Shedeur Sanders Giants cleats, explained: Why Colorado QB had custom cleats made for Alamo Bowl | Sporting News

The NFL Draft process can be long and tedious, but Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders seems to have a destination in mind.

After comments from Sanders himself and from incoming Colorado freshman Julian Lewis alluding to the NFL’s New York Giants, Sanders made a fashion statement ahead of the Alamo Bowl by putting red and blue cleats in his locker.

As it turns out, those cleats are more than just a subtle hint at Sanders’ potential NFL landing spot. They are in fact custom-made cleats with the Giants logo on them, the clearest sign yet that Sanders at the very least would be willing to play in New York.

Here’s a look at Sanders’ custom Giants cleats and what they mean.

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Shedeur Sanders Giants cleats, explained

Sanders indicated in the days leading up to the Alamo Bowl that his cleats would offer a hint as to which team will take him in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“We know where we’re going, baby…We know where we’re going, baby. You’ll see them in the cleats later on this week,” Sanders told his brother, Shilo, in a video during practice.

Detailed look at Shedeur Sanders’ custom New York Giants Nike cleats 🔴🔵 Should the Giants draft him? 🤔

📸: nomad_customs https://t.co/92Pk7CKW43 pic.twitter.com/iU1IjlQpy4

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) December 28, 2024

When told by his brother that he didn’t actually know where he was going and a team could always trade up, Sanders responded: “You can’t get higher than one.”

Through 15 games, one team stands alone with the worst record in the NFL. The Giants (2-13) just need to lose their final two games to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft thanks to the Raiders’ Week 16 win over the Jaguars.

While the Giants could slide down the draft order with a win, Sanders’ comments and cleats are a sign that he would be thrilled to play for the downtrodden franchise despite previous comments from Deion Sanders indicating he might try to steer his son away from certain teams.

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The cleats, of course, may be one way of doing just that. Sanders might be trying to angle his way to New York months before the decision is actually made — and before the Giants even know whether they will have the top pick.

Saturday wasn’t the first time Sanders and the Giants were connected, as incoming Buffaloes QB Julian Lewis referred to the senior as a “future New York Giants QB” ahead of the Alamo Bowl.

“I’m just spectating future NY Giants QB.”

Colorado 5-star recruit Julian Lewis to Shedeur 😅

(via @DeionSandersJr, Well Off Media / YT) pic.twitter.com/XTZue7Zeam

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 27, 2024

The Giants might not be the most desirable franchise, but the New York market is. While Miami’s Cam Ward is also in the mix to be the top quarterback off the board, Sanders already seems to be actively campaigning to be the No. 1 pick.

Shedeur Sanders mock draft projection

Sanders and Ward are widely considered the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders ranks No. 8 overall on SN’s Vinnie Iyer’s big board and is the top-ranked quarterback, just ahead of Ward.

Four teams currently slated to pick within the top six selections could be in the market for a quarterback: the Giants, Titans, Browns and Raiders. New York, however, is in pole position to land the No. 1 pick and would be able to have its choice of Sanders and Ward with two more losses.

If the Giants pull off an upset, their strength of schedule would allow as many as all three of those quarterback-needy teams to leap ahead of them in the draft order. In that case, it would be worth watching whether Sanders tries to leverage his way to the Giants anyway.