Shedeur Sanders is set to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. Sanders has shown excellent athletic form throughout his four years of college ball. The Steelers are in desperate need of someone that can translate to NFL play at QB. They will surely need to trade up in the draft to get someone at his level. They are currently at 21st and will need a top-10 pick to have a chance at him.
If it comes down to a choice between Sanders and Aaron Rodgers, Sanders has all the upside. He is young and in peak physical form. He has everything working in his favor to potentially go from draft pick to franchise player. That in itself checks some major boxes on Pittsburgh’s clipboards.
Sanders Shows Sizzling Resume
His first two years were spent at Jackson State. As the quarterback he won the Jerry Rice Award in 2021 for most outstanding freshman player in the country. His 2022 year netted him the Deacon Jones Trophy awarded annually to the player of the year. In 2024, he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for most outstanding upperclassmen QB. He spent the last two years in Colorado after following his father Deion Sanders. He was the head coach at both schools. Pittsburgh is known to bet on the lineage of players throughout the years.
Steelers In Search Of a Solid QB
Pittsburgh has spent the last few years cycling through quarterbacks. Ever since Ben Roethlisberger left, they have done nothing but search, cycle, bench, daft, and trade. Nothing has seemed to work for any length of time. Sure some have shown flashes, but nothing consistent. The Steelers need a new leader in the backfield as a solid foundation for their offense. Sanders has shown leadership skills in college but the NFL is another story.
It is always a risk at the top of the draft, but it is hard to argue that Sanders does not have massive potential. The Steelers however will have to compete with the Dolphins who are rumored to be interested. They can waive the injury-prone Tua Tagovailoa. If the Steelers make this move they will likely try to find a veteran guy to work with and develop Sanders.
Is Arron Rodgers the Next Veteran QB?
Pittsburgh has been courting Rodgers for this very reason. Tony Dungy warns against this move saying, “That guy’s got to be on board. Rodgers should be saying, if he wants to do this, ‘Yeah, I can take you to a Super Bowl.’ Let’s go. I love these veteran guys. Let’s get there and get rolling. Let me get there and get started,’” he added, “Not, ‘Hey, I’ll get back to you in a little while and we’ll see what happens’. No, I don’t want that from the guy who I think is gonna be the hero for me.”
For now, we can just wait and see how this all plays out. The only fact currently set in stone is that the Steelers must make a move here. On a positive note, they have a good history of making wise decisions. Historically, the Steelers will work hard to build a contender.
