The Pittsburgh Steelers have been talked about a bunch throughout the 2025 offseason due to the quarterback position. The organization has completely turned over the quarterback room for the second year in a row, and at one point during the offseason, the only quarterbacks on the roster were Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh was connected with Aaron Rodgers for months, but at times, it felt like the veteran might never sign. Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh was thought to be in great position to take a quarterback high, and many analysts thought the organization would.
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Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter talk during an away game in college.
The two quarterbacks connected to Pittsburgh that were expected to go high in the 2025 NFL Draft were Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders. Both players were on the board when Pittsburgh was picking at 21, but the franchise passed on them both. Dart wound up being picked by the New York Giants with the 25th overall pick, while Sanders slid all the way to the fifth round. The Steelers passed on him many times, which surprised some fans. Insider Ray Fittipaldo was on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, and he was asked about why Pittsburgh didn't feel comfortable drafting Sanders.
"I think mostly, it had to do with, they didn't have a grade on him within the first five rounds," Fittipaldo said. "I think the second part of that equation, and this was never really discussed, you’ve seen some leaks with other teams across the NFL. Now, a lot of people just didn’t want to deal with Deion Sanders and what that might be down the road after he’s done at Colorado. So, I don’t know if the Steelers felt that same way, but they did not have a top-five grade. A top-five round grade on Shedeur Sanders, and that’s why they went the route they went.”
Fittipaldo declared that the Steelers did not have a grade on Sanders that was within the first five rounds, and he wound up being picked by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick in the draft. The Steelers had no selections up until that point where the organization felt comfortable taking him, so they continued to pass on the young quarterback. Fittipaldo also mentioned Deion Sanders being a potential issue for some teams, which could certainly be the case.
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Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders talks with his dad and Head Coach Deion Sanders during a collegiate football game on the road.
Some teams were worried about the family and friends that surrounded Shedeur. He is a flashy player with a big personality, and his father had already stated there were some teams in the league he did not want his son to play for. That kind of control can be daunting for some organizations, as it could bring extra attention and unwanted distractions.
Sanders wound up being passed on 143 times, which likely means he went right around where he was supposed to go. There was no chance a team with an established quarterback was going to bring Sanders because of the media circus it could have potentially brought to the organization, but at least he went somewhere he might have a chance to see the field and carve out a nice career for himself.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (18) participates in the Steelers rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Wound Up Choosing Will Howard In The Sixth Round
Pittsburgh waited until the sixth round to draft a quarterback, which is when the organization selected Will Howard. The quarterback has all of the physical tools that are needed when it comes to playing the position in the NFL. He is tall and has good stature, and he also has the ability to move around the pocket effectively. If he can improve on being more consistent with his accuracy, he has a chance to be the quarterback in Pittsburgh after the 2025 season.
What do you think about Fittipaldo's comments on Pittsburgh passing on Sanders? Let us know in the comments below!
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