The Pittsburgh Steelers looked primed to take quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft after everything fell into place for them to make that move. However, it turned out not to be.
Despite their desperate need at the position, the Steelers decided to pass on Sanders with their first-round pick and instead took Oregon defensive lineman, Derrick Harmon, who was widely projected to land in Pittsburgh before the draft.
Considering their need at quarterback amid the uncertainty with Aaron Rodgers, who the team has been pursuing for quite some time now, it was at least a bit surprising to see the Steelers not take Sanders.
So, what gives? Let's take a closer look.
Why did Steelers pass on Shedeur Sanders?
Heading into the draft, projections were all over the place for Sanders, who was mocked anywhere from the No. 3 pick to outside of the first round entirely.
Considering the fact that this isn't a good quarterback class, it was always possible that Sanders would slide, although not many thought it would be this far. It's pretty evident that the Steelers didn't take him because they didn't think he was worthy in that spot.
Adding to that, defensive tackle was a huge need for Pittsburgh this offseason. The Steelers needed an upgrade next to Cam Heyward and someone who could take the torch from the future Hall of Famer when he retires.
Even owner Art Rooney II pointed out the Steelers' need for improved run defense, which starts on the inside.
“It starts with stopping the run. And we didn’t do that down the stretch. So we need to figure out how we get stronger probably on the defensive front,” Rooney II said.
With the Steelers done in the first round, the possibility of landing Sanders might be dead. Pittsburgh doesn't have a second-round pick and we can't fathom Sanders falling all the way to the third round.
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