Do you know who is on Michael Vick’s speed dial? The four-time Pro Bowl selection and former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick has been named Norfolk State University’s 19th head football coach. And who better a person to guide him in his new role than Deion Sanders? “The first person I reached out to was Deion Sanders because he’s a mentor,” said Vick. But hold on! The story does not end here. Just as Vick has put Deion on the pedestal, the latter’s son, Shedeur, does the same with Vick.

The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback is about to take that giant leap to the pro league and has revealed that his style of play is inspired by Vick. With the 2025 NFL Draft knocking at the door, the ex-NFL star sent a strong message that included a wake-up call for 2 NFL giants. Meanwhile, Shedeur gets blown away by a $5.3 billion snub.  

Michael Vick turns Shedeur Sanders’ doubts into drive

Well, Shedeur had that one fantasy. Back in June last year, he shared, “I’m a mixture. I’m able to stay in the pocket and want to deliver the ball each and every play like Brady but be able to extend plays and if it’s not there, take it like Vick.” And obviously it did place him in the hot seat. After all, Vick is a four-time NFL Pro Bowler, has won the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and the list continues. In contrast, Shedeur is yet to put his feet in the pro league. So, he faced a lot of backlash. As former player turned analyst – Matt McChesney – said, it’s rare to find someone who has “anything in common with Michael Vick. Michael Vick is a goddamn freak.” But Shedeur, being Shedeur, has turned a deaf ear to it.

He models his game after Vick. By studying his game, Shedeur is trying to develop the legend’s dual-threat capabilities, combining a powerful arm with exceptional speed and agility to redefine the quarterback position. For all the ones doubting the Shedeur-Vick comparison, the former New York Jets legend threw cold water. On the April 17 episode of the ESPN College Football podcast, he confessed, “Well, Shedeur does a lot of things that I wish I could have done, especially throwing the football. His accuracy, his touch, his ability to find an open man is uncanny.” Shedeur’s average time to throw last season of 2.96 seconds ranked 110th in the FBS, well above the national average of 2.76. When talking about the potential No.1 pick Cam Ward, the Miami QB was at 2.9 seconds, which ranked 100th. Vick then came up with some advice for the Buffs quarterback. 

In case Shedeur is stressed about landing late, there is not much to worry about. The legend assured, “If it’s a little later, then you’re going to have a better supporting cast.” Vick then talked in the light of two NFL giants. “If he goes to the [New Orleans] Saints, then it should be some pieces around him… Wherever he goes, if he goes to Pittsburgh. But the one thing that can’t happen don’t you push the door in a situation where he’s going to be on edge. And he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder because that chip is going to be a big chip and great things are going to happen.”  

The Saints have the 9th overall pick. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders is slipping down the boards. So, he could fall to that spot, whereas Pittsburgh holds the 21st overall pick. So what’s the moral of the story? According to Vick, Shedeur’s talents are going to land him in the ideal place, his job is done. The rest is up to the teams. Amidst this, the Buffs QB received some bad news.  

Shedeur Sanders and Pittsburgh’s visit sends mixed signals 

Recently, there was a time when, every other day, analysts came up with their mock drafts. And guess what? With every passing day, the Buffs QB’s draft stock went on hitting lower notes. NFL Network’s Eric Edholm saw him as No.15, while Lance Zierlein projected Shedeur to land as the No.24 pick. But on paper, Deion’s son looked like the perfect piece to the $5.3 billion Steelers’ puzzle. Mike Tomlin and co. even hosted him for their top 30 visit on April 10. And how did it go?

Shedeur called his pre-draft visit with the Steelers a “10.” However, NFL insider Aaron Wilson comes up with some inside scoop focusing on how Tomlin’s program felt for the quarterback. Going by his projection, the Buffs QB won’t be on Pittsburgh’s short list of first-round options. The analyst reported, “I’ve heard he will not be a Pittsburgh Steeler. I heard that meeting did not go well. And that wasn’t from someone telling me that, and this is always the assumption, because someone is trying to affect theses boards.”

So, in a way, Wilson clarified that he doesn’t believe the information. It’s important to point out that there have been a few reports suggesting the total opposite of what Wilson is reporting. As draft analyst Todd McShay reported, “I tend to trust where I’m getting this information from. Mike Tomlin really likes Shedeur. If he’s there at 21, Shedeur could very well be a Pittsburgh Steelers.” Pittsburgh might be showing Shedeur some love, but whether that love turns into a real commitment remains to be seen…