NFL Insider Affords Idea Why Steelers Handed On QB Shedeur Sanders

After a 10-3 begin, the Pittsburgh Steelers misplaced their final 4 common season video games earlier than bowing out within the Wild Card Spherical to the Baltimore Ravens. One of many greatest causes for the group’s struggles was a dip in play from quarterback Russell Wilson, a participant that head coach Mike Tomlin went “lone ranger” on to make the starter after he missed the primary six video games of the season and Justin Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 report. Showing on The Invoice Simmons Podcast, NFL insider Albert Breer mentioned that after how issues went down with Wilson, Tomlin might not have wished to push for QB Shedeur Sanders, a participant he appreciated through the pre-draft course of.

“I believe folks there would let you know that the Russell Wilson factor undermined so many issues within the final month of the season, and numerous that constructing actually wished them to return to Justin Fields. And it was one thing the place Tomlin was form of once more, all on his personal on that one. And I believe it’s a part of the explanation why, Tomlin appreciated Shedeur [Sanders] going into the draft. However I don’t assume Tomlin wished to press that button once more at quarterback after what occurred on the finish of the yr with Russell,” Breer mentioned.

There was numerous hypothesis that some folks in Pittsburgh’s constructing had been open to turning again to Fields, who performed a restricted position off the bench late within the season with Wilson struggling. However Tomlin caught with Wilson. After the five-game shedding streak, retaining Wilson appeared unlikely and he finally signed with the New York Giants, with Pittsburgh turning over their quarterback room for the second offseason in a row.

Sanders got here in for a pre-draft go to with Pittsburgh and Tomlin praised his toughness and intangibles. There was some buzz that Pittsburgh might take him within the first spherical, however he finally fell all the way in which to the fifth spherical earlier than being chosen by the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh had a number of alternatives to draft Sanders, however as a substitute chosen DL Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson and EDGE Jack Sawyer. The group did take QB Will Howard within the sixth-round, however with Breer’s idea, there’s a case to be made that the Steelers might’ve thought-about taking Sanders larger had Tomlin pushed for him extra.

Initially, the transfer to start out Wilson regarded sound, as he led the Steelers to 4 straight wins and gained six out of his first seven begins. However issues went sideways down the stretch, and it might make sense if Tomlin didn’t wish to stick his neck out for an additional quarterback after the disastrous ending of the season, and finally Wilson’s tenure in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers nonetheless don’t have a transparent reply at quarterback for 2025, and drafting Shedeur Sanders nonetheless possible wouldn’t have given them one. Nevertheless it’s fascinating to notice that Tomlin was a fan of the quarterback who now performs for Pittsburgh’s division rival, and that if issues didn’t flip bitter with Wilson, he might’ve pushed to make him Pittsburgh’s subsequent signal-caller.