The Steelers are bringing in QB Shedeur Sanders for a visit

I seem to remember in previous drafts that unless a QB is a slam dunk very early 1st round pick, they tend to go much later in the draft than the analysts think.

 

I don`t know college football players, but my first question would be after hearing a QB is the most accurate passer is: "How good is he when running away from the pass rush" (the bocking breaks down). Does he take sacks, get rid of the ball safely, ect.

 

I hate to say it but this is what happens when you let an aging star (Ben) dictate your succession planning at Qb and a “players coach” Tomlin, trying to be too buddy buddy with his stars to realize or care whats in the best long term interests of the team. Colbert had one foot out the door, Art II seemed unprepared to handle things like his father did…we just need new management, maybe Khan, with a new coach and a younger more energetic and football minded Rooney

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/the-beast/2025/position/quarterback/

Here is yet another well-developed pre-draft ranking that has Howard going in the fourth round. They have Sanders late first/early second and Dart firmly in the second round.

 

Do these rankings account for the value of quarterbacks vs say a punter and/also teams being more desperate for a quarterback vs other positions

For example might/will a quarterback be drafted on average higher than a ranking more so than other positions

 

The one in that link is predicting when he might go in the draft, not where he ranks in this draft class cv

 

That's a general compendium that give bios, stats, and scouting reports for the players, and sets baseline grades/values based upon the player and position relative to those in the rest of the pool.

But while weighted for position, it's not like a mock draft that adds team-specific elements to things. It's more net-neutral in that sense.

 

I’ll take this as a yes

Thank you

 

Nor is leaving the cupboard bare for him when he gets here; all the more reason that the cupboard needs to be stocked whenever the one is selected. As it stands, Pittsburgh's firepower is very limited offensively not named D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens. Pat should also be in consideration but Arthur Smith's Tight End friendly Offensive didn't bring the production so many of us were expecting. Granted, in Pat's defense, Russell Wilson has historically used Wideouts a lot more than Tight Ends. Perhaps the next QB will use all of his weapons more favorably.


However, beyond those three, everyone else on Offense is very much either underused in the case of CA III or very much unknown in the case of Roman Wilson. Running Back is about as clear as a monsoon in terms of capability and most of all, the Offensive Line not named Zach Frazier is very much the biggest X Factor for the entire 2025 Season. Should the Offensive Line not improve?! That QB is gonna get battered; forcing the team to select another Offensive Lineman early again in 2026.


Long story short?! Rookies like Jayden Daniels and Big Ben only come around every so often. Ironically enough, Jayden Daniels is the first Rookie QB to lead his team to the Playoffs since Brock Purdy. Before Brock?! Big Ben. Regarding Brock though, the 2022 San Fran Roster was absolutely stacked. Cannot say the same about the 2024 [NAME REDEACTED].

 

Steelers need to stay away from Sanders… he is another athletic athlete that will need years of developing. No thank you.

 

That's actually not Sanders' profile. He's known for being a high football-IQ guy, accurate, reads the defense, stays locked on his receivers (sometimes to a fault) not afraid to take a hit if he can deliver the ball.

His cons are lack of elite arm strength, lack of ideal size, waiting too long instead of dumping to a checkdown.

 

The fan was talking about your points. Avg arm… threw into tight windows in college which will result into ints in NFL.. he threw double digit ints last year. Holds the ball way too long.
Guess you are correct about being athletic not so true with him. I think he ran a 4.6? Still would be a hard pass for me. If I had a choice Sanders or Dart, I would take Dart.

 

A lot to unpack there.

The skinny would be that you're not wrong in the view to build the team as best you can in lieu of a great QB prospect. But if the team judges one to be the QB of the future, there are too many variables and too tight of a timeline in the NFL to second-guess it for wont of what appears now to be a better class that you may or may not have a shot at a year from now.

As for the skill positions, they're reasonably well off. Metcalf, Pickens, and one of Austin/Wilson is a pretty good front three to the WR room. They need to add another RB, but Warren should be a good fit for Smith's scheme. Freiermuth is a solid receiving TE, and Washington/Parham are good targets behind him. The line needs to come together as a unit, but most of the pieces should be in place (depth is another issue). We need until next offseason before coaching/personnel changes are made.

 

I am speaking strictly about Rookie QBs going to the Championship Game. I am not specifically talking about winning a Playoff Game as a whole. In regards to Joe Flacco?! Fair enough. That said, that is still quite a ways away from Jayden Daniels' rookie Season. I had already outlined Brock Purdy as well.


As for Rookie QBs, I believe I stated the following; "Rookies like Jayden Daniels and Big Ben only come around every so often." That means that very seldom can a Rookie QB come in a perform to that level in Year One; doubly so in Jayden's case. Finding the one is very difficult all on its own. Developing him?!


That is another case of worms all together. Tomlin hasn't shown much overall in that area. Mason didn't work and doubly so Kenny; no thanks to Tomlin promoting Matt Canada. I would love to be wrong in Coach Tomlin developing QBs but there is little to no reason to believe that he is able to at this point.


So again, maximize the offense around who you have and ready up for 2026. Cam Ward isn't happening and Shedeur isn't likely to fall either. Jaxson Dart is being overhyped and Jalen Milroe arriving in Green Bay tells me someone is going to draft him.

 

Yep.


Metcalf and George; that is, more or less what the Offense has right now. Pat, again, should be accounted for but his production has been spotty at best; tying his career best in Touchdowns with seven in 2024. Not all his fault of course but the fact remains is that Pat isn't as dynamic as George and nowhere near the level that D.K. Metcalf is. Jaylen Warren is a weapon but can he last a full season?! He was hampered by a Hamstring Injury a season ago. None of these players though are my biggest concern.


Arthur Smith's Offense heavily uses the MOF to gain both yardage and keep drives alive. Mike Tomlin is not a fan of this. Something has to give. It sure didn't in 2024.

 

New Orleans could take Jaxson Dart even. I wouldn't rule him out either. Doug Nussmeier, the current Saints OC, has dealt with a QB like Jaxson Dart before in Jalen Hurts. Now, Hurts is the superior runner but Dart is a better thrower of the football when comparing the two when they both came out of college.


I believe that Jaxson would make more sense for New Orleans given that familiarity. However, given how well Shedeur played in spite of the lack of overall weapons on Offense makes him the more appealing option. Who will Kellen Moore select?!


Only time will tell.

 

If New Orleans is looking for someone in the draft to replace Carr this season and thinks Dart is the better option over Sanders, they're in for a rude awakening.

 

I am not actually. A Franchise QB must have the ability to win Playoff Games. I only stated Jayden Daniels for I do believe he is of Franchise QB quality. I was also on record in saying that he could be a potentially better QB than the Star Child in Caleb Williams. Leading a team, as a Rookie, to a Conference Championship Game?! Very Seldom has that ever happened and that is definitely something that is noteworthy.


All that said, the overall point is being missed here. If a team drafts a QB to be the Future of the Franchise, that QB must be able to guide their team to the playoffs on a consistent basis. For that Future of the Franchise to do so however, he had better have the firepower needed. Again, Pittsburgh has the following;

1. D.K. Metcalf
2. George Pickens

That is, more or less, the Offensive Firepower that can be relied on consistently. That isn't even accounting for Tomlin's say in the Offense; something that I personally don't see changing any time soon. Jayden Daniels did work out himself due in part to Dan Quinn trusting Kliff Kingsbury to run his Offense. Tomlin doesn't trust Arthur Smith to run his.


Overall, Shedeur being drafted by Pittsburgh is going to amount to what had happened with Kenny Pickett. Even worse?! Shedeur is leagues above Pickett overall. Tomlin hasn't developed a QB and entrusting him to do so, doubly so with a bare cupboard, is nothing more than a recipe for disaster for Shedeur. If I am Shedeur, I'd go somewhere as Pittsburgh's current Roster isn't it.

 

Who knows?!


Maybe the Saints may opt for Garrett Nussmeier as Doug is the father of him. I only placed Jaxson Dart there as some of his game does remind me a bit of Hurts. Again though, Hurts is the superior runner.

 

If you have any reason as to why Shedeur can thrive in Pittsburgh, I would like to know about it.

 

What an obtuse question. There are many reasons why the Steelers can be successful with Sanders as QB, and you are aware of each and every one of them. We all are. Just as we are all aware of the reasons why Sanders's could fail with the Steelers. If we are looking for guarantees the draft isn't it. You either risk it and take your shot or you don't. Ward, Sanders, Dart, Howard represent the least risk by many services. I am in favor of taking a risk. Many fans are not.

 

Risk has to equal reward.


The Risk isn't with Shedeur. The risk is with Tomlin's track record. If, somehow, someway, Tomlin can get out of his way, all the better of the reward then. Given the history, it is too high a price to pay.