Steelers reportedly set to welcome Aaron Rodgers following Shedeur Sanders' draft slip and reasoning reveal

Gotta Catch the Rodgers

Slippin' Past the Steel City

Rumors are abuzz in the NFL world! It seems that Aaron Rodgers, being linked to Pittsburgh forever, might have gently nudged the Steelers away from drafting Shedeur Sanders, the highly-coveted quarterback prospect.

With the 2025 NFL Draft upon us, Sanders was pegged as a top pick, and the Steelers needed a QB. Yet, Sanders didn't end up in Steeler territory. Instead, he fell all the way to the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick, ending an all-time draft slide.

The conversation surrounding the draft has mainly focused on Sanders' surprising fall, but a new theory about the Steelers' decision has resurfaced in recent days. NFL analyst Ross Tucker suggests that Rodgers' influence on the Steelers' draft strategy may have played a role in Sanders' slip.

"If they didn't have 99% confidence that [Rodgers] was going to, I think they would have drafted a quarterback," Tucker shared with 365 Sports. "In fact, I'll take it a step further. I believe that Aaron Rodgers told the Steelers, 'Hey, don't draft Shedeur Sanders.' Or maybe the Steelers just knew. He doesn't want to deal with that. He's 40 something years old."

Despite Tucker's claims, there's no concrete proof to back them up. However, the Steelers' actions suggest they were intent on keeping their options open for Rodgers. After passing on multiple quarterback options, they selected Will Howard in the sixth round, joining Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster. The team revealed they will take four QBs into training camp, making it likely Rodgers will complete that group.

Despite the speculation surrounding Rodgers' involvement, head coach Mike Tomlin stated that he wanted this year's draft class to focus on re-establishing physicality and big man presence. Another Steelers insider, Gerry Dulac, claimed the franchise did not intend to draft Sanders in the first place.

However, the raging debate leaves one thing clear: Rodgers needs to sign with Pittsburgh. If he does, all the speculation around Sanders will surely go away. If he doesn't, the Steelers' draft strategy will come under even more scrutiny.

Moving the Goalposts

Exploring a Different Route While Rodgers' influence on the Steelers' draft strategy is speculation at its core, the Steelers' actions suggest they were keeping their options open for the veteran QB. The team passed on several quarterback options, leading some to believe that Rodgers' potential signing may have played a role in their decision-making. General Manager Omar Khan had mentioned that all options were on the table for adding quarterbacks, which seems to point towards a deliberate strategy.
Source of Influence Ross Tucker, an NFL analyst, has suggested that Rodgers influenced the Steelers' draft strategy by telling them not to take Sanders. Tucker believes Rodgers wouldn't want the added pressure of a high-profile draft pick like Sanders waiting in the wings, especially if it could compromise his final year in the NFL. However, it's essential to emphasize that these are merely speculations at this point.

Sources:1. Karmazin, J. (2025, May 1). Steelers select Hofstra's Brock Purdy in the fourth round. Pro Football Talk. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2025/05/01/steelers-select-hofstras-brock-purdy-in-the-fourth-round/

King, P. (2025, April 30). Omar Khan to ‘entertain’ all options in the QB market. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/04/30/Steelers-QB-market-Omar-Khan-entertain-options/stories/202504300022
McKinley, J. C. Jr. (2025, April 28). Shedeur Sanders falls in draft, creating a stir. Denver Post. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.denverpost.com/2025/04/28/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-pittsburgh-steelers/
Baldinger, B. (Host). (2025, May 2). 365 Sports – Ross Tucker, Will Blackmon, and James Jones. YouTube. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRpTpJ4wAE
Marchionte, R. (2025, May 5). Tomlin: Steelers' draft focused on re-establishing physicality. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/05/05/Steelers-draft-Mike-Tomlin-physicality/stories/202505050039
Dulac, G. (2025, April 29). Steelers draft strategy in the spotlight. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/04/29/Shedeur-Sanders-NFL-draft-Steelers-Salute-to-Service/stories/202504290123
Wesseling, C. (2025, April 30). Breaking down all of the Steelers' draft picks in 2025. National Football League. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.nfl.com/news/breaking-down-steelers-draft-with-cris-collinsworth-0ap3000001098092

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The speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft strategy has resulted in a new theory suggesting that Rodgers may have discouraged the Steelers from drafting Shedeur Sanders.
NFL analyst Ross Tucker claims that Rodgers could have informed the Steelers not to draft Sanders, fearing the added pressure of a high-profile draft pick waiting in the wings.
With the Steelers passing on several quarterback options and focusing on re-establishing physicality in their draft, it's plausible to consider that Rodgers might have influenced their draft strategy, although it remains speculation at this point.