Colorado quarterback and Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft target Shedeur Sanders is one of the true wild cards of this class. He could end up in the top five picks if a team falls in love with him, but his flaws could lead to him possibly sliding out of the first round altogether.
While Sanders has enough questions to worry about related to his play alone, there are off-field dynamics at play as well. For the first time in his organized football career, his father, NFL Hall of Famer and current Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, will not be on the sidelines next to Sheduer.
ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that Sanders' NFL experience will be the first time in his football career when his father will not coach him. Schefter made note of some unusual dynamics that could be in play, as any struggles could lead to the fanbase demanding that their coach be fired and Deion be installed as their replacement.
However, Schefter specifically singled out Mike Tomlin as a coach who could end up working with Sanders, noting his security and power within the Steelers organization. Tomlin, for all his faults, doesn't seem like a coach who will be bulldozed by the Shedeur hype train.
Mike Tomlin could coach Shedeur Sanders on Steelers without Deion Sanders
Sanders' confident personality and rabid fanbase might be very intimidating for a coach who is trying to either find his footing or survive on the hot seat. Tomlin has dealt with more than his fair share of personalities that bring in external noise.
Irrespective of what happens with Aaron Rodgers or the noise around Sanders, Tomlin could be interested in Shedeur as a franchise quarterback. Turning a one-win Colorado program that was dead in the water into an eight-win recruiting haven speaks to his ability to win and lead at a high level.
As a passer, Sanders has some of the best pocket accuracy in this class, With great touch down the field and a very sharp football brain, Sanders has many of the traits teams will covet in a signal-caller that needs to win without great mobility.
Tomlin may have missed on Kenny Pickett, but that shouldn't dissuade him from taking Sanders if he checks all of the boxes. Sanders may need some time to adjust as he leaves his father's side, but there may be no better coach in the league for a player in his situation than a winner like Tomlin.