Insider explains why Steelers 'went the route they went' in not drafting Shedeur Sanders

In a May 7 article, ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler explained that the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on selecting quarterback Shedeur Sanders multiple times during the 2025 draft because they viewed him "as a distributing point guard type" but "did not reach a consensus on Sanders as a slam dunk pick." 

During a Thursday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offered more information about why the club didn't grab Sanders before the Cleveland Browns traded up to get the polarizing prospect at pick No. 144. 

"I think mostly, it had to do with, they didn't have a grade on him within the first five rounds," Fittipaldo said about how Pittsburgh viewed Sanders, as shared by Curt Popejoy of Steelers Wire/USA Today. "I think the second part of that equation, and this was never really discussed, you’ve seen some leaks with other teams across the NFL. Now, a lot of people just didn’t want to deal with Deion Sanders and what that might be down the road after he’s done at Colorado. So, I don’t know if the Steelers felt that same way, but they did not have ... a top-five round grade on Shedeur Sanders, and that’s why they went the route they went."

Rumors hinting that Deion Sanders could essentially tell certain teams not to acquire his son popped up months before reports detailed how Shedeur Sanders' handling of the predraft process sank his stock. Nevertheless, some analysts criticized the Steelers for not taking a flier on Shedeur Sanders once he fell to the draft's fourth round. 

Pittsburgh instead chose Ohio State pass-rusher Jack Sawyer at pick No. 123 and then selected Ohio State signal-caller and developmental prospect Will Howard in the sixth round. Earlier in June, the Steelers signed future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to be their 2025 Week 1 starter.