Deion Sanders Named Greatest No. 5 NFL Draft Pick of All Time by ESPN
This week, ESPN set out to crown the greatest NFL player ever selected at each draft position. At No. 5 overall, one name stood tall above a star-studded field: Deion Sanders, the iconic two-sport phenom and current head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
The list of contenders for the No. 5 spot was stacked. It included the late Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler and one of the fiercest defenders in league history; LaDainian Tomlinson, the Hall of Fame running back known for rewriting rushing records; All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Ja’Marr Chase, the explosive wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
But in the end, ESPN awarded the honor to Sanders—a player whose impact on and off the field transcended generations.
A Draft Day to Remember
Selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL Draft, Sanders quickly became the embodiment of style, speed, and skill. But his now-legendary NFL career nearly took a different turn.
“I was scared—I thought Detroit was gonna take me,” Sanders said with a laugh on draft night back in 1989. “I would have asked for so much money they’d have to put me on layaway.
Thankfully for Sanders, the Detroit Lions opted to select another future Hall of Famer, Barry Sanders, with the No. 3 pick.
“Prime Time” Legacy
Sanders, also known by his famous nickname “Prime Time,” didn’t just meet expectations—he exploded past them. An electrifying cornerback out of Florida State, he redefined what it meant to play defense in the NFL.
Sanders earned:
- 8 Pro Bowl selections
- 2 Super Bowl titles
- 53 career interceptions
- 22 total touchdowns
- A gold jacket and enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Whether locking down elite receivers, returning punts for touchdowns, or even catching passes as a wide receiver, Sanders was a rare talent who could swing a game from anywhere on the field.
A Two-Sport Marvel
What made Sanders even more iconic was his ability to shine in two professional sports at once. While carving out his NFL legacy, he also played Major League Baseball, suiting up for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.
He remains the only athlete in history to hit a home run in an MLB game and score a touchdown in an NFL game in the same week.
Sanders’ dual-sport success made him one of the most recognizable athletes of the 1990s and a crossover superstar unlike any other.
The Coach Prime Era
Fast forward to today, Sanders is preparing for his third season as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, with hopes of building on last year’s 9-4 finish. With two elite quarterbacks, a deeper offensive line, and an improved defensive front, “Coach Prime” is looking to elevate the Buffaloes even further in 2025.
His leadership has brought national attention to the program, and his recruiting efforts have flipped the narrative in Boulder.
A Living Legend
While fans and analysts may continue to debate who the greatest NFL draft pick is at each slot, few will argue with Sanders’ place in football history.
From “Prime Time” the player to “Coach Prime” the mentor, Sanders’ influence on the game—at both the professional and collegiate level—is undeniable.
And if his vision plays out, his legacy in college football may one day rival the legendary career he built on Sundays.
