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Shedeur Sanders celebrates a touchdown during an NFL Preseason game against the Panthers on August 08, 2025.

Out of absolutely nowhere, San Francisco 49ers insider Grant Cohn predicted on Monday August 25, 2025 that the Niners will trade for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Cohn’s prediction comes after the 49ers cut their third and fourth string QBs, Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai.

“The 49ers are going to trade for Shedeur Sanders aren’t they,” Cohn wrote in a post on X.

Sanders, 23, is a former projected first round pick who inexplicably fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s one of the most controversial young quarterbacks in recent NFL memory.

Sanders was a star in college at Jackson State and Colorado, putting up great individual numbers and a fantastic highlight reel. The Buffaloes retired his jersey number 12 in April 2025.

But Colorado was also only 13-12 with Sanders as their starter in 2023 and 2024, leading many insiders to question how good he truly was.

Sanders Has 49ers Ties

Sanders is, of course, the son of one of the greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time, Deion Sanders. Deion was also Shedeur’s Head Coach at Colorado. His father’s celebrity is one of the reasons Shedeur is highly scrutinized.

Deion Sanders briefly played for the San Francisco 49ers during the 1994 season. Though his tenure was brief, it was certainly memorable, and arguably his best ever NFL season.

Deion had 6 interceptions and 3 pick-sixes in 1994, earning him Defensive Player of the Year honors.

He also recorded an interception in San Francisco’s Super Bowl XXIX win, giving Deion his first Super Bowl ring.

Could Deion Sanders be in favor of his son reliving his glory days in San Francisco?

The 49ers Do Still Have A Third QB 

While they only have two quarterbacks who will be healthy for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, it is worth noting that the 49ers have a third QB stashed on the roster.

That QB is former Indiana star and 49ers 6th round draft pick Kurtis Rourke, who is on IR after leading the Hoosiers to a college football playoff berth despite nursing an ACL injury all season.

Mordecai and/or Bradley could also be placed on the 49ers practice squad if they clear waivers, or the 49ers could sign a recently released QB like Kyle Trask.

So they don’t need to make a splash and get Sanders, because they don’t need a third QB. The only reason they would is if they really like Sanders’ preseason performance.

Cohn Also Urges The 49ers To Sign Shilo Sanders

Also on Monday August 25, 2025, Cohn posted a video on X called “The 49ers Should Sign Shilo Sanders.”

Shilo Sanders is Deion’s other son, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently released him after he punched Buffalo Bills TE Zach Davidson in a preseason game.

Though, this video by Cohn seems to be more in jest than an actual suggestion for the 49ers brass. Cohn makes the wild claim that Shilo would be the best safety on the current 49ers roster, then jokes that Shilo would hit injured reserve after just a week of signing with the 49ers due to their injury history.

Cohn has a history of cutting commentary and pointed satire at the 49ers’ expense. But he is also an insider who has made genuinely accurate insight and suggestions over the years. It’s unclear what side of the spectrum his Shedeur Sanders suggestion falls on.

49ers fans, would you welcome a trade for Shedeur Sanders? How about signing Shilo Sanders?

Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman

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