Joy Taylor slams NFL scouts for letting Shedeur Sanders slide in the draft as Cleveland becomes unlikely landing spot for Deion’s son

Sometimes, it’s not just about the stats or the tape—sometimes, it’s personal.

That’s the energy FS1 host Joy Taylor brought to the table after watching Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders unexpectedly fall deep into the NFL Draft.

While scouts and talent evaluators scratched their heads, Taylor was crystal clear: she’s not buying their take—and she’s not afraid to say so.

Shedeur Sanders’ Shocking Drop in the Draft

Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL icon and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, had long been considered a strong first-round candidate.

With an impressive college resume at both Jackson State and Colorado, his name was expected to be called early on Day 1

. Instead, the 23-year-old quarterback waited until pick No. 144, where the Cleveland Browns finally selected him in the fifth round—despite already having a crowded quarterback room.

Joy Taylor Goes Off on NFL Talent Scouts

On FS1’s Speak, Taylor unleashed a passionate defense of Sanders and a scorching critique of the NFL’s quarterback evaluation process.

“With all due respect, I don’t care about quarterback evaluators,” Taylor declared.

“They don’t know how to evaluate the QB position… No one knows how to evaluate quarterbacks!”

Her comments immediately went viral, sparking debate and drawing plenty of backlash—some of it clearly rooted in sexism. But Taylor didn’t back down.

The Internet Has Thoughts—and They’re Not All Kind

As Taylor’s clip circulated online, it drew a wave of criticism.

Some users called her comments a “bad take,” accusing her of pandering to Sanders because of his famous last name.

Others dismissed her opinion entirely, pointing to NFL franchises like the Green Bay Packers who have a solid history of developing overlooked quarterbacks.

“Has Joy Taylor ever heard of the Green Bay Packers?” one person wrote.

Even well-meaning responses questioned the logic behind her statement, using other rookies like Cam Ward to challenge her argument.

Deion Sanders Defends His Son’s Journey

Shedeur’s father, Deion, also stepped in to support his son amid growing scrutiny.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Pro Football Hall of Famer made a veiled but clear statement:

“A lie don’t care who tells it or repeats it. Its goal is to be heard,” he wrote.

“The Truth may not be as popular as a lie but the Truth wins in the end.”

Deion’s message appeared aimed at those questioning Shedeur’s character, work ethic, and approach to the draft process.

What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?

So why did Shedeur Sanders fall so far in the draft? Reports suggest his pre-draft behavior may have raised red flags.

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Sanders “more or less sandbagged” interviews with teams he wasn’t interested in joining.

Some scouts felt he didn’t take those meetings seriously.

Adding to the controversy, Shedeur skipped all NFL Combine drills and reportedly didn’t have a traditional agent—his father managed his representation.

All of these factors may have influenced teams to steer clear, regardless of his talent.

Joy Taylor Faces Her Own Legal Drama

While defending Shedeur, Taylor is also dealing with personal legal issues.

Earlier this year, she was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit alongside her former FS1 colleague, Skip Bayless.

The suit was filed by former Fox Sports hair stylist Noushin Faraji, who claims she was harassed by Bayless and Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon.

Taylor, for her part, is accused of dismissing Faraji’s complaints and allegedly telling her to “get over it.”

Taylor and Bayless have denied the allegations, and Fox has acknowledged the lawsuit but declined further comment.

A Possible Settlement on the Horizon

Despite the serious nature of the case, there may be a resolution in sight.

According to court filings, both parties have entered settlement discussions after a March 10 mediation session.

Although no agreement was reached at that time, talks are ongoing.

In the meantime, both sides have requested to delay the next court conference until July 29 to conserve resources.

Shedeur Sanders Has a Lot to Prove—and Support Behind Him

Despite the noise, Shedeur Sanders now has an NFL home in Cleveland, even if it wasn’t what he or his supporters had envisioned.

With four other quarterbacks ahead of him and the added pressure of proving doubters wrong, the road ahead won’t be easy.

But with Deion Sanders in his corner and vocal advocates like Joy Taylor challenging the narrative, Shedeur’s story is far from over.