When Hype Meets Reality: Separating Media Buzz from On-Field Performance
Once the college football season ends, the NFL hype machine fires up, with national media figures throwing out bold takes in hopes that one might stick—just enough for them to say, “I told you so.”
That kind of noise can wreak havoc on a young player’s mindset. Confidence is good—necessary even. Players need the backing of coaches, agents, and family. But when the media goes into overdrive, that hype can blur the line between potential and proven performance.
Let’s break down a few cases where hype clashed with reality—and what NFL teams and fans can learn from it.
Zach Wilson: A Mirage in Provo
Zach Wilson (2) struggled during his time with the Jets, playing three seasons with the team before being traded in a late-round pick swap with the Denver Broncos.
Zach Wilson was the media darling of the 2021 NFL Draft. After a standout junior year at BYU—3,692 passing yards, a 73.5% completion rate, 33 TDs to just 3 picks—he looked like a can’t-miss prospect at the quarterback position.
But context matters.
In 2019, BYU finished 7-6 with the 75th-ranked strength of schedule. Wilson had 11 TDs to 9 INTs in 9 starts. Then came the COVID-impacted 2020 season, where BYU played a cupcake schedule ranked 96th of 130 FBS teams. Wilson took advantage, but when the level of competition was dialed up, we didn’t get to see how he'd handle it—because he declared early.
The media ignored the context and vaulted Wilson to the No. 2 overall pick. In three seasons with the Jets, the results? A 12–21 record, 6,293 yards, 23 TDs, and 25 INTs.
Lesson: Flashy stats against weak competition don’t always translate to NFL success.
Anthony Richardson: Combine Hero, Game-Day Unknown
Anthony Richardson (aka AR15) went 4th overall in 2023, largely on the strength of his jaw-dropping athleticism. At the combine, he posted freakish numbers—40.5” vertical, 10’9” broad jump, 4.43 40-yard dash. That kind of profile had analysts comparing him to Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson.
But on the field?
In 24 games at Florida, he threw for just 3,105 yards with a 54.7% completion rate, 24 TDs, and 15 INTs. So far with the Colts, it’s been more of the same: 17 games, 2,710 yards, 12 TDs, 15 picks, and an accuracy problem (50.6% completion rate).
Athleticism is a great tool—but it’s not the whole toolbox. In the NFL, you need processing, consistency, leadership, and decision-making. So far, the media's "Superman 2.0" narrative is just hype.
Shedeur Sanders: The Next Brady? Tap the Brakes
In one of the more stunning storylines from the 2025 draft, Shedeur Sanders fell to Round 5—Pick 144. Mel Kiper Jr. had him as his top QB on his board and nearly lost it on live TV over the drop.
But let’s be real: the red flags were there. The mainstream media focused on his name and charisma more than his tape. Now in Cleveland, Shedeur is battling for the starting job in camp and reportedly "impressing"—but let’s remember: it's practice. As Allen Iverson once said, “We talkin’ ‘bout practice!”
Sanders compared his career arc to Tom Brady’s—another late-round pick with something to prove. Sure, there's a surface-level similarity in draft position, but let's wait for some actual NFL snaps before we start drawing GOAT comparisons.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) carries the football during Rookie Minicamp, his first time practicing in a Raiders uniform. Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images
Ashton Jeanty: Workhorse with a Heavy Lift Ahead
Ashton Jeanty was a beast at Boise State—2,601 rushing yards on 374 carries, 29 TDs, and 7.0 yards per carry in 2024. A powerful, downhill runner, he became a prized pick for a Raiders team desperate for ground production.
In 2024, Las Vegas ranked dead last in rushing (32nd)—just 1,357 total yards and a pathetic 79.8 per game. Five individual players outrushed the entire Raiders squad.
Jeanty wants to be “Saquon Barkley 2.0” for the Raiders, but even Barkley needed a solid offensive line to succeed. And the difference between Philly’s O-line and what Jeanty will run behind in Vegas is stark.
The Raiders did draft offensive linemen Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant in the third round, but whether that’s enough to transform the league’s worst rushing unit remains to be seen.
Final Whistle: Reality Check Time
All four of these players—Wilson, Richardson, Sanders, and Jeanty—have massive opportunities in 2025. They also have plenty to prove.
Media hype is loud. It’s flashy. But the NFL doesn’t care about buzz—it cares about production. Eventually, the lights come on, the whistle blows, and the truth comes out.
Because in this league, hype meets reality—and the scoreboard never lies.
