Aaron Rodgers finally made his decision a couple of weeks ago. Now, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room is complete for the 2025 season. However, during the long wait for Rodgers, there was loads of speculation as to whether the Steelers might target a quarterback with the 21st overall selection in the draft. More specifically, many thought it might be Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
According to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, the team didn’t have an issue with Sanders as a person. However, he just wasn’t what they preferred in a quarterback.
“When Shedeur came in for the visit, the Steelers didn’t have a bad impression of him or anything like that,” Fittipaldo said Thursday on 93.7 The Fan. “They thought he was a good kid. It just didn’t match up with what they wanted in a quarterback.”
Ultimately, the Steelers are getting a much different quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Both Shedeur Sanders and Rodgers are accurate, but the latter has a much stronger arm. Additionally, the Steelers value the experience Rodgers brings to the table. In Sanders, they’d have drafted a quarterback who has potential but needs to develop. With Rodgers, they’re getting someone who’s got two decades at the NFL level under his belt.
Of course, Rodgers isn’t what he once was. However, for a Steelers team that has plenty of veterans on the defense who are only getting older, Rodgers makes more sense. He’s not going to need time to develop or make any rookie mistakes. Since the Steelers seem to be targeting the 2026 draft for a quarterback, using a first-round pick on one this year would have made things more complicated than necessary.
However, the Steelers didn’t just pass on Sanders in the first round. They also passed on him in the third, then again in the fourth.
“I think mostly it had to do with they didn’t have a grade on him in the first five rounds,” Fittipaldo said. “A lot of people just didn’t want to deal with Deion Sanders, and what that might mean down the road. I don’t know if the Steelers felt that same way, but they did not have a top five-round grade on Shedeur Sanders. That’s why they went the route they went.”
Sanders ended up being selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, joining a crowded quarterback room, to say the least. He’s not the only rookie in the room, with Cleveland taking Dillon Gabriel two rounds ahead of him. There’s also former Steeler Kenny Pickett, who reportedly isn’t impressing much so far this offseason. Finally, Joe Flacco is the fourth member, and the only real veteran presence.
Sanders seems to be off to a good start in Cleveland, at least on the field. He found his name in the headlines earlier this week, after getting cited for driving over the speed limit, upwards of 100 miles per hour. Other than that, his start with the Browns has mostly been positive.
If Sanders ends up starting, he’ll get his chance to prove the Steelers wrong in Weeks 6 and 17 this season.
Watch all your favorite Amazon Prime Video Sports broadcasts live and free. Get access to NFL, NBA, NASCAR, WNBA, and more – all included with your Prime membership!