Remember when Deion Sanders said, “It’s gonna be an Eli”?Meaning certain cities? Straight up off-limits. He made it loud, made it clear: his son and Travis Hunter are QB1 and CB1 in this draft, no questions asked. Fast forward to now, the world still can’t decide—top 2 pick, or 21st overall pick, or even second rounder? Whole NFL movin’ weird on Shedeur for various reasons like ‘B- Arm, self-centered, cocky’ and whatnot. Shedeur Sanders’ name got the league spinning, and it ain’t just about talent. It’s politics. It’s pride. It’s billionaire owners trying to rewrite their regrets. ESPN just dropped a bomb, and let’s just say… the $6 billion franchise out in Pittsburgh might be plotting something wild.
Alright, here’s the scoop: Shedeur wrapped up a wild season at Colorado—4,134 yards, 37 tuddies, and one massive uppercut to the “nepo baby” crowd. Yeah, he skipped the Combine. Didn’t throw at Pro Day. Didn’t need to. He let his mouth and tape do the heavy lifting. And it worked—depending on who you ask. Some draft boards got him going No. 2. Some say second round. Whole league’s split. But on April 23, ESPN’s Adam Schefter hopped on The Rich Eisen Show and stirred the pot like a grandma with gossip. Rich came in hot: “Where do you think he winds up?”
“If I had to bet a dollar today,” Schefter said, “He’s the favorite to go to Pittsburgh. That’s where I would bet him. That’s—that’s where I would bet him. 21st overall. That’s where I would bet him right now. ” Adam Schefter doubles down;” And things change. So, you know, people have to understand that. And I think they do. But I would say today, yes, in my—mind, Mike Tomlin likes Shedeur Sanders. I don’t think the Giants are going to take him at three. But I’m not ruling it out. I don’t think they will. I definitely don’t think the Saints will take him at nine.”
Schefter said, locking in on the 21st overall pick. He kept it 100: Tomlin’s a Shedeur fan, and if Mike likes you, ownership gon’ listen. Only problem? Steelers need more than just flash—they need instant wins, and Shedeur might be a redshirt rookie year kinda guy. Schefter explains why Steelers would be the landing spot for Shdeur: “If the Giants don’t take him at three and the Saints don’t take him at nine—can’t really find a team from 9 to 21, although someone could always trade up if they want him that much. Although, again, we’ve seen how polarizing he is, so it’s hard to imagine who’s trading up in this draft where there’s been no trades up so far—to go get a quarterback in a draft class that evaluators have been picking apart So, my guess is he would sit on the board till 21, and that’s where it’s gonna be interesting.”
Polarizing is putting it lightly. Shedeur’s draft stock swings more than a backyard screen door in a hurricane. Some execs say he’s too cocky. Others say he’s just what the league needs—confidence with credentials. But Pittsburgh? That ain’t no small name. That’s a six-billion-dollar squad with a Hall of Fame legacy and zero patience for another QB experiment.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin already put in face time with Shedeur. Had dinner. Talked man-to-man. “He was just talking to me straight up like a man,” Shedeur said. “I appreciated his perspective.” That ain’t a job interview. That’s a vibe. That’s mentorship brewing. Former Steeler Ryan Clark ain’t shy about it either: “It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. What better coach than Mike Tomlin to handle some of those things that could be thought of as distractions with Shedeur Sanders?” And it ain’t just talk. ESPN’s Peter Schrager confirmed Shedeur’s pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh was deep. Full facility tour. One-on-one with Arthur Smith. Schrager called it “a perfect backstop” if Sanders slips.
Now let’s address the diva elephant in the room—Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers been sittin’ through his weekly “Will he? Won’t he?” saga like it’s The Bachelor. They’ve tried the vet route. It flopped. Kenny Pickett didn’t pop. Mitch Trubisky came and went like a TikTok trend. Rodgers? Please. The Steelers don’t want a Netflix series. They want a future. Former GM Ran Carthon put it best: “Pittsburgh’s stability and culture would benefit Sanders.” They’ve had three head coaches since 1969. You drop Shedeur in that kind of structure, let him marinate under Tomlin, and boom—you got another 7 years of winning season AKA Steelers Super Bowl.
The Giants owner got something on his mind
While Pittsburgh’s debating Rodgers vs. rookie, New York got their own little drama popping. The Giants been linked to Shedeur since last fall. They had reps at every Colorado game. GM Joe Schoen met with Deion in person. Brian Daboll been watching tape like it’s game film from ‘07. But the real wild card? John Mara. According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Mara might just pull rank on draft night. “Mara loved Josh Allen back when they took Saquon [Barkley]…He had his Eli successor in Josh Allen and didn’t push for it. That’s stuck with him.” Translation: he ain’t tryna make the same mistake twice.
In 2018, the Giants had the No. 2 pick. Josh Allen was there. Mara liked him. So did Tisch. But Gettleman passed and grabbed Saquon Barkley. Great player. But six years later, they’re QB-hunting again. If Shedeur’s there at 3? And Mara says, “F–k it, it’s my team”—then things get real spicy, real quick. Yes, the Giants signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson this offseason. But both are on short-term deals. Together, they cost $15 million—a bargain for QB depth. Neither is the future. Shedeur Sanders could be.
And Mara knows it. Mara’s had to watch Josh Allen ball out in Buffalo while his Giants been stuck in the QB mud. Drafting Shedeur ain’t just a football move. It’s therapy. It’s closure. If Mara steps in and says, “I want my guy,” that draft board flips like a cheap mattress. Suddenly, Pittsburgh’s 21st pick is looking like leftovers.
So here’s the crossroads. Giants at 3. Steelers at 21. Saints lurking around 9. Shedeur Sanders stock yo-yoing like crazy. But one thing ain’t changed—Deion called this a months ago. “It’s going to be an Eli.” And now? Shedeur goes wherever his name gets called. Either way, one thing’s clear—this ain’t your typical draft night. This is Prime Time’s son. This is billionaire beef. This is legacy, pressure, and pride—all wrapped in one hell of a headline. And somebody’s about to make a very loud, very expensive decision.
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