As the Aaron Rodgers waiting game continues, the Pittsburgh Steelers are doing their due diligence and exploring potential alternatives. With Russell Wilson now with the New York Giants and Justin Fields with the New York Jets, the Steelers only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as quarterbacks under contract.
Thus, it makes sense for the Steelers — who hold pick No. 21 in the 2025 NFL Draft — are considering Shedeur Sanders.
Could Shedeur Sanders Fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Sanders, the subject of intense debate in NFL circles, could land anywhere in the draft. Some have speculated he could go in the top five, while others believe he could fall out of the first round entirely.
So, with Pittsburgh picking at No. 21, it makes sense to consider all possibilities. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Sanders will be at the Steelers facility on Wednesday, April 9, for the proverbial cup of coffee and a chat.
Sanders declined to attend the NFL Scouting Combine and instead participated in Colorado’s Pro Day, where he showed off his accuracy and arm strength. However, the narrative around Sanders has focused on him being arrogant and dismissive of talent evaluators’ opinions.
Meanwhile, as Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports, Rodgers is still a strong candidate to sign a free agent deal to be Pittsburgh’s starter in 2025. But with Sanders’ draft stock up and down, the Steelers have to believe there’s at least a chance he’ll still be available when they’re on the clock.
As for Sanders’ alleged attitude concerns, Pittsburgh has reportedly done deep homework on this year’s rookie quarterback class. Should the Steelers sign Rodgers and still be in a position to draft Sanders, he’d get the chance to develop behind a future Hall of Famer for a season — a setup that has certainly worked before.
Joe Montana spent time behind Steve DeBerg in San Francisco. Steve McNair sat behind Chris Chandler in Houston. And Rodgers himself waited three years behind Brett Favre in Green Bay.
The Steelers have been searching for Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement since he retired after the 2022 season. They tried Mitch Trubisky, drafted Kenny Pickett (who was eventually traded to the Philadelphia Eagles), and started last year with Fields before finishing the season with Wilson.
If this scenario plays out, the Steelers could end up with both their present and their potential future in the same quarterback room. Regardless, it has to improve upon what they currently have in the room.