As Shedeur Sanders continues to dominate the sports news cycle following his drop in the 2025 NFL Draft, one narrative has gained unexpected traction, comparisons between Sanders and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But not everyone is buying it.
In a heated segment, analyst Craig Carton pushed back hard against what he called a “lazy and misleading” connection between the two quarterbacks. According to Carton, trying to equate Shedeur Sanders’ current media treatment with the NFL’s past handling of Kaepernick is simply off-base.
“To my colleagues who are making this a cause, you are embarrassing yourselves. You are playing yourselves. Even if part of why he fell is that people didn’t like him, he was going for a job where being liked is part of the deal. They did it wrong. That’s all it comes down to. They did it wrong.“
As reported on his Instagram and by Gridion Heroics, Carton called the Shedeur Sanders Colin Kaepernick comparisons a stretch at best. Arguing that the situations are completely different in both substance and context.
Why the Comparison Emerged
Sanders’ surprising drop to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft sparked widespread conversation, particularly given his strong college résumé and national attention at Colorado. Critics of the NFL quickly pointed to potential bias and drew parallels to Kaepernick. Who many believe was blackballed from the league for political reasons after kneeling during the national anthem.
Some fans and commentators argued that Sanders is facing backlash not for football-related reasons. But because of his outspokenness, swagger, and the fact that he’s Deion Sanders’ son. That line of thinking gave rise to the Shedeur Sanders Colin Kaepernick comparisons seen across social media.
This Is About Performance, Not Protest
But according to Carton and others, that comparison doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Carton noted that Sanders’ draft slide can be attributed to valid football concerns. Including durability, offensive scheme limitations, and questions about NFL readiness.
“There are criticisms to be made of Colin Kaepernick, but he literally gave it all up in the name of a cause that was bigger than him. The only cause Shedeur Sanders has is himself,” Jones said.
The analyst acknowledged that Shedeur Sanders has immense potential but warned against turning his story into something it’s not. He encouraged fans to give Sanders room to grow without framing him as a victim of institutional bias.
Looking Ahead for Sanders
Despite the controversy, Sanders now has a fresh start with the Cleveland Browns — and plenty of motivation to prove doubters wrong. The spotlight will remain on him, but if he performs, the narrative will shift quickly from comparison to confirmation.
For now, the Shedeur Sanders Colin Kaepernick comparisons seem more like noise than fact — and analysts are making it clear they’re not buying into it.
Related: 10 Quarterbacks Who Thought They Were Smarter Than Their Coach
