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A Colorado football fan is seeking $100 million in damages after quarterback Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Just weeks before the NFL Draft, Sanders, who led college football in completion percentage last year and the Colorado Buffaloes to its first nine-win season since 2014, was projected to be a first-round pick and the No. 2 quarterback taken off the board.
Sanders' draft journey became the biggest storyline in sports when he slid from the first round to the fifth. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick.
According to a court filing obtained by USA Today, a Colorado Buffalo fan filed a $100 million lawsuit, alleging that "the NFL's actions and the dissemination of slanderous statements have caused severe emotional distress and trauma."
The plaintiff, who is referred to as John Doe in the filing, said he's a Georgia resident and "dedicated fan of Colorado football" who attended the Buffaloes' winning game against TCU in 2023. Sanders completed 38 of 47 of his passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns during the match up.
Doe claimed that reports of Sanders' performance in interviews "contributed to a narrative that has unjustly harmed his reputation as and potential as a player." The plaintiff also accused the NFL of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act as teams allegedly colluded to ensure Sanders slid in the draft and the Civil Rights Act because the fall "may have been influenced by racial discrimination."
According to the lawsuit, the league also violated consumer protection laws by misrepresenting the "nature of the drafting process and qualifications of players."
Doe filed the lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in Atlanta and is seeking $100 million in punitive damages.
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