Insider: Better Than 50/50 Chance Shedeur Sanders is a Steeler
The Ringer's Todd McShay believes it's very likely Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
There has been growing belief over the past week that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ringer’s Todd McShay thinks it’s now more likely than ever.
“Based on conversations I’m having with people in the league, there’s a growing sense that Sanders will be the pick at 21. As I’ve said multiple times over the past couple of weeks, Mike Tomlin and Sanders did hit it off during the pre-draft process — any reports to the contrary are false,” McShay writes. “The info I’m getting is that there’s a strong likelihood Tomlin is going to push the organization to draft Sanders. I think there’s a better than 50/50 chance that Sanders is a Steeler by the end of the night.”
The New Orleans Saints had been the favorites to land Sanders for several weeks, but several NFL talent evaluators have voiced major concerns about him.
Tomlin has done quite the opposite. On Tuesday, he gushed over Sanders’ pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh, which is not something he’s ever done.
McShay believes that’s why it’s a safe bet Sanders will become a Steeler on Thursday night.
“The good news for Sanders is that since Omar Khan was promoted to general manager in 2022, Tomlin has had a greater impact on personnel decisions than he did when Kevin Colbert was GM,” McShay adds. “Colbert and he worked together wonderfully, but Colbert had the final say on the vast majority of roster moves. Now, Tomlin has more power than he’s ever had.”
Sanders must first make it past the New York Giants, who own the No. 3 overall pick, and Saints, who are slated to pick at No. 9. But if that happens, Pittsburgh could be very much in play to land him.
The question is whether the Steelers are willing to use another first-round pick on a quarterback after spending the No. 20 overall selection on Kenny Pickett just three years ago.
“It’s worth noting that there are voices in the organization who are not behind the decision. I don’t think the drafting of Kenny Pickett — Pittsburgh’s most recent first-round QB — is a huge factor, but the memories from that experience can’t be overlooked,” McShay writes. “Pickett, like Sanders, wasn’t considered a top-tier talent who could help the Steelers compete with the loaded group of quarterbacks at the top of the AFC.”
Sanders threw for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the past two seasons at Colorado.