Deion Sanders has Falcons on shortlist of teams for sons, Travis Hunter to play for

Will it happen though?

Former NFL star and current head coach of the Colorado University football team Deion Sanders has made headlines once again. This time, it’s not for his on-field heroics or coaching career, but for a decision that could potentially impact the future of the Atlanta Falcons, and a few other teams.

In a recent appearance on the Million Dollar Worth of Game podcast, Sanders discussed the future of some of his key players and where he wants them to play when they inevitably end up in the NFL.

“Top four,” Sanders said when asked about where he thinks Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will end up being drafted next season. “Anywhere from one through four. One of them is going to be number one… and the latter one will not go behind four.”

Sanders went on to mention that he has locations where he doesn’t want them to go, hinting that the situation might turn out similar to former New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning who infamously stated, along with his father Archie Manning, that he would not play for the San Diego Chargers, who had the top overall pick. He was picked by the Chargers but then traded to the Giants shortly after.

“Now, all of this is subjective because I know where I kinda want them to go, and let’s not forget Shilo Sanders, but I know where I want them to go. So, there are certain cities that ain’t gonna happen… It’s going to be an Eli. We ain’t doing that.”

Sanders then touched on what made Atlanta a fit for him, when he was selected by the Falcons with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

“There were certain cities that fit. Atlanta fit,” Sanders said. “And I want that for my kids. All of them. I want the right fit. First of all it was the ethnicity because that was the first time I saw black people in positions of authority… it blew my mind..it was real in Atlanta. I had never seen anything like that in my life.”

Per the New York Post, the shortlist of NFL teams that Sanders wants his sons and Hunter to play for comprises the Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens — all teams that he played for during his time in the NFL. Another team mentioned is the Philadelphia Eagles, which he did not play for, but is one of the better teams in the league.

Of those teams mentioned, you could argue the Falcons will be the most quarterback-needy come next season, at least over the long haul. Yes, the team just signed Kirk Cousins, but he will be entering year two of a contract that the Falcons will be able to get out of the following offseason if they so desire. The only other team that figures to be quarterback-needy on that shortlist is the Cowboys, if they actually go through with letting impending free agent Dak Prescott walk away from the team.

The story is a bit different for Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter. The former is going to be 25 years old heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, and figures to be a late round pick or an undrafted free agent free to sign where he wants to. Hunter, meanwhile, is an obvious talent who has played on both sides of the ball and should be drafted relatively early, though it’s not 100% clear whether that will be as a defensive back, a wide receiver, or a very rare true two-way player.

Could Shedeur in Atlanta be something Deion wants? Will Hunter and the Sanders do what’s necessary to ensure they only land in one of those cities? Possibly, but the Falcons would also have to want that and they would additionally need to be in position to make it happen, depending on how early Hunter and Shedeur Sanders ultimately go. It’s possible both will be first round selections in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

Deion Sanders wants to ensure his sons and one of his most prized players go to a situation where they can succeed, which is only natural. For now, though, this is just something to file away depending on Atlanta’s interest, and we’ll see both whether the Falcons have interest next year and how far Sanders and these players are willing to go to ensure they land with one of these preferred franchises.