Shedeur Sanders’ Nightmare: From First-Round Hopes to a Cruel Draft Day Hoax

Shedeur Sanders entered the 2025 NFL Draft with high expectations. The former Colorado standout, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, was widely projected as a potential first-round pick. But what was supposed to be the biggest night of his life turned into a frustrating, emotional rollercoaster that few could have predicted.

The first blow came when Sanders was passed over entirely in the first round — a stunning fall that shocked analysts and fans alike. As rounds two and three unfolded, the disappointment deepened. Yet amid the heartbreak, a cruel twist made his night even worse.

After it became clear that Sanders had slipped into the later rounds, he received what seemed like a promising call. The person on the other end claimed to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, offering an apology for the delay and assuring Sanders he would be drafted next. But the voice wasn’t Loomis. It was Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who had accessed his father’s tablet to pull the prank.

The fake call, coming during one of the most stressful moments of Sanders’ life, added an extra layer of humiliation to an already painful experience. It highlighted the growing problem of prank culture in professional sports, especially during high-profile events like the NFL Draft.

Sanders wasn’t the only victim. Quarterback Kyle McCord, who was eventually drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, also revealed he received prank calls from numbers with South Jersey and Philadelphia area codes. McCord admitted that by the time the real call came, he was skeptical it was genuine.

For Sanders, the nightmare ended when the Cleveland Browns finally selected him in the fifth round. But the damage was already done: the dashed expectations, the emotional toll, and the cruel joke played at his expense created a draft day he — and many fans — won’t soon forget.

As Sanders begins his NFL career, one thing is clear: he’ll be carrying a chip on his shoulder, driven by both the fall and the disrespect he endured on a night that should have been filled with celebration.