The Pittsburgh Steelers may still add a quarterback in free agency, but that player won’t be Russell Wilson.
Wilson agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants on Tuesday, March 25, leaving Aaron Rodgers as the likeliest free-agent addition to a QB room currently headlined by Mason Rudolph. But even if Pittsburgh lands Rodgers, he will be 42 years old in December and profiles as a short-to-medium-term solution, at most.
That brings the conversation back around to next month’s NFL draft, in which the Steelers select 21st overall. That pick may not be high enough to afford Pittsburgh a shot at the third QB off the board in the first round, let alone Cam Ward of Miami or Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, whom are predicted by most analysts to be the first two signal-callers selected.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum released a mock draft on Tuesday following the news of Wilson’s departure to New York, in which he projected the Steelers will trade up with the Chicago Bears and secure Sanders with the No. 10 pick.
“As of now, Rodgers is still unsigned — we can’t just assume he will definitely come to Pittsburgh. … So I’m making the move to add Sanders,” Tannenbaum wrote. “I’m calling it now: Sanders projects as a top-15, maybe even top-12 starting QB in the NFL. That would be huge for a Steelers franchise that was 20th in QBR last season (51.3).”
The move would cost Pittsburgh its No. 21 pick this year, along with third- and fourth-rounders in the 2025 draft (Nos. 83 and 123). The Steelers would also have to throw in a 2026 first-rounder in Tannenbaum’s deal due to the positional value Sanders represents to a perennial playoff team without a real answer at QB.
Sanders threw for more than 4,100 yards and 37 touchdowns last season with the Buffaloes.
Related: BREAKING: Russell Wilson Signing Gives Steelers Quarterback Clarity
