NFL analyst makes bold prediction should Steelers draft Shedeur Sanders

Regardless of what happens with Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers know they must find a quarterback of the future. One national analyst thinks Pittsburgh should draft Shedeur Sanders to fulfill that need.

While former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannebaum doesn't believe drafting Sanders has to mean scrapping their Rodgers plans for the 2025 season, he is high on Sanders as a quarterback Pittsburgh, or any NFL team, can win with right away. 

"Part of managing the draft process is be opportunistic," Tannebaum explained on Friday's edition of ESPN's "Get Up."  "This guy is tough. He's been sacked 94 times over two years. He's only missed one game. Led the nation in accuracy. I know a lot of the balls were short. But when you're tough, smart and accurate, you can win a lot of games with a player like that."

College statistics aren't always an indicator of NFL success, but Sanders' play with Colorado during his final college football season lends credence to what Tannebaum said. In 2024, Sanders completed 74% of his passes and threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. 

Tannebaum even predicted that Sanders would lead the Steelers to the playoffs as a rookie if he started immediately. 

The Steelers used one of their 30 pre-draft visits on Sanders earlier in the week, prompting the conversation. Sanders graded his visit with Pittsburgh as an A while recapping his experience with Kay Adams on her show. 

"I enjoyed my time in Pittsburgh. I connected well with all of the coaches," Sanders told Adams.

The son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders showed his confidence when asked about the possibility of being drafted by the Steelers if Pittsburgh's AFC North rival Cleveland Browns passes on him. 

"That’s on the other franchises that make the mistake and let me go there," said Sanders with a smile. 

Although some draft experts aren't entirely sold on Sanders, the Steelers would likely need to move up in the draft to land him. Pittsburgh possesses pick No. 21, and several teams need a long-term quarterback solution. 

It remains to be seen if the Steelers, who have plenty of other needs, would be willing to give up draft capital to trade up for Sanders. But if Tannebaum is right, such a move could shake up the balance of power in the AFC for years to come.