Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has unwittingly found himself at the center of another draft day conspiracy theory ahead of the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams.
Eric Dickerson, the legendary running back, alleged the NFL colluded against Shedeur Sanders. Dickerson joined Fred Roggin and Rodney Peete on the “Roggin and Rodney” show on AM 570 LA Sports to discuss the Rams. Dickerson was speaking to the longtime radio hosts about the Rams’ final preseason game. He was very complimentary of Sanders, telling the hosts he wanted the Rams to draft him. That’s when the former Los Angeles Ram superstar started telling a story of whispers and intrigue. Dickerson relayed a story, “What I heard from someone that’s in the NFL that the NFL told [teams] don’t draft him, do not draft him. We’re going to make an example out of him.”
Dickerson reiterated that he trusts his source, who is a long-time NFL employee, while keeping his identity anonymous. Dickerson alleges the NFL wanted to teach the Sanders family a lesson. He said the Browns were called by the NFL and directed to draft the Colorado quarterback. While the NFL undoubtedly influences front offices in player acquisitions, as revealed in the published NFLPA non-collusion case. However, it’s unclear why the NFL would want to punish a popular quarterback who is free from controversy. I’m not the only one confused.
Dan Patrick brought on senior Sports Illustrated sports journalist Albert Breer onto the Dan Patrick Show to discuss the conspiracy. Breer shut down the conspiracy once he heard the segment in full. Breer reiterated that Sanders fell out of the first round due to football reasons, but slid in the draft because of the drama surrounding him.
“I think he fell out of the first round for football reasons. I think he kept falling for everything else.”
– @AlbertBreer on the conspiracies regarding Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide. pic.twitter.com/3prDNvjqZs
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) August 21, 2025
While it’s unfair to Sanders for him to suffer for his father’s fame, that’s his reality. He never asked to be the center of conspiracies that range from the White House to the West Coast. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, showing the excitement of someone whose name had just been called at a doctor’s office, certainly didn’t help soothe any paranoid thoughts. However, Sanders is in the NFL, and he’ll be playing that hand. He’s expected to get most of the second half reps against the Rams on Saturday.
He’ll likely play a significant amount of games for the Browns this season. He’ll have the opportunity to prove how foolish the NFL was by passing on him. He’ll be making his name in the league soon.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders at the center of another collusion claim