Caleb Williams, who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, seems content with potentially going to the Chicago Bears. However, NFL Hall of Famer and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has other plans for his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. During a recent podcast, Deion Sanders expressed dissatisfaction with certain cities and subtly suggesting the possibility of an ‘Eli’ strategy.
The expression ‘Eli’ refers to the 2004 NFL Draft when Eli Manning, the top quarterback prospect, expressed his disapproval to play for the San Diego Chargers, who held the first overall pick. Eventually, the Chargers traded Manning to the New York Giants for their top pick Philip Rivers and other picks. Both Manning and Rivers enjoyed successful football careers with their respective teams, making this maneuver a major turning point in NFL draft history.
This incident is not just noteworthy because of the eventual success of both players, but also because it marks one of the rare occasions when a presumed first overall NFL Draft pick leveraged his position for their preference. Indications from Caleb Williams’ camp suggest that he would consider something similar this year.
The father of Caleb Williams, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, earlier hinted that if Williams did not land in a favorable situation in the NFL, he could return back to school for his senior year of college football. However, Williams himself conveyed his excitement about the prospect of going to Chicago if they select him first overall in the upcoming draft. This sentiment was echoed by his former USC teammate Brenden Rice, who couldn’t see Williams “pulling one of those Eli Mannings.”
Deion Sanders, however, thinks it’s in Williams’ best interest to try to move out of Chicago. Shedeur being his son, he doesn’t want him playing for an NFL team in a cold-weather city, where the games well into late December and January are an annual occurrence. This contradicts college football schedules, where games seldom happen in such frigid conditions.
Sanders’ decision could be a setback for teams in the northern U.S. with top picks in the coming years if Shedeur maintains his standing as a leading quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, and if Hunter continues to shine both as a cornerback and wide receiver. Nonetheless, Eli Manning appreciates the Sanders family’s intent to adopt a similar strategy to his own, in ensuring the best interests for their respective players in the NFL draft.
