The 2025 NFL Draft already has plenty of intrigue—the New York Giants in the thick of it—with its intriguing quarterback class, but WFAN’s Boomer Esiason added a new layer of drama: Could Deion Sanders block his son Shedeur from landing in Cleveland with the No. 2 overall pick?
On a recent episode of Boomer and Gio, Esiason and Gregg Giannotti didn’t just speculate—they essentially declared that it’s a foregone conclusion.
“If Deion is controlling what’s going on, there’s no way he lets Shedeur Sanders go to the Cleveland Browns,” Giannotti said, summing up a bold prediction that quickly gained traction. Esiason doubled down, emphasizing that Cleveland and Tennessee—owners of the first two draft picks—wouldn’t be ideal fits for the younger Sanders.
For Giants fans, this could be the perfect storm. With the No. 3 pick and a desperate need for a franchise quarterback, Shedeur slipping to New York feels tantalizingly real.
Would Shedeur Sanders pull an “Eli Manning” on the Browns?
The comparison to Eli Manning’s infamous draft-day power move is unavoidable. Manning refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after being selected No. 1 overall in 2004, forcing a trade to the Giants that shaped his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Could Shedeur Sanders follow a similar path if Cleveland comes calling?
Giannotti certainly thinks so. “You can’t [let him go to Cleveland],” he said on WFAN. “If I were Shedeur Sanders, I would rather go to the Jets. That's saying something. They may want to do it, but Deion is not going to let that happen.” That's quite the scathing indictment.
While Shedeur has all the tools to thrive at the next level, Esiason noted that his success hinges on landing with the right coach. “A lot of these guys that come out, you just never know. I didn’t know Bo Nix was going to be this successful, but I knew he was going to the right coach.” Unfortunately for Cleveland and Tennessee, both franchises have recent coaching track records that don’t inspire confidence.
If Deion Sanders truly intervenes to keep his son away from Cleveland, it would all but guarantee Shedeur Sanders slips to New York at No. 3. And while some pundits rank Miami’s Cam Ward higher, the Giants’ need for a quarterback who thrives under pressure could make Shedeur the perfect fit.
It’s also worth considering Deion’s influence beyond the draft. With the NFL Draft just months away, whispers of a strategic push to land Shedeur in a big-market city like New York aren’t hard to believe. The pairing would not only be a marketing dream but also provide Shedeur with a coach like Brian Daboll—someone apparently known for his quarterback-friendly schemes.
Meanwhile, the Browns would face yet another public relations nightmare. After years of mediocrity and a revolving door at quarterback, being publicly spurned by one of the draft’s most high-profile players could make Cleveland even less desirable than it already is.
The NFL Draft is as much about strategy and leverage as it is about talent, and Deion Sanders knows this better than most. Whether or not he openly blocks the Browns remains to be seen, but the very suggestion highlights the high stakes for Shedeur’s future.
If Deion pulls the strings to guide his son to the right franchise, New York could find itself with the quarterback it desperately needs. Until then, the drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders will only intensify—and Giants fans wouldn’t have it any other way.