Steelers' Mike Tomlin Admits The Quiet Part Out Loud About Drafting Shedeur Sanders

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 draft plans have been a major headline—especially with the draft inching closer. The draft will kick off on Thursday, April 24, marking General Manager Omar Khan’s third time running the show. While Khan has earned praise for his early moves as GM, the stakes are higher than ever as the franchise looks to secure its quarterback of the future.

Despite a 2025 draft class that many consider relatively weak at quarterback, the Steelers still have a path to land their next franchise signal-caller. The dream scenario would be Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders sliding all the way to Pittsburgh at 21st overall. While that outcome might seem unlikely, it's not out of the question—and if it does happen, expect the Steelers to act fast.

According to draft expert Todd McShay, Mike Tomlin is extremely high on Sanders and would jump at the opportunity to bring him to Pittsburgh. That level of interest from the head coach speaks volumes. If the board breaks the right way, don’t be surprised if Sanders becomes the face of the Steelers’ next era.

"I tend to trust where I'm getting this information," McShay said. "Mike Tomlin really likes Shedeur. If he's there at 21, Shedeur could very well be a Pittsburgh Steeler. If Aaron Rodgers is a Steeler, I don't think one would have to do with the other. It's two different elements to this. Rodgers would be to win games now. Drafting Shedeur Sanders, if he's there at 21, would be to finally get the solution at the most important position for the long term."

Sanders is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft. Once viewed as a consensus top-five pick, his stock has taken a hit as scouts have taken a closer look at how his skill set might translate to the NFL. Sanders has undeniable talent and the ability to make highlight-reel plays, but there’s growing debate among analysts about whether he can consistently succeed at the next level. That uncertainty has led some quarterback-needy teams to hesitate, unsure if they want to take the risk early in the first round.

That hesitation, however, could end up working in the Steelers’ favor. According to McShay, Tomlin is very high on Sanders and views him as a potential long-term solution under center. If Sanders begins to slide on draft night, Tomlin and the Steelers could be in prime position to take advantage.

Steelers Could Get Aggressive To Draft Shedeur Sanders In Round 1

Should that scenario unfold, Pittsburgh might not wait patiently at pick No. 21. If Tomlin is truly sold on Sanders as a franchise quarterback, Khan could make an aggressive move up the board to land him. With the future of the position still unsettled in Pittsburgh, Sanders could represent both a bold risk and a potential cornerstone for the next era of Steelers football.

Steelers fans have been clamoring for big moves and sweeping changes, but while a coaching change isn't on the horizon, the draft could be where the real shift happens. The team might be gearing up to make a bold play for Sanders—whether that's moving up in the draft or finding another way to secure the talented quarterback. As always, a lot depends on how the draft unfolds leading up to Pittsburgh’s pick.

What’s especially intriguing, though, is hearing just how much Tomlin is enamored with the idea of bringing Sanders to Pittsburgh. His strong interest in the young QB raises the stakes, signaling that the possibility of landing Sanders is far more likely than many initially thought. For Steelers fans, this is a glimmer of hope that the franchise might be preparing to make a franchise-altering decision at quarterback. 

Some fans aren’t sold on the idea of the Steelers drafting Sanders, arguing that the 2026 draft class offers a much stronger pool of quarterbacks. They believe waiting another year could provide a better opportunity to land a true franchise QB, making Sanders a more uncertain and risky pick for a team looking to secure its future at the position.

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