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When New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers sat down with Carmelo Anthony on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, the conversation shifted from the bright lights of the NFL to the overlooked shadows of the draft — specifically, how Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round. Nabers didn’t hold back.
“That boy played his ass off,” Nabers said. “And then to do him like that? Come on, bro.”
Respect for the Journey: From Jackson to Boulder
Nabers began by praising Sanders’ path, from elevating Jackson State to transforming the Colorado Buffaloes. “He went to Jackson State… put them on the map, changed a lot of family lives,” Nabers said. Then came Colorado, where Shedeur helped make the Buffs the story of college football in 2023, leading the nation in early-season buzz and bringing ESPN’s College GameDay to Boulder.
Sanders threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023 despite being sacked a nation-leading 52 times. Shedeur followed that up by throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024 while being sacked 43 times. Nabers pointed to those stats as a testament to Shedeur’s resilience, not a flaw. “He threw with a 70 percentage, you know, with a bad O-line.”
Talent That Deserved Better
The former LSU star couldn’t understand how Sanders — once considered a top-two quarterback prospect — slid to Round 5. “There’s no way in hell he go [fifth] round,” Nabers said, referencing Sanders’ poise, escapability, and production. “You can pull up plenty of clips of him escaping three to four tackles, throwing it down the field.”
Sanders’ chemistry with teammates like Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard, who all caught at least six touchdowns, were proof to Nabers that Shedeur didn’t just manage games — he elevated them.
ASU Sun Devils defensive lineman Anthonie Cooper (96) tries to block the pass of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) at Mountain America Stadium on Oct 7, 2023Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
More Than Football: The Personality Debate
Nabers pushed back on off-field narratives that may have hurt Sanders’ stock. “Everybody got different personalities… we all made different,” he said. “How he carries himself is all about how his dad raised him.” He made it clear that in his eyes, NFL teams judged Sanders more on image than substance — and that, he says, is the real issue.
“Don’t do that… not to a kid like that who’s been working his whole life.”
Final Word:
For Colorado fans, Nabers’ passionate defense of Shedeur Sanders serves as both validation and motivation. If Malik’s right, and the league missed out — Cleveland may have just found the steal of the draft.
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“That boy played his ass off,” Nabers said. “And then to do him like that? Come on, bro.”
Respect for the Journey: From Jackson to Boulder
Nabers began by praising Sanders’ path, from elevating Jackson State to transforming the Colorado Buffaloes. “He went to Jackson State… put them on the map, changed a lot of family lives,” Nabers said. Then came Colorado, where Shedeur helped make the Buffs the story of college football in 2023, leading the nation in early-season buzz and bringing ESPN’s College GameDay to Boulder.
Sanders threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023 despite being sacked a nation-leading 52 times. Shedeur followed that up by throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024 while being sacked 43 times. Nabers pointed to those stats as a testament to Shedeur’s resilience, not a flaw. “He threw with a 70 percentage, you know, with a bad O-line.”
Talent That Deserved Better
The former LSU star couldn’t understand how Sanders — once considered a top-two quarterback prospect — slid to Round 5. “There’s no way in hell he go [fifth] round,” Nabers said, referencing Sanders’ poise, escapability, and production. “You can pull up plenty of clips of him escaping three to four tackles, throwing it down the field.”
Sanders’ chemistry with teammates like Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard, who all caught at least six touchdowns, were proof to Nabers that Shedeur didn’t just manage games — he elevated them.
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ASU Sun Devils defensive lineman Anthonie Cooper (96) tries to block the pass of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) at Mountain America Stadium on Oct 7, 2023Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
More Than Football: The Personality Debate
Nabers pushed back on off-field narratives that may have hurt Sanders’ stock. “Everybody got different personalities… we all made different,” he said. “How he carries himself is all about how his dad raised him.” He made it clear that in his eyes, NFL teams judged Sanders more on image than substance — and that, he says, is the real issue.
“Don’t do that… not to a kid like that who’s been working his whole life.”
Final Word:
For Colorado fans, Nabers’ passionate defense of Shedeur Sanders serves as both validation and motivation. If Malik’s right, and the league missed out — Cleveland may have just found the steal of the draft.
Related: Former Colorado player turns heads with his assessment of Shedeur Sanders
Related: Shedeur Sanders dances with mom Pilar, sister Shelomi after NFL draft slide ends
Related: Shedeur Sanders dances with mom Pilar, sister Shelomi after NFL draft slide ends
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