The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft set to kick off on April 24th. With the 21st overall pick, the expectation has been that the team will focus on fortifying the defensive line—arguably their biggest area of need. The front office has done its homework on several high-upside prospects in the trenches, and all signs have pointed toward Pittsburgh building through the defense once again.
Associated Press
Shedeur Sanders talks with his father Deion Sanders during a college game.
However, momentum has started to shift in a surprising direction. Multiple reports suggest the Steelers are seriously considering taking a quarterback in the first round. While this year’s quarterback class lacks significant star power, one name has caught the attention of the organization—Shedeur Sanders. Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Sanders is starting to slip, and if he falls to 21, Pittsburgh may be tempted to pull the trigger.
Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge isn’t on board with that plan. Speaking on the DVE Morning Show, Hoge warned that drafting Sanders could be a costly mistake. He believes taking a quarterback in this class—particularly one with question marks like Sanders—could set the franchise back two or three years. As the draft approaches, the Steelers are facing a critical decision that could shape their future for better or worse.
"The best way to sum him up is he's a really good college quarterback," Hoge said. "His accuracy is good. His processing is good. And when I say good, I use a scale from one to 10, okay? So good is around five. So if you're a five in college, okay? Those are the two most important aspects of transitioning to the National Football League and then you build from there. Anticipation, pocket awareness and then we start building. But those two things, if you're a five, you're not a first rounder. You're not a franchise guy."
Hoge has evaluated countless quarterbacks throughout his journey, watching prospects transition from college to the NFL.
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Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge breaking free against the Houston Oilers.
Predicting whether a quarterback will thrive at the next level is never easy — and in Hoge’s eyes, he’s nowhere close to being comfortable with the Steelers drafting Sanders.
"Let's go to the IQ level," Hoge said. "He ain't even close to [Jayden Daniels] and [CJ Stroud]. He ain't even in the ballpark… He can't handle the expectations that are coming his way. He's gonna be an epic failure and he is gonna set your organization back another two or three years."
That last statement from Hoge is sharp and poignant. It cuts through the noise and speaks directly to Steelers fans who are still trying to wrap their heads around the idea of drafting Sanders.
The reality is, no one knows where Sanders will ultimately land. He could go as high as third overall to the New York Giants or slip all the way to the Steelers at 21—or even into the second round. The range of outcomes remains wide, and that uncertainty only adds to the tension around the pick.
Steelers Need To Keep Swinging For The Fences At QB
If Sanders does begin to slide and Pittsburgh sees a path to draft him at 21, many would argue it's still a better gamble than the one they took in 2022 when they selected Kenny Pickett 20th overall. Pickett's failure to develop into a franchise quarterback already set the team back a few crucial years. Now, with Hoge warning that drafting Sanders could be a repeat of that same mistake, fans are understandably torn between fear of another bust and hope for long-term stability.
John McGonigal / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett puts on his hat after being picked by the team in 2022.
On the other side of the debate, the Steelers still don’t have a true franchise quarterback. That fact looms large. They’ve done their due diligence on this year’s quarterback class, and if they believe—with better than 50% confidence—that Sanders or another prospect has what it takes to be the long-term answer under center, then it may be wise to take the shot. Until the Steelers find that cornerstone quarterback, they’ll remain stuck in a cycle of mediocrity—likely good enough to make the playoffs, but rarely good enough to make a serious run.
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