The Pittsburgh Steelers had a number of cracks at drafting big-name quarterback Shedeur Sanders within the 2025 NFL Draft, however in the end they determined to cross on the Colorado sign caller, as a substitute watching him land within the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns within the fifth spherical.
Two weeks later, whereas the Steelers are nonetheless ready for a choice from 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the dialogue of the Steelers and Sanders has come again up once more, because of ESPN Radio’s Unportsmanlike and former NFL defensive finish Chris Canty.
Showing on the present Monday morning, Canty questioned if the choice to cross on Sanders by the Steelers is the “greatest mistake” of the Mike Tomlin period after Sanders had a robust displaying over the weekend within the Browns’ rookie minicamp, garnering loads of consideration.
“In the meantime, the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a respectable NFL beginning quarterback on their roster, so, it received me to pondering. If Shedeur Sanders begins nearly all of the video games this season in Cleveland, is just not drafting him the most important mistake within the Mike Tomlin period of Steelers soccer?” Canty requested, in accordance with audio through ESPN Radio.
“Pay attention, if the Pittsburgh Steelers handed on Shedeur Sanders and he finally ends up being the franchise quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, a division rival, that’s an absolute embarrassment. That is a humiliation.”
The choice to cross on Sanders a number of instances throughout the draft was moderately shocking, contemplating the thrill that surrounded Sanders and the Steelers main as much as the occasion. Sanders was on the board at No. 21 when the Steelers had been on the clock within the first spherical, they usually drafted Oregon DL Derrick Harmon.
He was nonetheless on the board at No. 83 general within the third spherical, and the Steelers handed once more, drafting Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson. Then, he was on the board at No. 123 within the fourth spherical, and the Steelers handed once more, drafting Ohio State OLB Jack Sawyer.
Finally, Sanders got here off the board at No. 144 within the fifth spherical because the Browns traded again as much as land him. Now, he’s doing and saying all the proper issues in Cleveland, which has many buzzing in regards to the quarterback with the Browns.
Social media was ablaze over the weekend with clips of Sanders, who had some moments with the Browns throughout rookie minicamp. That stated, they had been additionally on air, and in 7-on-7 settings.
Sanders wasn’t the one quarterback the Steelers handed on throughout the draft. Additionally they handed on Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. In the end, the Steelers drafted Ohio State’s Will Howard within the sixth spherical, a participant many appear to love, and the match is kind of good in Pittsburgh.
However after Sanders did and stated all the proper issues over the weekend, there’s the query of the Steelers passing on him whereas nonetheless having no reply at QB.
Sanders may have been that reply. He got here to city for a pre-draft go to and raved about his assembly with the Steelers. Head coach Mike Tomlin raved about Sanders, too, throughout the Steelers’ pre-draft press convention. However there have been a couple of studies that Sanders didn’t interview effectively throughout the league, and even one report that his interview with Pittsburgh was poor, although that was later shot down by Tomlin.
Regardless of talking extremely of Sanders and the noise round him and the Steelers constructing to a crescendo main as much as the draft, the Steelers handed, and now they may should take care of him within the AFC North.
“If he performs in Cleveland and he’s nice they usually had been seemingly ready for Aaron Rodgers they usually nonetheless didn’t have a man, after which it ends in Mike Tomlin’s first dropping season then yeah, it’s positively on the board,” Unsportsmanlike host Michelle Smallmon stated of it being the most important mistake of the Tomlin period.
Time will inform if Sanders quantities to something main within the NFL. He’s a gifted quarterback, one many deemed essentially the most pro-ready in a down class. Touchdown in Cleveland with the Steelers nonetheless having points at quarterback for 2025 and passing on him a number of instances was a troublesome tablet to swallow throughout the draft.
The Steelers appear to have a plan although, and that plan seemingly facilities on the 2026 draft class at QB, which has the potential to be method higher than the 2025 class. If it really works out, Tomlin and the Steelers deserve some grace.
If not, criticize away. However speculating that it might be the worst mistake within the Tomlin period after Sanders had a great rookie minicamp is peak talking-head takes within the offseason.
