ESPN gives an odd reason for Steelers being the worst fit for Shedeur Sanders

In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Draft, there has been a lot of smoke between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Shedeur Sanders. With the belief that Sanders could slide on draft night, he became a feasible option for the Steelers. With that in mind, Pittsburgh hosted the quarterback for a 30 visit, and both sides raved about how good the meeting was.

Sanders joined the Up & Adams show on his way home from the visit and said the experience was a 10-out-of-10. He detailed that he understands why the Steelers win a lot, and even compared head coach Mike Tomlin to his father and coach, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. The younger Sanders, who has the same confidence as his father, even said it’d be a mistake for other teams to let him land in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers seemingly feel the same way about the visit, evident in the things Tomlin said during his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday. The veteran head coach called the meeting very productive, and praised Sanders for his toughness, competitive spirit, and other intangibles, in addition to all the plays he made.

Reading between the lines, this seems like a partnership that both sides would love to make official on Thursday night. Despite this harmony, not everyone is convinced Sanders coming to the Steelers would be a good fit. Ben Solak, in a recent ESPN piece, detailed what kind of player Sanders is, what he needs to thrive in the NFL, and ranked the fits of possible landing spots for Sanders.

Of the four teams the divisive quarterback prospect has been linked to, Solak argued Pittsburgh is the worst fit, due to the type of receivers DK Metcalf and George Pickens are, as well as how an ideal Arthur Smith offense looks.

"This would not be good for Sanders. Pittsburgh's two big-name receivers are DK Metcalf and George Pickens. They are best on vertical balls, and though Sanders can throw Pickens plenty of 50-50 and back-shoulder opportunities, I do not see him pairing well with Metcalf. Metcalf needs to make catches on the run away from contact, and Sanders regularly throws his receiver into contact.

Additionally, Pickens and Metcalf have poor feel for the position. When the two improvise, they often are not on the same page as their respective quarterbacks, leading to incompletions and interceptions. Perhaps Sanders would better understand their play styles and preferences, but that's challenging for a rookie quarterback."

Ben Solak (ESPN)

ESPN argues Shedeur Sanders isn’t the ideal quarterback for DK Metcalf, George Pickens, and Steelers

This is an interesting take, because on the surface, one would believe Pittsburgh is great for a rookie quarterback because of these two talented pass catchers. However, watching Sanders’ film, and it’s understandable how Solak could reach this conclusion. During his time at Colorado, the quarterback prospect was very clearly in sync with his top two receivers Travis Hunter and LaJohntay Wester, often allowing them to connect on unorthodox, improvisational routes.

That’s why Solak says Sanders needs creative, instinctive receivers to succeed. Though, Solak did acknowledge the possibility of Sanders adapting to Pickens’ and Metcalf’s style and preference. Going back to the quarterback’s film, it’s fair to say Sanders would be able to adjust.

Colorado had a high-scoring offense, and all the production came from the passing game, led by Sanders and four talented receivers, who should all be drafted. From the aforementioned Hunter and Wester, to Jimmy Horn Jr. and Will Sheppard, each receiver was different, and Sanders understood that. He knew where they each liked the ball, how they ran their routes, and what their strengths were. He demonstrated that knowledge by utilizing each receiver differently, but still setting them all up for success.

That should comfort the Steelers if they have any concerns about him adjusting to DK Metcalf and George Pickens. Sanders has proven to be an adaptable quarterback that figures things out, and that’s why he should be an option if he’s still there at 21.

READ MORE