Steelers Trade into Top 10 for QB in Latest Mock Draft
ESPN's Mike Tannebaum projects the Pittsburgh Steelers will trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft to land a quarterback.
Until the Pittsburgh Steelers add to their quarterback room, which currently consists of just Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, many will link them to drafting a quarterback. Mike Tannebaum of ESPN thinks no different.
In Tannebaum’s latest mock draft, he has the Steelers trading with the Chicago Bears to move up from pick No. 21 to No. 10 to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“Yes, the Steelers still haven’t signed a starting quarterback. Aaron Rodgers met with the team late last week, but signing him would address only the short term. He’s 41 years old. And as of now, Rodgers is still unsigned — we can’t assume he will definitely come to Pittsburgh,” Tannebaum writes. “Mason Rudolph is currently the QB1. So, I’m making the move to add Sanders. He is incredibly tough, can make all the throws, processes reads quickly in the pocket and delivers accurate balls. He lacks high-end mobility but still shows good pocket movement traits.”
Sanders, 23, is viewed as the second best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, only behind Miami’s Cam Ward. But it remains to be seen where he will go. Some believe he could go as high as No. 2 and others think he could fall out of the first round entirely.
However, the latter feels very unlikely, especially after throwing for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the past two years at Colorado.
Sanders also has NFL bloodlines as the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. That is something the quarterback-needy Steelers have looked for in the past, but it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to pay the steep price it will take to move up into the top 10.
Pittsburgh also seems to be Rodgers’ only option, outside of retirement, after quarterback Russell Wilson joined the New York Giants on a one-year deal on Tuesday night.
If Rodgers finally ends the wait and chooses to join the Steelers, it will likely take them out of first-round quarterback contention, or at least a trade up. And it’s safe to assume Sanders will be long gone by the time Pittsburgh is on the clock.