Shedeur Sanders recognized the criticism he was facing while playing in Jackson State and Colorado prior to his decision to go pro and go into the NFL draft and theorized why he takes lots of heat.

Spotlight was burning hot last month when he fell to the fifth round of the draft after being expected to be taken as high as No. 2. Cleveland Browns eventually took a chance for him at election # 144.

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He told Cleveland.com that he thinks a lot of hatred aimed at him is based on his father, Deion Sanders.

“They don’t care about other people’s opinion about you,” Sanders said of the younger generation while visiting a local high school. “They go based on their own – 99% of the hatred (directed at him) are against pops. And then I’m just his son. But (the kids) didn’t grow up in an era where they saw him play. It’s just the older generation that does it for me rather than the younger people. Because when I come in person, there’s no negativity I see. But it’s everywhere online.

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Cleveland Browns Quarterback Shhedeur Sanders, Front, goes off the field after the NFL football team’s rookie mini stamp in Berea, Ohio, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

“So that’s why I say I like to go (to schools) personally and actually meet them, and any questions they have, I say, ‘Just ask me what question you want. Choose any question. Nothing filter, nothing.’ That’s what they say.

Sanders will be able to close some of the critics who have already written off him.

He enters a crowded quarterback room with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett as well as someone from his own rookie class in Dillon Gabriel.

He signed his rookie contract earlier this week. All eyes will be on him and his three teammates during training out of season.