Mike Tomlin has confirmed why the Pittsburgh Steelers opted against drafting Shedeur Sanders.
The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback was long tipped to be one of the top picks in this year’s class, but ended a fifth-round selection after an all-time slide.
Pittsburgh have been heavily linked and have held talks with free agent Aaron Rodgers but with no deal done remain in need of a signal caller.
The Steelers have just Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on their roster after the NFL Draft, and had multiple opportunities to select Sanders or any other late round prospects.
However, they decided to go in a different direction, taking three other players before the Colorado prospect – son of NFL legend Deion Sanders – eventually came off the board.
With their first-round pick, the Steelers took defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
Running back Kaleb Johnson followed in round three, before linebacker Jack Sawyer was selected in round four.
Those names were picked by Pittsburgh at No. 21, No. 83, and No. 123.
Sanders, meanwhile, was the 144th overall pick, selected by the Cleveland Browns after being on the end of a ‘rotten’ prank call.
Despite three chances to take the 23-year-old, the Steelers stood firm, and passed.
They later took a different quarterback, Ohio State developmental prospect Will Howard, in the sixth round at pick No. 185.
Speaking after the draft, Steelers head coach Tomlin explained their strategy.
“As you guys can see, not only in that pick, but all our others, there’s a commitment here with this draft group to re-establish physicality and big man presence,” he said, discussing Pittsburgh’s first-round selection.
“And, certainly, Derrick Harmon fits that bill. We like his physical stature, we like his style of play.
“It’s just what we covet and what we need.”
The team’s draft strategy makes sense when looking at their quarterback situation heading into the 2025 season.
Last month, general manager Omar Khan revealed that the Steelers will take four quarterbacks into training camp.
When he made the comments only Rudolph and Thompson, who have just 21 NFL starts between them, were on the roster.
Rookie Howard has been added from the draft, and it is widely expected that the fourth person to join their QB room will be veteran Rodgers.
If that is indeed the case, there was no room to draft Sanders, as it’s unlikely he would want to spend his time as a backup.
While four-time MVP Rodgers is yet to confirm his next move having departed the New York Jets, Steelers owner Art Rooney II suggested last week that his arrival may not be far away.
Tomlin has also recently detailed the six-hour meeting he had with Rodgers.
“We’re still kind of getting the same signals that we’ve been getting recently,” Rooney told Steelers Nation Radio on Friday.
“He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.”
Despite insistence that Rodgers would not influence their draft strategy, Pittsburgh’s actions over the weekend speak louder than the words repeated by team brass.
Passing on Sanders three times before finally selecting Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth round suggests the veteran Super Bowl-winner was very much present in their decision-making process.
If Rodgers does decide to commit to Pittsburgh, then the strategy will have paid off. If he doesn’t, then questions will surely be asked.
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