NFL Insider: Steelers Brass Has 'Growing Acceptance' That Shedeur Sanders Will Be Their Pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very connected to the quarterback position all offseason. That, of course, started with the speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers, but whether the 41-year-old ends up in Pittsburgh or not, the conversation has quickly shifted. Now, the Steelers are suddenly aligning around the idea of selecting top quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders if the opportunity presents itself Thursday night.

Pittsburgh holds the 21st overall pick in the draft, and for months, most assumed Sanders would be long gone by then. But if he’s still on the board when the Steelers are on the clock, there’s growing belief they might just pull the trigger. It would be a bold move—one that signals the team's desire to find a long-term answer at quarterback after years of instability at the position.

According to Albert Breer in his latest article for Sports Illustrated, the Steelers have come around to the idea of taking Sanders in the first round. 

"This is where a lot of folks think Sanders will land—and Mike Tomlin’s relationships could play into that," Breer wrote. "I don’t think there’s an overwhelming consensus in the building to pick the Colorado star, but perhaps a growing acceptance of the idea. The Steelers have also done a lot of work on Dart. Then, there’s the prospect of what drafting a quarterback at No. 21 could mean for their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, which still seems to be in a bit of a fragile place."

The momentum inside the organization has reportedly shifted, and what once seemed like a long shot is now very much on the table. If Sanders falls to 21, Pittsburgh could become the surprise team to land one of the most polarizing and talked-about quarterbacks in the draft.