It seemed quite a bit dreamy when it was first floating around: from being the reported QB2 in the draft class to falling as low as the Steelers at 21. That was Shedeur Sanders’ stocks crashing. But then it started to make sense. Pittsburgh’s empty QB room with only Mason Rudolph to turn to…and Skylar Thompson made it look real.
So, while Shedeur was getting slated for being an over-hyped pick, his fall to Mike Tomlin‘s roster was seen as the shining light. ESPN’s Evan Cohen even said, “If you told me If you told me Jaxson Dart was the second quarterback drafted in the NFL Draft, I’d believe it.”
At this point, many would believe it to be the reality until now. Because Adam Schefter has reported that, maybe, just maybe, Shedeur doesn’t fall beyond the top 10. Schefty wrote: the Steelers never expected Sanders to fall past the top 10. They didn’t plan for him because, frankly, they didn’t think he’d be in their zip code at No. 21. But that might’ve changed—just enough to get them interested. But not enough to get them in the race.
For weeks, the Steelers were quietly mapping out a trench-heavy blueprint: Defensive line. Running back. Maybe a wideout. Quarterback was the “if all else fails” position—an insurance policy, not the priority. And that was what Shedeur was to Pittsburgh. A what if?
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Schefter says Pittsburgh is now prepping for the off-chance Sanders does fall. But that kind of pivot? It’s complicated. Remember, they already shipped off their second-rounder in the DK Metcalf trade. That’s a high price to pay for flexibility they no longer have. And trading up? Yeah, that’s a luxury they likely can’t afford.
In fact, the opposite seems more realistic: trading back to collect more picks. That’s a cold truth, but it’s where things stand. Here’s the catch—if Pittsburgh doesn’t take a quarterback at 21, they may not get another serious shot until Round 3. It now depends on what Mike Tomlin wants.
Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed what most in the building already knew: the Steelers’ pecking order doesn’t start with Shedeur. It’s D-line, where they could get a possible replacement for TJ Watt (say, Shemar Stewart). Then running back to cover the void Najee Harris left. And then maybe a receiver. Quarterback is the fallback. “It’s only in the conversation,” Dulac said, “if the other areas they want to address early… doesn’t work out for them.”
So where does that leave the Steelers?
Option A: Pray Sanders tumbles to 21 and somehow convince themselves they can take him without sacrificing more urgent needs.
Option B: Stick to the original board—build the trenches, lean on Mason Rudolph, and take a flier on someone like Will Howard on Day 2.
The clocks ticking pretty quick now, especially when we are already in the draft week. It’s not the end of the world for the Steelers, but they need a major think-tank discussion as to what do we actually need. If QB’s their priority, then they may as well start looking beyond Sanders.
Browns are not shutting doors on Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns might not be yelling it from the rooftops, but they’re definitely not ruling out a move for Shedeur Sanders either. And with the draft board heating up like it’s late in the fourth quarter, the Browns are quietly drawing up something spicy behind the scenes.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stirred the pot this week, floating a bold what-if: “I know the Browns do have love for Shedeur Sanders… probably not at No. 2 overall at this point, but they like his sort of computer-mind processing ability at the line of scrimmage.” His on-air guess? Either Cleveland or the Giants make a move up to get him.
Now, let’s be real—nobody expects Cleveland to burn their No. 2 overall pick on Sanders. But if he slides? If the Giants pass at No. 3 and the board starts looking funky? Suddenly, the Browns trading back into the first round starts to sound less like fiction and more like a real chess move.
There’s a chance a team trades up to No. 2 to draft Shedeur Sanders, per @ProFootballTalk via an experienced talent evaluator over recent days.
How would you feel about this, Browns fans? pic.twitter.com/ms57IkEcpp
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) April 20, 2025
But here’s the twist: Pittsburgh might ruin the party. Fowler tossed them into the mix, too—“The Steelers could be an option.” But that is if Shedeur falls past top 10. Well, per Fowler, if Shedeur slips past the top three, things could get weird fast. New Orleans at 9? Maybe. But not a lock. That leaves the teens wide open, and you know how the GMs start dialing when they smell value in the back half of Round 1.
Cleveland’s front office isn’t exactly denying any of this, either. “There’s a chance [we take Shedeur],” said GM Andrew Berry. “All options are on the board.” Add in a dinner with Shedeur, some closed-door workouts, and a whole lot of smoke—and yeah, the fire might be real. The only thing missing is a camera crew filming the drama.
So no, the Browns aren’t slamming the door shut on Deion’s son just yet. They’re keeping it slightly ajar, just in case the right opportunity knocks. And when it does? Don’t be surprised if Cleveland answers.
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