1 week Ago By Rory Robinson
NFL Draft prospect Shedeur Sanders said his visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a "10 out of 10" experience . The Colorado projected first-round pick and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders , gave a glowing smile while sharing his thoughts about the organization, immediately fueling rumors that the Steelers may be eyeing Sanders either at pick No. 21 or planning to move up in a trade to secure him before another team gets the chance.
Sanders, who threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns last season, has seen his draft stock bounce anywhere between the top three picks and the back end of the first round. Regardless of where the former Buffs QB lands on NFL Draft night, it's clear Pittsburgh and Sanders left a mutually positive impression on each other after reported mutual interest behind his Colorado Pro Day . "I enjoyed my time in Pittsburgh," Sanders said to Kay Adams as he spoke from the airport immediately after his visit.
"I think I connected well with all the coaches. It was real fun." That connection seemed particularly strong with head coach Mike Tomlin.
After parting ways with the top two QBs on the depth chart last season and adding WR DK Metcalf to the roster, the quarterback position remains a high priority for Pittsburgh, along with defensive tackle, running back, and guard. "I understand the mindset and why they win a lot," Sanders said about Tomlin's leadership. "Just how he is as a person, the values that the team has, and what he's produced from his staff down.
It's similar to like my dad," he said. Like Coach Prime, Tomlin is known for his no-nonsense, team-first process. When Adams asked what grade Sanders would give his Pittsburgh visit, he didn’t hesitate and said, "It was a 10.
It was a good 10." He went on to say the best part was talking football with the staff, emphasizing how much he enjoyed the X's and O's dialogue and getting to know everyone. The official NFL Combine results indicate that Sanders is the second-best QB prospect, just behind Heisman candidate Cam Ward , by a margin of .
9 points. After them, the grades drop by nearly 0.20 points, with Jaxson Dart , Tyler Shough, and Quinn Ewers completing the top five .
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Sanders is the only quarterback Pittsburgh would seriously consider taking in the first round . Sanders stated that if he were to slip to Pittsburgh, it would only be the teams ahead of them in the draft to blame for any potential success he might have in the future. "That's on the other franchises [to] make that mistake, and let me go there," he said at the possibility of going to a team with a winning record.
Pittsburgh's offense also currently features a host of explosive players on offense outside of Metcalf, including George Pickens, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and running back Jaylen Warren..
