2025 NFL Draft: Adam Schefter reveals chance of Shedeur Sanders to Steelers

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said Wednesday that the Pittsburgh Steelers would like to move down in Thursday’s Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft “if that opportunity presents itself.” But if the Steelers receive no takers for pick No. 21, will Shedeur Sanders be the selection? The Colorado quarterback “will be under consideration,” Schefter said on “Get Up.”

“Pittsburgh, I think is in a situation where they’re at pick 21. The Steelers would actually like to move back in this draft if that opportunity presents itself. Any number of teams would like to move back in this draft. The problem is finding team that would want to move up,” Sanders said. “But Pittsburgh is at 21 — I would think if Shedeur Sanders is on the board, Shedeur Sanders is going to come into the conversation. The Steelers have a lot of other needs that they’d like to address in this draft. They’d like to find a defensive tackle, running back, maybe another receiver.

“So, whether or not they actually go with Shedeur Sanders is the question that hangs over the first round. If Shedeur doesn’t go there, where does he go? I think he’ll absolutely be in the conversation for the Steelers. You mentioned the meetings he had there — I think he elevated the feeling they had of him during those meetings. They left those meetings feeling better than they did about him and certainly, he could be the pick at 21. But really, it’s up in the air. I don’t know that they feel convicted to take him at 21 but he will be under consideration.”

Just one day out from Round 1 in Green Bay, Wis., Sanders’ draft stock remains all over the place. But the Steelers are the new favorite to land Sanders, per the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh would appear to make a ton of sense.

Shedeur Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers a perfect match?

The Steelers only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster. Aaron Rodgers is still deciding if he wants to continue his NFL career or head into retirement. At this point, Pittsburgh can’t wait much longer; they need to figure out who is going to be under center in 2025.

It could very well be Sanders, whom Pittsburgh brought in for a pre-draft visit earlier this month. Head coach Mike Tomlin came away impressed by Sanders.

“I think the things that stood out were evident in his video,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “There’s a toughness there that doesn’t get talked about enough. There’s a competitive spirit there that doesn’t get talked about enough. I know he’s very talented, he’s made a lot of plays for his university and his team, but the intangibles and qualities displayed on tape were impressive to me.”

Sanders put together a standout senior season at Colorado in 2024, leading the nation with a 74% completion percentage. He also totaled 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns while leading the Buffaloes to a bowl game as part of an impressive turnaround under Coach Prime, finishing 8-4 while making the Alamo Bowl.