Have you ever experienced an event that didn’t go your way?
Now imagine experiencing it while millions of people around the world commented on it — in loud, polarizing fashion.
This past weekend, we witnessed one of those moments unfold on the national stage as Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback many projected as a potential top-five or top-10 pick, fell drastically in the draft.

Regardless of where you personally stand on the debate around Shedeur’s talent or draft stock, one truth remains:
What happens next in Shedeur Sanders' career — whether he rises or falls — won't be determined by this weekend. It will be determined by his mindset moving forward.

It will come down to one decision:
Does he take full ownership of his journey, or does he allow victim mentality to seep in and sabotage it?

Lessons From My Own Draft Slide

I can relate to what Shedeur is feeling — because I lived it.
In 2016, after my junior season, I had agents telling me I would likely be a second- or third-round NFL draft pick if I declared early. Instead, I chose to return for my senior year.

When my draft day finally came, I sat and watched as my name wasn’t called in the second, third, fourth, or even fifth round.
Instead, I was picked in the sixth round at No. 199 — the same spot Tom Brady was famously drafted years earlier.

The only difference?
I didn’t go on to have Tom Brady’s career.
Far from it.

A large part of that — if I'm being brutally honest with myself — was because I allowed victim thinking to dominate my mind.

Instead of embracing the mindset that got me to where I was (the walk-on kid hungry for any opportunity at Washington State), I allowed the trappings of success and a poor negative environment to impact me.
I was embarrassed and worried about how I looked to others.
I felt entitled — thinking I deserved more.
I found excuses, telling myself, "They’ll never give me a real shot. They didn’t invest enough money in me."

Looking back, the slide wasn’t what derailed my career.
It was my response to the slide that did.

The Opportunity In Front of Shedeur

That’s why my advice to Shedeur Sanders is simple, but crucial:
Take ownership.

He can’t control what just happened.
He can’t change the draft projections, the doubters, or the media narratives.
All of that is outside his control.

But what is within his control is how he approaches every single day from here on out:

• Gratitude for the opportunity — no matter where it starts.
• Work ethic to maximize every rep, every meeting, every practice.
• Relentless focus on controlling what he can: his preparation, his mindset, his attitude.

If he does that?
He’ll have a real shot at a long, successful career.

But if he lets the slide injure his ego...
If he carries bitterness, entitlement, or excuses into the building...
Then he may find himself on a turbulent professional ride — just like I did.

Final Thought

In the end, the NFL is not just about talent — it’s about resilience, ownership, and relentless growth.

Draft slides don't define careers.
Mindsets do.

The ball is in Shedeur’s hands now.
The question is: Will he choose ownership or victimhood?

"Talent without Mind Strength is talent wasted." 

Stay Tuned

We'll continue our Mind Strength mini-series next week, diving deeper into how to elevate your belief system and disempower your Inner Critic.
If you haven’t caught up yet, be sure to check out the earlier parts of the series so you’re ready for what’s next!

1. Strengthen Your Belief System: How Confidence Gets Built from the Inside Out

2. Out with the Old & In with the New: Disempowering Your Inner Critic

3. Trace It to Erase It: Where Your Inner Critic Was Born