Steelers Predicted to Skip Aaron Rodgers, Select Polarizing Quarterback in Round 1 of NFL Draft

Pittsburgh, PA – April 15, 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers have shifted gears in their quarterback hunt, opting to bypass free-agent Aaron Rodgers as the 2025 NFL Draft nears. After months of speculation linking the veteran to Pittsburgh, the team is poised to chart a new course with a bold draft pick.

Rodgers, a four-time MVP, was a focal point early in free agency, but the Steelers have moved on, sources say, frustrated by stalled talks. With the draft set for April 24-26, Pittsburgh is now focused on securing a long-term signal-caller to end an eight-year playoff win drought.

CBS Sports’ Mike Renner projects the Steelers will select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with their No. 21 overall pick, a move signaling confidence in youth over a stopgap veteran.

Call it a slide, but Sanders’ talent matches Pittsburgh’s urgency more than any team’s, Renner wrote.

Sanders’ stock has surged recently, bolstered by his visit to the Steelers’ facility last week. The 23-year-old lauded the organization and head coach Mike Tomlin, drawing parallels to his father’s leadership style in a post-visit interview.

The mindset here drives wins—it’s like my dad’s approach, Sanders said on Up And Adams Show. Tomlin’s vision is a 10.

Sanders’ skill set—pinpoint accuracy, 69.8% completion rate, and 4,134 yards in 2024—fits Pittsburgh’s offense, built around D.K. Metcalf and Dallas Goedert. His poise and college starting experience position him as a potential 2025 starter, unlike Mason Rudolph’s limited upside.

Sanders could step in day one, NFL analyst Matt Miller noted.

Even if Rodgers were signed, drafting Sanders remains logical for general manager Omar Khan, who must prioritize the future. With only 21 combined starts from Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, the Steelers need a quarterback to anchor their attack beyond 2025.

Khan’s building for tomorrow, not just today, ESPN’s Louis Riddick remarked.

Sanders’ polarizing label stems from uneven pocket presence, but his 35 touchdowns and dual-threat ability—342 rushing yards—offer hope. Pittsburgh’s desperation for a franchise QB outweighs concerns, per scouts.

He’s raw but electric—Pittsburgh’s kind of gamble, a league source told The Athletic.

Bypassing Rodgers, a short-term fix at 41, for Sanders underscores a strategic pivot. The Steelers aim to pair a young arm with Tomlin’s culture, potentially unlocking a roster poised to break its playoff curse in 2025.