As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their search for a quarterback, one name has been at the top of the list. Former University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is widely considered to be the second-best quarterback in the entire draft class, may end up in Pittsburgh. Recently, Sanders' stock as a prospect has been dropping, which is why the quarterback is projected to fall in the draft. It could be a risky move for the Steelers to take a quarterback if so many other teams are passing up on him; however, the Steelers are a quarterback-needy team, and may not be able to afford to pass up on Sanders. Former NFL quarterback Danny Kanell gave an assessment of Sanders that should give Steeler Nation some hope should Pittsburgh draft the quarterback.
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Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders prior to the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium
On Monday, Kanell appeared on CBS Sports HQ to rank the most promising QB prospects in the draft. Kanell offered a glowing review of Sanders and compared the Colorado quarterback with Jaxon Dart, another prospect heavily linked to the Steelers.
"I don't think there's that much separation between the two, but there is a big difference in what you're going to get. I think Jaxon Dart is more athletic, I think he has a stronger arm, but he doesn't have the perfect film that Shedeur Sanders has. I think there could be some upside, but I do think there is some bust potential with Jaxon Dart. I don't think there's a chance Shedeur Sanders will be a bust."
The Steelers are without a second-round pick, so there is little room for error when they are on the clock to draft 21st overall. Dart is widely regarded as a second or third-round caliber talent. If given the choice, the Steelers will likely take Sanders before Dart.
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Former Ole Miss quarterback, Jaxson Dart throwing a pass during a game.
It once seemed all but assured that the Steelers would sign veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, that becoming a reality has started to become farther and farther away. While it's still possible for Rodgers to land in Pittsburgh, the Steelers can no longer wait complacently for the quarterback to make up his mind.
The 2025 quarterback draft class is not rich with franchise-caliber talent. Sanders is the only prospect that the Steelers could realistically get this draft that would come close to a 10 to 12-year starter. The only con that would come with Sanders, according to Kanell, is that his ceiling is low.
"His football IQ is the highest in this draft," said Kanell of Sanders. "But he does feel capped as far as what the upside could potentially be."
The Steelers are very much in a win-now mindset. This was most evident in their pursuit of Rodgers, but should the team resort to the draft for a signal-caller, Sanders would be the ideal choice.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a tough game against the Ravens.
This is a risk associated with every draft pick. The Steelers won't know which young quarterback is capable of carrying the team to the playoffs and beyond. According to Kanell, it may not be a matter of if Sanders has talent, but rather, how much potential the quarterback has to get better.
Steelers Running Out Of Time And Options
Given the length of the Steelers' playoff win drought, the Steelers want wins as soon as possible. A rookie quarterback will take time to develop and will need to be honed into championship material. Considering this, the Steelers' original pursuit of a veteran like Rodgers made the most sense. However, the team didn't make a great enough effort to keep veteran Russell Wilson from becoming a free agent, and left themselves in the dire situation they find themselves in today. After losing Wilson and weeks of waiting for Rodgers, a rookie may be the Steelers' best option.
Do you think the Steelers should draft Sanders or Dart? Which quarterback do you think has the most potential? Let us know in the comments.
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