Smear campaign against Shedeur Sanders to hurt him in the NFL Entry Draft is denounced

ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Louis Riddick believes a deliberate effort is underway to damage Shedeur Sanders' draft stock.

According to Riddick, the negative narratives surrounding the Colorado quarterback stem more from his father, Deion Sanders, than from Shedeur's actual performance.

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Riddick questioned the sudden doubts about Shedeur's talent as we draw closer to the draft.

"He's a top-half-of-the-first-round player," Riddick told Dan Patrick.

"Where is this negativity coming from?"

Deion Sanders' influence on Shedeur's draft perception

Riddick argued that Shedeur is facing backlash simply because of who his father is. Deion Sanders, the outspoken Colorado head coach and NFL Hall of Famer, has long been a polarizing figure, and Riddick believes that perception is now affecting Shedeur's evaluation.

"This doesn't even start with Shedeur," Riddick explained.

"It starts with his father and trickles down to him. People don't like flashy guys like that who can back it up."

Deion himself warned about this in February, predicting that teams would attempt to manipulate media narratives against his son. He advised Shedeur to ignore the outside noise.

"People are going to criticize you so you fall to them. That's how it is. It's positioning right now. But he's speaking to the guys that make the moves, so he's not listening to the media."

Despite the controversy, Shedeur remains a highly regarded prospect. However, some analysts now believe he has fallen behind Miami's Cam Ward in the quarterback rankings.

Shedeur will have a chance to prove himself on March 18 at Colorado's Pro Day, where he and star teammate Travis Hunter will showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts.

With a strong performance, Shedeur could solidify his position as a top draft pick and put the doubts to rest.