With Aaron Rodgers nowhere to be found, the Pittsburgh Steelers could reach desperation mode for a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Over the weekend, we learned that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury, and surgery isn't out of the question. The Saints' sudden need for quarterback help could muddy the waters early in the draft.
However, one prominent NFL Draft analyst doesn't feel that will be the case. While Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders could be ripe for the picking with the 9th overall selection in the draft for New Orleans, Dane Brugler of The Athletic doesn't believe the Saints are interested in Sanders.
"Obviously, the Browns and Giants at No. 2 and No. 3 aren’t going to give away their plans. But other teams believe there is a good chance both pass on Sanders in the top three," Brugler explained. "I also believe the Saints will pass at No. 9, which could create a path for Sanders to make it to the 21st pick. But this is April, and teams aren’t 100 percent sure what they are doing yet and will be keeping everything hush-hush, so it feels like a situation very much in flux."
The Saints' apparent lack of interest in Sanders aligns with the information I've gathered and what I've been told recently. These comments from Brugler in a one-on-one with Mike DeFabo came after the news about Carr's shoulder injury was reported. But it doesn't seem to matter.
New Saints head coach Kellen Moore will want to bring in his own quarterback at some point, but the rookie head coach doesn't need to do that in Year 1 on the job. Despite New Orleans entering a scary situation at quarterback, Shedeur Sanders doesn't appear to be the answer they are looking for. If this proves to be the case, the polarizing quarterback could fall into the lap of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could land Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft
Some NFL Draft analysts hold Shedeur Sanders in high regard, but that won't stop his potential slide in the 2025 NFL Draft. If the New Orleans Saints are out on Sanders, a plummet could ensue that may not end until the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 21st overall pick.
The teams picking between the Saints at No. 9 and the Steelers at No. 21 are the Bears, 49ers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Colts, Falcons, Cardinals, Bengals, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Broncos. Of these teams, only the Dolphins and Colts could consider drafting a quarterback early, but Miami wants to build around Tua Tagovailoa—not replace him—while Colts general manager Chris Ballard values traits-based prospects and athletes early in the draft.
There's a chance a team like the Browns or Giants could come creeping back up from early in the second round to jump ahead of the Steelers in the first round if it looks like Sanders is about to make his way to Pittsburgh's selection at pick 21. But if this doesn't happen, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin will have a discussion about taking a stab at Sanders.
Without Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh has the most dire quarterback situation in the NFL. Only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are under contract at the position, and they could be headed toward a losing season if they don't find an upgrade.
At the end of the 2024 college football season, nobody expected that Shedeur Sanders would be available in the back half of the first round, but as we sit here, there's a clear path for Sanders to fall to the Steelers if Dane Brugler is correct in assuming the Saints won't draft him at pick 9 in the 2025 NFL Draft.