The Pittsburgh Steelers might have a straight shot at landing Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 21st overall pick (if they want him). Reading the tea leaves leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, it doesn't appear the biggest threats to poach him are threats at all.
This would align with the dramatic odds shift we saw just two days before the NFL Draft, as the Steelers became the betting favorites to land Shedeur. Now there's even more reason to believe this could happen.
On the eve of the draft, Carson Shoen, son of New York Giants general manager Joe Shoen, posted a Jaxson Dart highlight reel on his IG feed. This could be a clue into the Giants' plan at the quarterback position.
This doesn't take Sanders out of the running for the Giants, and obviously, we are in the midst of the biggest smoke screens of the NFL calendar year. But Shoen's post would align with what I've been hearing just hours before the draft.
A source informed me that the Giants are eyeing Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with their second pick in the NFL Draft, and they may trade back up into the first round to land him. Meanwhile, I've heard the Cleveland Browns' quarterback of choice outside of Miami's Cam Ward is Alabama's Jalen Milroe.
If this holds true, Sanders could fall into the lap of the Steelers. But is taking him at pick 21 the best play?
The Pittsburgh Steelers should still attempt to trade down (even if Shedeur Sanders is available at pick 21)
In a year when the Pittsburgh Steelers are short on draft capital, trading down is the best option. While I would love the chance to snag a player like Derrick Harmon, this is a deep class loaded with quality players in the back half of the first round, and moving back a handful of spots could allow the Steelers to pick up another valuable pick.
While trading away from a potential franchise quarterback for a QB-needy team seems counterintuitive, it lessens the risk of taking Sanders if he doesn't work out. If the Steelers don't believe the Browns or Giants are going to leapfrog them to take Shedeur, they may be able to trade back and still select him late in the first round.
There are things I like about Sanders (like his competitive toughness, accuracy, and anticipation), but his lackluster skill set and pedestrian arm scare me for an AFC North team considering him. We know the Steelers have to play in the elements often, especially when it matters most, and Shedeur may not have the arm talent to cut through the wind and cold in December and January.
Either way, it seems increasingly likely that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a shot to land Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now they just need to decide whether they will take it or roll the dice with a trade-back.