The NFL is currently investigating how Shedeur Sanders’ private phone number was leaked and used in a prank call on the second day of the NFL Draft. As Sanders continued to go undrafted on day two, a video surfaced on social media of him receiving a call from someone impersonating Mickey Loomis, general manager of the New Orleans Saints. The caller said, “It’s been a long wait, man. We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.” The call left the quarterback confused, expressing his uncertainty to those gathered for his draft party. In the video of Sanders receiving the prank call, his draft party is depicted watching the Saints select Tyler Shough with the 40th draft pick.
Sanders was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick, the second quarterback Cleveland drafted. After being drafted in the fifth round, Sanders claimed that he was not bothered by the prank call when talking to Cleveland-area reporters. Sanders said that it didn’t really have an impact on him and that it was just mean and childish, but he doesn’t like to feed into negativity. Sanders also shared that he was given a private phone from Boost Mobile for the draft and the number was given strictly to NFL personnel.
It was later found that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son had made the prank call to Sanders, resulting in the NFL issuing a $100,000 fine to Ulbrich and a $250,000 fine to the Atlanta Falcons.
Sources revealed that Sanders was not the only victim of draft-related prank calls. Tight end Tyler Warren also received a prank call before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Before being drafted in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Kyle McCord shared that he received prank calls from Philadelphia-area numbers throughout the day. Abdul Carter, the New York Giants’ draft pick, also revealed he received a prank call during the draft. The NFL is investigating these other prank calls made during the draft and say that the others are unrelated to Sanders’ incident.
