What If Shedeur Sanders Falls?

Before the NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night, it’s all speculation. Every rumor, every mock draft, every “insider” report—it all boils down to one thing: What if?

And here’s a big one for Steelers fans: What if Shedeur Sanders falls to pick 21?

That wasn’t something many of us thought was even possible a month ago. The plan seemed clear—collect draft capital, build a “quarterback-proof” team, and take a big swing at a quarterback in 2026. But now? If Sanders is sitting there at 21, things get really interesting.

Alongside Sanders, there are other intriguing quarterback prospects in this class—Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and more—but for now, let’s focus on Shedeur.

Do the Steelers take him and bet on the future? And if they do, would they be willing to use next year’s picks to trade back into the second round and address other pressing needs, like the defensive line? It’s hard to imagine drafting Sanders while still planning to pursue another quarterback next year. Selecting him at 21 signals a commitment—most likely pushing all your chips to the middle of the table and betting he’s the guy.

But let’s not lose sight of another critical concern: the defensive line.

Cam Heyward has been the heart and soul of this defense for over a decade, but he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He’s still highly productive—no doubt about it. He played roughly 70% of the snaps last season, and when he wasn’t on the field, opposing teams averaged nearly a full yard more per carry. That’s a major drop-off, especially for a team that prides itself on stopping the run and setting the defensive tone.

At some point, the Steelers have to find Cam’s successor—ideally someone who can contribute early and eventually anchor the line. That’s why premium picks are so valuable. If you take Sanders at 21, do you then have to trade back into the second round to land a high-impact defensive lineman? Honestly, it feels like they’d have to. This is a deep class for defensive linemen, but as it stands, the Steelers don’t pick again until No. 83. That’s a long wait to hope an impact player is still available.

Then there’s the other big “what if” floating around: What if Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers?

Personally, I still think he will. But until pen meets paper, it’s all guesswork.

If Rodgers does join the team, Sanders likely starts the year as QB3 behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. He probably wouldn’t see the field in 2025, which means we wouldn’t get any real answers about how his game translates to the NFL. Then you head into 2026 with the same question you started with: Do we have a guy or not?

Now, if Rodgers doesn’t come—or the team doesn’t land a veteran like Kirk Cousins—and Mason ends up starting, then the door is wide open for Sanders to take over during the season. That’s when you find out what you’ve really got. If he shows promise, great—you might have found your quarterback of the future. If not, you’re back in the same cycle come 2026.

Let’s be real—quarterback is the most important position in all of sports. If you don’t have one, you’re just spinning your wheels. Until you find him, you have to keep taking swings. The Steelers haven’t had that guy since Ben Roethlisberger retired. It’s well past time to fix that.

No, Shedeur Sanders might not have the cannon arm of Josh Allen or the polished touch of Joe Burrow. But the kid is built for this.

While at Jackson State University, Sanders led the Tigers to a 23-3 record and two consecutive SWAC championships. The season before he arrived at Colorado, the Buffaloes were 1-11. Over his two seasons as quarterback, they went 13-12 and made an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. He’s a leader. He’s a competitor. And above all, he’s a winner. You can see it in the way he carries himself—he’s been preparing for this moment his entire life.

So, if he’s there at 21, the Steelers have a decision to make—one that could define the next decade of the franchise.

And that’s why we love the draft. Because on a Thursday night in April, anything can happen.

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Stay blessed and stay positive… “Here We Go.”