Real Reason Steelers Passed On Shedeur Sanders
Real Reason Steelers Passed On Shedeur Sanders
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to pass on quarterback Shedeur Sanders multiple times during the 2025 NFL Draft has raised questions among fans and analysts.
The team’s recent experience with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson appears to have significantly influenced their draft strategy. Head coach Mike Tomlin reportedly liked Sanders as a prospect, but the fallout from the Wilson situation created hesitation within the organization.
“I think people there would tell you that the Russell Wilson thing undermines so many things in the last month of the season and that a lot of that building really wanted them to go back to Justin Fields,” Albert Breer reported.
“And it was something where Tomlin was kind of, again, all on his own on that one. And I think it’s part of the reason why — Tomlin liked Shedeur going into the draft. But I don’t think Tomlin wanted to press that button again at quarterback after what happened with Russell at the end of the year last year.”
The Wilson experiment ended poorly for Pittsburgh, with internal disagreement about quarterback management. Many within the Steelers organization apparently wanted to switch to Justin Fields late in the season, while Tomlin stood firm with Wilson. This created tension and ultimately may have made Tomlin reluctant to advocate strongly for another quarterback so soon after the Wilson situation.
Key Factors in the Decision:
- Previous quarterback disappointment with Russell Wilson
- Internal organizational disagreement about quarterback evaluation
- Concerns about Sanders’ dynamic abilities as a prospect
- Reluctance to invest a high draft pick in another quarterback
Despite being a quarterback-needy team, the Steelers opted to look in different directions with their draft capital. Reports indicate the organization as a whole didn’t view Sanders as having the elite arm strength or ceiling that would justify a first-round selection.
The Steelers’ quarterback strategy now appears focused on potentially pursuing Aaron Rodgers rather than developing a rookie like Sanders. This approach carries its own risks but reflects Pittsburgh’s preference for an established veteran rather than committing to a less proven talent.
For Tomlin, who has significant influence in personnel decisions, the choice likely came down to avoiding back-to-back quarterback misses that could impact his standing with the team. The Steelers traditionally make measured, conservative draft choices, and their passing on Sanders three times suggests they had substantial concerns about his fit within their system or his potential as an NFL starter.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
