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Football fan alleges discrimination, collusion in NFL draft against Shedeur Sanders: Lawsuit

Atlanta, GA – May 2025 — The NFL is facing a $100 million lawsuit from a football fan who alleges that the league conspired to damage quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ draft position, causing him “severe emotional distress,” according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

The suit, filed in federal court in Atlanta by an anonymous individual identified only as “John Doe,” claims that NFL teams intentionally collaborated to push Sanders into a lower draft round—a move the plaintiff argues violates antitrust, civil rights, and consumer protection laws.

Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado, was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranking him as the second-best QB available. Sanders had an impressive 2024 season, completing 353 of 477 passes (74%) and leading the Buffaloes to their first nine-win season since 2014.

But expectations collapsed on draft weekend when Sanders fell to the fifth round, eventually selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns—a team that passed on him six times and even drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round, despite Kiper ranking Gabriel just eighth among quarterbacks.

The surprise slide became one of the biggest storylines of draft weekend, drawing record viewership on Day 3. But for the fan behind the lawsuit, the experience was traumatic.

“The NFL’s actions and the spread of harmful statements about Sanders have caused me severe emotional distress and trauma,” Doe wrote in the lawsuit.

According to the filing, Doe is a Georgia resident and long-time Colorado football fan who attended the Buffaloes’ 2023 game vs. TCU—Sanders' debut, where he threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-42 win.

The lawsuit alleges that negative reports about Sanders’ pre-draft interviews unfairly damaged his image and cost him millions in potential earnings. It accuses the NFL of:

  1. Violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by suggesting teams coordinated to suppress Sanders’ draft value.

  • Violating the Civil Rights Act by implying racial bias may have played a role in his drop.

  • Violating consumer protection laws by misleading fans about the fairness and transparency of the draft process.

  • As of now, the NFL has not issued a public response to the legal action.

    This lawsuit adds yet another twist to the dramatic draft fall of Shedeur Sanders, who remains one of the most discussed players of the 2025 class—both for his on-field potential and the off-field controversy now surrounding his selection.

    Bills Cheerleader Sues Bills Player for Sexual Harassment After He Relentlessly Flirted With Her – Despite Being Married with a Child
    BUFFALO, NY – December 11, 2025 A bombshell lawsuit has just been filed in Erie County Court that has all of Western New York talking. Ashley, the 24-year-old face of the Buffalo Jills and widely regarded as the squad’s most popular and recognizable cheerleader, has officially sued a current Buffalo Bills player for what her legal team calls “persistent and unwanted sexual harassment through aggressive flirting” – even though the player is married with a young child. Court documents obtained today name 27-year-old Shane Buechele – the Bills’ third-string QB who married his high-school sweetheart Reiley in 2022 and has a 2-year-old son – as the defendant. What the lawsuit alleges: Since the start of the 2025 season, Buechele allegedly began sending Ashley private Instagram messages after every home game, complimenting her looks and performances with increasingly suggestive language. Multiple late-night phone calls (some as late as 2-3 a.m.) in which Buechele allegedly complained about his lack of playing time, “just wanted to hear her voice,” and invited her for private coffee meet-ups. Unsolicited shirtless and suggestive photos sent directly to Ashley’s phone. Repeatedly showing up “by coincidence” at community and charity events Ashley was scheduled to attend, creating unwanted one-on-one encounters. In the filing, Ashley states: “I made it crystal clear on multiple occasions that I only wanted a professional relationship and was focused on my career. He completely ignored my boundaries. The middle-of-the-night calls left me terrified and suffering from severe insomnia. This has taken a serious toll on my mental health.” Immediate fallout: The Buffalo Bills have suspended Shane Buechele indefinitely without pay pending an internal investigation. Reiley Buechele has locked all of her social media accounts and has made no public statement. Ashley’s attorney says they will seek damages “well into seven figures” and hope the case sets a precedent for better protection of NFL cheerleaders league-wide. The NFL has confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely and may impose additional discipline. One Bills Mafia is completely split: #TeamAshley supporters are demanding Buechele be cut immediately: “Married with a kid and still doing this? Disgusting.” Others are calling it an overreaction: “Flirty DMs and compliments? This feels like a money grab or a PR stunt.” The case is still in its earliest stages, with an initial court appearance expected in early 2026. What do YOU think – is this legitimate workplace harassment, or is the cheerleader blowing things out of proportion? Drop your take in the comments and turn on notifications – this story is only getting hotter!