Football
The last few years of Pittsburgh Steeler football has boiled down to the lack of any consistency at the quarterback position. This has been the case since franchise great Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021. In 2024, the Steelers started Justin Fields and Russell Wilson to varying degrees of success. Each player brought their strengths and weaknesses to the offense. However, they ultimately held the same fate for nearly a decade with a first-round exit. After the season, the Steelers evaluated both QBs. They ultimately let them both walk in free agency. They did this with the pursuit of Aaron Rodgers in mind. Currently, with all the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers, I believe if Shedeur Sanders slides in the upcoming NFL Draft, he should be in play for the Steelers to take him as their future QB.
What do the Steelers have?
Sanders is an ideal fit for this current form of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This offseason they are spearheading a youth movement on the offensive side of the ball. In the 2024 NFL draft, the Steelers drafted three starting caliber offensive linemen: Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick. Fautanu’s season was cut short. However, with a full offseason of training and recovery, he could be the team’s right tackle of the future.
Both Frazier and McCormick were solid contributors, especially after veteran James Daniels went down. Daniels was having an unbelievable start to the 2024 season. I do think the youth upfront and Broderick Jones moving back to his natural position of left tackle could lift this group up. At the least, they could be a top 15 unit. The addition of wide receiver DK Metcalf cannot be forgotten. A player who has true homerun ability on the outside paired with George Pickens could lead to a really fun offense. Pat Freiermuth has been a consistent tight end since he was drafted in 2021. He could be a great connection for a young QB.
Why is he a Fit?
Sanders has a lot of good about his game. He confidently stands in the pocket delivering passes on time and on target. He consistently leads receivers to opportunities for yards after the catch. Sanders also has a very accurate deep ball despite not having the strongest arm.
Sanders throughout his two years at Colorado was under duress constantly. This was due to his offensive line not being up to par. He consistently left good pockets due to his lack of faith in his blocks, this is a trait he does have to work on. Due to the lack of a run game in the Colorado offense, a lot of play action plays weren’t routinely taken advantage of. Since arriving at Colorado, Sanders has never had the opportunity to have a consistent running game. The pressure has been on him to make every read and pass at the highest level.
Steelers have always been bullish on running the ball. in recent years this was mainly because they knew they didn’t threaten most teams passing the ball. I believe dropping Sanders in this situation with a solid running back in Jaylen Warren could lighten the load on Sanders. Plus, a deep draft class of running backs is also in their favor. For most of his time as a Buff, Sanders carried the offense with high-level accuracy and avoided turnovers. With his ability to move in the pocket and keep his eyes downfield, he is an underrated player on the move. He may lack the physical gifts, but watching some of his games like against Baylor, he shows that he can create out of structure on any given play.
Sanders’ overconfidence does get him in trouble sometimes with the media. However, pairing him with a head coach in Mike Tomlin, who breathes confidence in his players to compete every week and take nothing for granted, is a great match. Deion Sanders and Mike Tomlin do share similarities in how they manage their players. I believe that confidence following Shedeur to the NFL will help him in his growth as a player.
Sanders Ceiling?
Sanders at his ceiling is very reminiscent of 49ers’ QB Brock Purdy. Both are limited athletes, especially in the arm strength category, but make up for it with their decision making, accuracy, and overall touch. Purdy has thrived in the game manager role, a role I believe Sanders is capable of becoming. Eventually, he could become a solid starter in the right situation. I really like the idea of him in an Arthur Smith led offense. The use of play action and focus on the middle of the field fall within Sanders’s favor. If the opportunity is in play for Sanders to sit behind Aaron Rodgers for a year, it would be even more beneficial. He can learn from another all-time great.
Ultimately the Steelers’ search for a future quarterback will hopefully be addressed soon. I do believe given his talents Shedeur is the best outcome if he slides. Sanders is a talented player but needs to land in a spot with true foundational pieces around him, and currently the Steelers are that.
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