The Pittsburgh Steelers could be on the verge of making a significant draft-day move — but not the kind fans might expect. Instead of climbing the board for a franchise-changing player, the Steelers are reportedly considering sliding back. Pittsburgh radio host and media personality Andrew Fillipponi stirred the pot on April 21 with a trade scenario that would see the Steelers trade down from pick No. 21 to acquire additional capital on Day 2.
It’s the kind of rumor that sets fans off during NFL draft week, not just for what it means on the surface, but for what it suggests about Pittsburgh’s internal thinking. With buzz around quarterback Shedeur Sanders heating up and the Steelers lacking a second-round pick after trading for DK Metcalf, everything is in play. And if Fillipponi’s tweet has legs, it could mark a very strategic pivot in the team’s 2025 draft approach.
New Steelers NFL Draft-Day Trade Scenario Emerges
Here’s the trade that Fillipponi calls “rumor”: The Steelers send their first-round pick (No. 21 overall) and a sixth-rounder to the New York Giants in exchange for the 34th and 65th overall picks — a second- and third-round combo that would give Pittsburgh some much-needed flexibility on Day 2.
Rumored Steelers draft day trade:
Steelers send 1st round pick 21 and 6th round pick
for
Giants 2nd round pick 34th overall and 3rd round pick 65th overall.
I would do it.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 21, 2025
“I would do it,” Fillipponi tweeted, echoing the sentiment of a fanbase eager to rebuild depth without overreaching at a position of need. The rumor, while unconfirmed, gains some traction when paired with reporting from NFL insider Adam Schefter, who wrote in ESPN’s “2025 NFL Draft Notes, Intel” on April 21 that “it already has traded its second-round pick to Seattle for wide receiver DK Metcalf, leaving the franchise short-handed heading into the draft’s early rounds. This makes it more likely the Steelers will trade back in the draft, not up.”
In that light, Fillipponi’s proposal doesn’t feel far-fetched. With only one pick in the first two rounds, the Steelers may be more focused on value and volume than chasing a single splash.
Steelers Face Potential Draft-Day Dilemma: Pass on Shedeur Sanders or Cash In?
Of course, there’s a wrinkle: Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado quarterback wasn’t expected to be in play for the Steelers at No. 21 — but the draft board might fall in their favor. According to Schefter, “sources said the Steelers had not been planning to draft a quarterback in Round 1, but they also were not expecting Sanders to fall out of the top 10. Now, all options seem to be on the table.”
If Sanders is still on the board at 21, the Steelers would be forced to weigh the value of staying put versus cashing in. Schefter notes that “if they pass on a quarterback, they very well might not have another chance to get one until Round 3,” which makes trading back a riskier play if Pittsburgh views Sanders as a legitimate starter.
Then again, other teams could be eyeing Sanders, too. Schefter adds: “What if Sanders slides past Pittsburgh? He could be the object of a trade-up from a team such as the Giants, or he could fall to one of the top picks in Round 2.” If the Giants are targeting Sanders and think he’ll still be available at 21, Fillipponi’s suggested deal could be part of a larger QB domino effect.
With less than a week until the draft, Pittsburgh’s plans remain a mystery. But one thing’s clear — the Steelers could control the board more than people think.