Insider: Shedeur Sanders is Exactly What Arthur Smith Wants
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith had a falling out with Russell Wilson last season over a disagreement about changing plays at the line of scrimmage. Wilson’s style of play really didn’t fit Smith’s offense. NFL insider Jordan Schultz doesn’t think that would be the case with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders under center.
“I had someone who I trust tell me that if you bring in Shedeur Sanders to Pittsburgh, he actually is exactly what Arthur Smith would like because he’s going to do exactly what you are supposed to do. He’s going to play in the pocket. He’s going to run your offense,” Schultz said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “I think Shedeur is probably further along than people realize in the sense that he’s played a lot of football — Jackson State, Colorado. Won a lot of games, and (he) has not had great offensive line play.”
Sanders is an intriguing prospect after throwing for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the past two seasons at Colorado. Speculation has increased over the last week that Pittsburgh could be the landing spot for the highly-touted quarterback.
During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Peter Schrager of ESPN revealed some in-depth details about Sanders’ pre-draft visit with the Steelers.
“He had a really good meeting with the Pittsburgh last week, and that lasted like five hours,” Schrager said. “He met with Arthur Smith. He met with Mike Tomlin. He went around the facility. That, to me, seems like a good backstop. If worse comes to worse for Sheduer, 21 would be a really nice place for him to go. It would be a really good situation considering the weapons, the organization, the culture, the city.”
When asked by Kay Adams for a grade on his pre-draft visit with the Steelers, Sanders gave it a 10.
“I enjoyed my time here in Pittsburgh. I think I connected well with all the coaches, and it was real fun,” Sander said on Up & Adams.
He attributed that to the franchise’s culture and said that Mike Tomlin has a lot to do with it.
“What he preaches from his staff down is similar to my dad,” he said.
Shedeur’s father Deion was his head coach throughout college at Jackson State and Colorado. He’s also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and considered one of the best cornerbacks in the history of the NFL.
Todd McShay of The Ringer is hearing that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is very intrigued by Shedeur Sanders.
With the Steelers stuck in quarterback purgatory, it’s not surprising that Tomlin has a lot of interest in the Colorado signal-caller, and the betting sites are all over the map on this pick. The Steelers need a long-term solution at QB, and Sanders could be the answer. His style of play certainly would mesh well with the Steelers’ big-bodied wide receivers DK Metcalf and George Pickens.
“I tend to trust where I get this information,” McShay said on The McShay Show. “Mike Tomlin really likes Sheduer. If he’s there at 21, Shedeur could very well be a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan also believes there is some mutual interest between the Steelers and Sanders.
“Yeah, there is mutual respect, mutual interest,” Hathhorn said. “I think it starts with his father and then trickles down to the son. It’s no secret the Steelers are interested in a quarterback. They need a quarterback, and Shedeur is high on their list.”