The Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office has faced no shortage of tough calls this offseason.
Some decisions were bound to draw more attention than others. Still, one, in my mind, might linger the longest — passing on former Colorado State quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft.
For months, Sanders was considered a first-round projection.
His two years in the Pac-12 under the guidance of his father, NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, painted the picture of a player with pedigree, poise, and promise. During his tenure, he recorded 7364 passing yards, 64 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
He brought leadership qualities you don’t often see in college quarterbacks, and he had the production to back it up. Still, there wasn’t quite enough for Pittsburgh to invest confidently in him when the draft board unfolded. They weren’t alone in their hesitation.
The slide was surprising — from a potential Day 1 pick to a fourth-round selection. The twist? He landed with the Cleveland Browns, a franchise whose quarterback situation is as unsettled as its fan base is hopeful.
And now, with every preseason snap, Sanders is making his case to change the AFC North’s quarterback landscape.
On Friday night against the Detroit Lions, Sanders delivered a performance that caught the entire division's attention. In his NFL preseason debut, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must keep an eye on Shedeur Sanders' development in the AFC North
Those numbers, on paper, are solid for any rookie. But the real story was in how he managed the offense — moving the ball with confidence, keeping turnovers off the stat sheet, and making the throws when it mattered most.
Remember, this is just the preseason.
The playbooks are vanilla. Defenses are evaluating more than attacking. But even in this stripped-down environment, you can see traits that translate.
Sanders displayed mobility, pocket awareness, a willingness to challenge the secondary, and a calm that’s rare for someone taking his first professional snaps.
For Pittsburgh, this isn’t about second-guessing the draft — hindsight is always perfect. The Steelers’ leadership made choices based on their roster construction, cap space, and long-term vision. But it would be a mistake to ignore what’s brewing in Cleveland.
If Sanders continues on this trajectory, the Browns could have a young, ascending quarterback who not only competes for the starting job this season but potentially changes the tone of one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries.
The Steelers-Browns rivalry always carried weight in the AFC North. Sanders could become a true difference-maker for Cleveland, forcing Pittsburgh to prepare for a rivalry where the quarterback position is no longer the Browns’ weakness.
This is where Mike Tomlin’s “we do not live in our fears” mantra is tested.
It’s about respecting what an opponent can become while continuing to fortify your own team’s foundation. The Steelers don’t need to dwell on what could have been with Shedeur Sanders. But they absolutely need to be ready for what might be.
If Friday night was any indication, the AFC North just got a little more interesting — and the next chapter of Steelers-Browns might be written sooner than anyone expected.