CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns’ prized rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, didn’t hold back this week, taking pointed jabs at the Pittsburgh Steelers for bypassing him in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Selected by Cleveland at No. 8 overall, Sanders used his platform to highlight Pittsburgh’s ongoing quarterback woes, stirring up the AFC North rivalry.
The Steelers, desperate for a long-term QB1 solution since Ben Roethlisberger’s 2021 retirement, opted for defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in Round 1 (No. 21) and traded their second-round pick to acquire wide receiver DK Metcalf. Sanders, who threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns at Colorado in 2024, was left on the board, a decision he clearly hasn’t forgotten.
“Y’all really thought a D-tackle was gonna fix that offense?” Sanders quipped on his weekly podcast, 2Legendary. “Pittsburgh out here recycling QBs like it’s a scrap yard. I could’ve been the guy, but they’re still chasing ghosts.” His comments cut deep, referencing the Steelers’ carousel of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and now Mason Rudolph.
Pittsburgh’s quarterback struggles are no secret. In 2024, they ranked 24th in passing yards (186.1 per game), with Rudolph’s 67.4 PFF grade underscoring their lack of a franchise signal-caller. Sanders, with his pinpoint accuracy and 68.9% completion rate, could have been the answer, but the Steelers prioritized defense and offensive weapons.
“They’re stuck with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer while I’m out here balling,” Sanders added, smirking. “Good luck winning shootouts with that playbook.” His confidence is backed by early OTA buzz, where he’s reportedly outshined Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, fueling talk of a Week 1 start.
The Steelers did draft Ohio State’s Will Howard in Round 6, but the developmental prospect is no Sanders. Howard’s 5,865 college yards pale next to Sanders’ dual-threat flair, leaving Pittsburgh fans wondering what might have been. Posts on X reflect the angst: “Shedeur clowning us, and he’s not wrong. Why’d we pass?”
Browns fans, meanwhile, are eating it up. Cleveland’s bold move to grab Sanders, paired with their draft haul of edge rusher Landon Jackson and cornerback Maxwell Hairston, has rekindled playoff hopes. Sanders’ swagger only adds fuel to their rivalry with Pittsburgh.
As the 2025 season looms, Sanders’ taunts set the stage for heated Browns-Steelers clashes. With Pittsburgh’s QB1 void glaring, the rookie’s words sting—because in the AFC North, the truth hurts most.
