NFL Insider: Steelers Brass Has "Growing Acceptance" That Shedeur Sanders Will Be Their Pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very connected to the quarterback position all offseason. That, of course, started with the speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers, but whether the 41-year-old ends up in Pittsburgh or not, the conversation has quickly shifted. Now, the Steelers are suddenly aligning around the idea of selecting top quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders if the opportunity presents itself Thursday night.

Pittsburgh holds the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and for months, most assumed Sanders would be long gone by then. However, if he’s still on the board when the Steelers are on the clock, there’s growing belief they might just pull the trigger. It would be a bold move—one that signals the team's desire to find a long-term answer at quarterback after years of instability at the position.

According to Albert Breer in his latest article for Sports Illustrated, the Steelers have come around to the idea of taking Sanders in the first round. 

"This is where a lot of folks think Sanders will land—and Mike Tomlin’s relationships could play into that," Breer wrote. "I don’t think there’s an overwhelming consensus in the building to pick the Colorado star, but perhaps a growing acceptance of the idea. The Steelers have also done a lot of work on [Jaxson] Dart. Then, there’s the prospect of what drafting a quarterback at No. 21 could mean for their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, which still seems to be in a bit of a fragile place."

The momentum inside the organization has reportedly shifted, and what once seemed like a longshot is now very much on the table. 

If Sanders falls to 21, Pittsburgh could become the surprise team to land one of the most polarizing and talked-about quarterbacks in the draft.

"Meanwhile, other teams have noted how deep they’ve dived in on the defensive tackle class, which could put them in play for someone like [Kenneth] Grant or [Derrick] Harmon here as a sort of successor for long-time cornerstone Cam Heyward (this could be the floor for Grant)," Breer wrote. "[Omarion] Hampton’s another name to look at, with Najee Harris gone."

According to Steelers insider Gerry Dulac, the team's most likely draft priorities—based on internal thinking—are defensive line first, followed by running back. After that, he lists wide receiver, cornerback, and finally quarterback. That means if the Steelers were to select Sanders—or even Jaxson Dart, another quarterback they're reportedly high on—they’d be passing on a prime opportunity to address a major need in the trenches.

Early draft projections didn’t suggest there would be a realistic path for Sanders to fall to Pittsburgh at pick No. 21. But with new information surfacing and the potential for a draft-night slide, landing Sanders at that spot would be seen as tremendous value. It could give the Steelers their best shot in years at securing a true franchise quarterback—something the organization has been searching for since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.

Steelers' Arthur Smith May Have The Final Say

One wildcard in all of this is how much influence Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has in the decision-making process. Smith has a clear vision for a physical, run-first offense, but he also values mobile quarterbacks who can extend plays and operate in play-action-heavy systems. Sanders fits that mold perfectly, offering both arm talent and the athleticism to thrive outside the pocket. 

Dart also fits that mold to some extent, though neither he nor Sanders are among the most mobile quarterbacks in this class. If the Steelers view Sanders or Dart as a fit for Smith’s scheme, that could tip the scales. It also signals a shift in the organization’s approach—willing to take a risk on upside rather than sticking strictly to positional need. The only way to end this quarterback mess is to keep swinging wisely.

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