As the NFL Draft approaches, prospects are taking part in private visits with teams that could be interested in selecting them if the opportunity arises. These visits are crucial for coaching staffs to get a closer look at the traits they consider essential to develop — and to gain a more concrete understanding of the type of player and person they’d be bringing into the building.
Projected to be one of the top picks in the draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders has a scheduled visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers — they hold the No. 21 overall pick and have quarterback as their primary need — and he posted a short message on social media expressing his admiration for the franchise.
Shedeur Sanders Could Be the Missing Piece for
Mike Tomlin’s Steelers
Amid speculation surrounding his draft value, it remains unclear whether Shedeur Sanders will be a Top 3 pick — or if he’ll slide until a team decides to pull the trigger and trade up for their quarterback of the future.
Either way, the Pittsburgh Steelers have become one of the most talked-about teams when it comes to a potential trade for Sanders, and the quarterback expressed a single word on his Instagram regarding the possibility of visiting — and perhaps one day playing for — the storied franchise:
“Legendary,” Sanders wrote in his Instagram story.
Indeed, the Steelers are one of the most legendary franchises in NFL history, carrying nearly a century of tradition and success. To put it into perspective, this is a team that hasn’t finished a season with a losing record since 2003 — and has had just three head coaches since 1969.
Shedeur Sanders to visit with the Raiders early next week
They hold the No. 6 pick and have had constant meetings with QB’s at their facility.
Sanders meets with the Steelers later this week pic.twitter.com/jUaVW6eJHU
— Taylor Sadusky (@taylorjsadusky) April 9, 2025
In four of the last five seasons, the Steelers have made the playoffs despite not having a true franchise quarterback following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. (It should be noted they were eliminated in the first round each time).
Taking a chance on a quarterback who can be developed over the next decade — someone with a high football IQ and a natural fit for Pittsburgh’s system — could be exactly what the franchise needs to take the next step.
What Are Sanders’ Strengths and Weaknesses?
In two seasons at the University of Colorado, Sanders established himself as one of the most accurate passers in all of college football — completing 69.3% of his passes in 2023 and an NCAA-best 74% in 2024. His production was undeniable, throwing for 64 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions over that span.
His strengths lie in his advanced and quick processing skills, highlighted by a strong understanding of defensive coverages and the ability to exploit weaknesses in any system. He would enter the league ready to punish defenses when given proper protection and consistently displays poise throughout the game.
Another key factor is ball security. Sanders managed to keep his interception numbers relatively low over his two seasons at Colorado and, more importantly, he produced enough positive plays to outweigh the occasional poor decision that led to negative outcomes.
At the NFL level, taking care of the football will be crucial to translating all of the strengths mentioned above into consistent success.
While Sanders has plenty of traits that could lead to success if he lands in the right situation, he still needs to improve when facing pressure and more complex defensive schemes. His arm strength is, at best, average, which can cause the ball to float on deeper throws. This may limit his effectiveness in off-script situations where he’s forced to create and rely on arm talent.
In PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft, Sanders slipped into the second round, landing with the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 32.
If he does fall that far, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be in a position to make a bold move, especially if they liked what they saw during his private visit. In that case, Sanders could very well become the next face of the franchise in Pittsburgh.