Many analysts saw the Steelers as the team most likely to draft QB Shedeur Sanders in the first round, and then in the third. Now in the fourth round, they remain the favorites to finally pull the trigger, via BetMGM.
According to the sportsbook, the Steelers have +360 odds to draft Shedeur Sanders, the highest on BetMGM’s board. The New York Jets are second at +550, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (+600), Las Vegas Raiders (+600), and Los Angeles Rams (+600).
Of these five teams, the Cowboys and Rams have clear and obvious starters for 2025. The Raiders and Jets acquired starters via trade and free agency with Geno Smith and Justin Fields, respectively. By far, the Steelers are the team with the worst current quarterback situation, fueling the Sanders speculation.
Entering Day 3 of the draft, Pittsburgh has two quarterbacks under contract: Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Rudolph is an eighth-year veteran who has settled into a career-backup path. Thompson is a guy whom commentators frequently forget to mention—or forget exists. The Steelers are awaiting word from Aaron Rodgers, of course, but Shedeur Sanders—or any other quarterback—has to be in consideration before the draft is over.
The team reportedly pressed Rodgers for an answer shortly before the draft but evidently didn’t receive one. Instead, we continue to hear about “signs” that he is leaning in that direction. But Steelers president Art Rooney II mentioned drafting a quarterback, and Sanders is by far the biggest name still available.
While the Steelers passed on Sanders with their first two draft picks, they used those selections to address glaring needs. Sans Rodgers, quarterback remains the most glaring need remaining for the team. There are a number of directions they could go—wide receiver, cornerback, safety, edge, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, nepotism—but quarterback is always the biggest need when the need is greater than a backup.
While Gerry Dulac claimed the Steelers had a first-round grade on Shedeur Sanders, he was also very adamant that they would not draft him in the first round. They did not, of course, nor did they draft him in the third round. Now that we are going into the final day of the draft, though, all bets are off—except for the sports betting, of course.
Even assuming the Steelers would like to draft Sanders in the fourth round, the other teams near the top of BetMGM’s board have higher picks. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that they graded Sanders very highly. This far into the draft, would they consider taking him despite Dak Prescott’s locked-in status? Also, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford is near the end of his career, and Smith and Fields are no sure bets.
