The Pittsburgh Steelers’ hottest debate is their next franchise quarterback. Their options are pretty thin: acquiring Aaron Rodgers through free agency, or handing the starting reins to a freshly drafted rookie quarterback — most likely Shedeur Sanders.
Then there’s the caveat regarding the quarterback they draft: chances are, their preferred quarterback, Sanders, will likely already be taken by the time their first-round pick comes at No. 21. To avoid such a precarious situation, former Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark has some wild advice for Steelers general manager Omar Khan.
Clark Advises Steelers to Trade Up for Shedeur Sanders
Sanders’ draft stock declined after Colorado’s Pro Day, dropping his projected selection from No. 2 overall to No. 9 or lower. That could be good news for the Steelers — but only if they trade up to secure Sanders from their No. 21 spot, per Clark.
“If Shedeur Sanders does happen to slip past No. 9, you have the opportunity to move up. If the Saints and Kellen Moore decide to go a different route, make it happen, Omar Khan,” the former Super Bowl champion urged the Steelers’ general manager on ESPN’s NFL Live.
“Sell the farm. Sell Mel Blount’s farm and his ranch. Sell his horses, and let’s go get Shedeur Sanders,” Clark exaggerated, underlining the urgency for the franchise to draft Sanders.
Call it a stroke of luck — the Steelers have already scheduled Sanders for a Top 30 visit. The former Colorado star is visibly excited for the visit as well, as he captioned it “Legendary” on his Instagram.
If all goes well, the Steelers could possibly trade up for Sanders, especially since Aaron Rodgers is not showing any signs of commitment, hanging the franchise out to dry. The Steelers are one of the top franchises linked with Rodgers, but he’s continuing to intensify the suspense and still hasn’t made a choice.
PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft projects Sanders to land with the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 32. There is also a chance that the Browns and the New York Giants — who are now in talks to pass on a quarterback at No. 2 and No. 3 — could circle back and draft Sanders. In an absolutely wild scenario, the Browns or Giants could also trade up to take Sanders.
The Steelers will need to be wary of another team swooping in for Sanders if they plan on making a move. The 2025 NFL Draft starts on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and all eyes will be on Sanders.