025 NFL Scouting Combine | Stacy Revere/GettyImages

If there’s one thing Shedeur Sanders has proven time and time again, it’s that he’s built different. Not just as a quarterback, but as a leader. While the internet was quick to pile on Ohio State’s Will Howard after a shaky NFL Combine performance, Shedeur took the high road—offering support instead of criticism.

In a world where social media thrives on tearing people down, Shedeur’s response was a refreshing reminder that athletes stand by fellow athletes. He took to X and called out the critics, saying:

And he’s not wrong.

Let’s be honest—the NFL Combine is an awkward setup for quarterbacks. You’re out there throwing to unfamiliar receivers, with zero chemistry, in a scripted environment that has nothing to do with live-game pressure. One bad session doesn’t define a player, yet the football world loves making snap judgments.

Shedeur, who chose not to participate in the Combine drills this year, clearly understands this. He knows what it’s like to have eyes on you at all times, waiting for the smallest misstep. And instead of feeding into the negativity, he chose to uplift Howard—a move that speaks volumes about his character.

This is why Shedeur Sanders is going to make an NFL franchise very happy on draft day. He’s not just an elite QB—he’s got the mindset of a true leader. The kind of guy who isn’t afraid to back his peers, even when it’s not the popular thing to do.

NFL scouts already love Shedeur’s poise and athleticism. But moments like this? They show something you can’t teach.

So while Twitter might be quick to write off Will Howard, Shedeur is showing the kind of class that sets great quarterbacks apart. And for any NFL team watching, that speaks louder than any Combine stat ever could.

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