In the wake of the recent NFL Draft, Stephen A. Smith is voicing strong opinions regarding what he perceives as collusion within the league following Shedeur Sanders’ selection. The Cleveland Browns picked Sanders in the fifth round, choosing him with the 144th overall pick, despite many analysts projecting him as a top-five talent and one of the best quarterbacks available. This unexpected drop has ignited accusations that the league is slighting both Shedeur and his father, Deion Sanders, due to their high-profile media presence and confidence.

In a heated segment on his YouTube show, Smith expressed his frustration at what he sees as an unjust situation, referring to it as “unprecedented.” He noted that the natural confidence of Deion and Shedeur may have led certain teams to overlook them, citing Shedeur’s decision to skip workouts at the NFL Combine and the contentious nature of his interviews as factors.

STEPHEN A. SMITH BELIEVES CONSPIRACY

“Listen, everyone, I understand it!” Smith said. “It makes complete sense if he went in the second round. But for him to fall to the fifth round is concerning.”

Smith is adamant that this outcome represents a collective and unfair decision by all 32 NFL teams, intended to send a message to the Sanders family. He emphasized that this situation reflects a serious lack of appreciation for Deion Sanders’ contributions to the sport of football.

During his commentary, Smith highlighted Deion’s confidence, charisma, and exceptional abilities both as a player and coach, arguing that these qualities should have warranted Shedeur a much higher draft position.

“I believe Shedeur Sanders was targeted because of the way Prime Time Deion Sanders has been treated,” Smith asserted. “What happened to Shedeur was at least partly a direct reflection of this attack on Deion. Neither he nor his son deserved it. No matter what anyone says about Deion, he has always given to the game and never taken away from it.”

Stephen A. Smith goes off after Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the 5th round of the NFL Draft, calling it unfair and a direct assault on Deion Sanders.

(🎥 Stephen A Smith/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/p0AmEK3uba

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) April 26, 2025

Additionally, Stephen A. Smith touched upon the ongoing Shannon Sharpe controversy, indicating that he refrains from making hasty judgments regarding Sharpe’s situation and hinted at possible commentary on LeBron James in the future. Fans will want to stay tuned to see what Smith will discuss next on his YouTube channel.