The Pittsburgh Steelers are in deep trouble at the quarterback position.
Right now, the only quarterback on the roster is Mason Rudolph, a well-known retread better suited to backup duties. Mike Tomlin can probably win nine games with me as the starting QB, but ideally Pittsburgh can get a more promising option under center.
The primary focus in most Steelers circles, of course, is Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP pretty much has two options at this point: sign with the Steelers or retire. And, rest assured, he will take his sweet time making that decision. We've heard nary a peep from Rodgers' camp through the first week of April and it's unclear if he will even sign before the NFL Draft.
That leaves Pittsburgh in a bind. With the No. 21 pick, the Steelers aren't really in a position to select the top quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Pittsburgh would then need to reach on the next-best options, such as Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe, if the goal is to install a rookie. We know what happened last time the Steelers reached on a first-round quarterback with glaring flaws (see: Pickett, Kenny).
Don't rule out a far more ambitious course of action, however. The Steelers hosted Shedeur Sanders for a meeting on Tuesday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Might that mean a trade scenario is in play?
Steelers will continue their QB research when they bring in Shedeur Sanders for a top-30 visit on Thursday, per sources. Sanders considered the No. 2 QB prospect in the draft.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 8, 2025
Here's how the Steelers can acquire Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft
Sanders' draft range seems to expand by the day. There's a nonzero chance he falls to Pittsburgh at No. 21 if enough teams balk, but it still feels unlikely for the consensus second-best quarterback to tumble so far — even in a weak draft at the position.
There's a good chance Sanders does fall past the New York Giants at No. 3, though, which means he could end up within Pittsburgh's range if the Steelers package a few picks and trade up. The New Orleans Saints are a popular destination at No. 9, while the Indianapolis Colts (No. 14) could also use a more polished option than Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson.
So, for the sake of argument, let's say the Steelers need to get up to No. 9 or higher to secure Sanders. That means dialing up the Saints (or the No. 8-pick Panthers, or the No. 7-pick Jets) and offering a robust collection of lesser picks, starting with No. 21. Something like this:
There are endless permutations of a trade like this, but we generally see a structure in this mold. New Orleans gets a few mid-round picks in incentive to moving back 12 spots in the first round, while the Steelers pick up the slack with a couple sixth and seventh-round selections and splurge on a popular quarterback.
This feels like an improbable outcome, but the Steelers should absolutely explore it. Sanders is a far more appealing option than any of the alternatives available to Pittsburgh, even if you're skeptical of him as a top-shelf prospect. Rodgers is 41 and carries too much baggage. Dart, Milroe, and other lower-level QB prospects just don't present the same day-one upside as Sanders.
For all his warts, Sanders is a precise, efficient passer who thrived despite facing immense pressure behind Colorado's patchwork offensive line. With DK Metcalf and George Pickens now leading the Steelers WR room, he'd have a couple explosive playmakers to frequent. It's a tantalizing possibility for a team (and fanbase) and desperate need of stability at the QB position.