Steelers Reveal What They Would've Done If Shedeur Sanders Was Available In Round 6

The Pittsburgh Steelers stayed true to their draft plans, even though top quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders slid all the way down the board into the fifth round. Leading up to the draft, there was a lot of speculation about what Pittsburgh might do if Sanders fell to them at 21 overall. Many analysts believed the Steelers were a real contender to pick Sanders, given their need for a quarterback of the future. However, as the draft unfolded and Sanders continued to drop, it became clear that Pittsburgh was not sold on selecting him.

Despite having several opportunities to take Sanders, the Steelers ultimately passed on him, even as he fell into the later rounds. It raised questions about whether Pittsburgh had serious concerns about his fit or development potential. The Steelers instead chose to draft quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round, a pick that has sparked much debate among fans and analysts. Many are left wondering if the Steelers would have selected Sanders had he still been available at the same spot.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo recently appeared on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller to shed light on Pittsburgh's thinking behind their decision. Fittipaldo explained that while there was significant buzz surrounding Sanders, the Steelers were committed to their draft strategy and felt confident in their pick of Howard. He firmly believes that even if Sanders had been available in the sixth round, the Steelers would have stuck with Howard as their quarterback choice.

"I think probably Howard," Fittipaldo said. "I told you guys I think they thought Shedeur Sanders was a good kid. I still didn’t get any feedback that they were turned off by the interview."

Sanders visited Pittsburgh for a pre-draft meeting, and there were mixed reports about how Mike Tomlin and the Steelers viewed him. 

One report suggested that Tomlin was impressed with Sanders, while another claimed the meeting didn't go well, with some feeling that Sanders came across as arrogant.

"They just weren’t convinced [Sanders] was ever going to be a starting-level player for them," Fittipaldo said. "When you look at Will Howard, he’s gonna come in here, grind, put his head down and not mind being a number three option for a year. If you put that on Shedeur’s plate, there’s a lot of questions about how that guy would have handled it."

Watching Sanders fall in the draft was truly wild. The Cleveland Browns eventually scooped him up in the fifth round, despite having already selected quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third. 

Given that the 2025 NFL Draft class was considered weak at the quarterback position, it was surprising that the Browns still decided to take two quarterbacks.

Steelers Have A Lot Of Trust In Will Howard's Potential To Get Better

Had Sanders fallen to the sixth round, it seems the Steelers would have likely stuck with their plan and chosen Howard instead. The concern with Sanders, a polarizing player who has already earned millions through NIL deals, was that he might bring unwanted attention or face issues as a third-string quarterback. The Steelers valued Howard’s work ethic and his willingness to put in the effort, regardless of where he was drafted.

Ultimately, it seems the Steelers didn't see Sanders as a future starter in the league. Instead, they opted for Howard, a player they believe has the potential to develop into a reliable backup or, with the right coaching and development, possibly even a starter. While Howard was drafted in the sixth round, his ceiling appears much higher, and the Steelers are confident in his growth potential.

Steelers fans are super excited about the Howard pick. While the odds are never in favor of a Day 3 prospect making a real impact at the quarterback spot, it has happened before. Howard is a player who already has a chip on his shoulder, and he will work incredibly hard to prove he should have been drafted much earlier. That’s what the Steelers loved about him.

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