The next installment of our series on the Steelers' first-round options in the NFL Draft, April 24:
Despite this year's class not having many true franchise options, the Steelers are still doing all of the necessary homework to learn about the quarterbacks. Most recently, the team hosted a potential option in the first round.
This series will be based not only on need, but also on the team's level of interest in each player. Shedeur Sanders isn't just the son of an NFL Hall of Famer, but he stands a good chance of becoming a legitimate NFL quarterback. The question is whether or not he can become something special and not just another guy.
SHEDEUR SANDERS
• Position: Quarterback • College: Colorado (2023-24), Jackson State (2021-22) • Class: Senior • Height: 6-2 • Weight: 212 • 40-yard dash: N/A • RAS score: N/A • PFF Big Board: No. 47 overall, No. 2 QB • Combine meeting: No • Pro day visit: No • Pre-draft visit: Yes
NFL comparison: Geno Smith
OVERVIEW
Sanders started his college career with two seasons at Jackson State, where his father Deion Sanders was head coach. As a freshman, he won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS and was named second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and SWAC Freshman of the Year. Sanders started all 13 games, completing 65.9% of his passes for 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
As a sophomore, Sanders was named SWAC Player of the Year, first-team All-SWAC, HBCU first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the top player in the FCS. He completed 70.5% of his passes for 3,752 yards, a school record 40 passing touchdowns and six interceptions.
After transferring to Colorado, following his father as he became head coach of the Buffaloes, Sanders continued to grow and succeed. In 2023, he was an honorable mention for All-Pac-12, ranking eighth in the FBS with 69.3 completion percentage for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Sanders' 2024 season turned him into a legitimate first-round option in this draft. He was named second-team AP All-American, first-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, the nation's top quarterback. Sanders led the FBS by completing a school-record 74% of his 477 passes and led the Big 12 in completions (353), attempts (477), passing yards (4,134), passing touchdowns (37) and yards per attempt (8.7). His 37 touchdown passes set a school record for a single season, and his 64 touchdowns over his two seasons in Colorado was also a school record.
Sanders is a highly-experienced quarterback, and it shows with his ability to read defenses before and after the snap. He has clean fundamentals and a repeatable, effortless throwing motion that leads to a high number of accurate passes.
Despite being a pretty good athlete, Sanders doesn't possess the mobility a lot of teams desire at the NFL level. But, he is savvy, cool, calm and collected in the pocket. That may, in fact, be his best trait. He is not only willing, but capable of standing tall in the pocket and making throws regardless of the pressure that's encircling him.
Sanders can, however, try too often to make the big play. That leads to a high number of sacks (94 times in two seasons at Colorado). He's got a pretty average arm for NFL standards, which means he can make a lot of throws from the pocket, but lacks the ability to make throws downfield or off-platform with consistent zip.
It's hard to find young quarterbacks that are as polished as Sanders is from the pocket, which is why he's a first-round option. The Steelers hosted him for a pre-draft visit two weeks before the start of the draft, so it'll be interesting to see if the team is interested should Sanders be available when they're on the clock.
HIGHLIGHTS
PFF GRADES/STATS
• Overall grade: 90.9 (8th of 306 QB) • Passing grade: 90.5 • Intermediate grade: 92.8 • Deep grade: 94.8 • No pressure grade: 93.0 • Pressure grade: 65.2
STRENGTHS
• Exceptional pocket presence, especially for his age. Seldom deterred by pressure, just works through his reads regardless of what's happening with his protection.
• Keeps eyes up amid pressure. Gives everything a chance to play out from the pocket, even when being swarmed. Can be very slippery in the process.
• Very accurate passer. Can make many different throws to all areas of the field.
• Clean mechanics and repeatable throwing motion. Knows how to use his legs for power. Everything works in unison on a consistent basis.
• Makes consistent throws with anticipation.
• High football IQ. Already advanced in reading defenses pre- and post-snap.
• Has a good understanding of how to improvise once he's outside the pocket.
WEAKNESSES
• Not ideal size for an NFL quarterback (measured at 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches).
• Average arm strength. Can make a number of NFL throws, but deep ball can lose its zip too often.
• Tries too often to make off-platform throws when he doesn't need to.
• Tries too often to make the big play. Needs to take what the defense gives him in those instances. Lead to a ton of sacks.
• Missed the finale of the 2023 season with a fractured back.
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
9:23 pm - 04.11.2025DowntownDraft profile: Shedeur Sanders
The next installment of our series on the Steelers' first-round options in the NFL Draft, April 24:
Despite this year's class not having many true franchise options, the Steelers are still doing all of the necessary homework to learn about the quarterbacks. Most recently, the team hosted a potential option in the first round.
This series will be based not only on need, but also on the team's level of interest in each player. Shedeur Sanders isn't just the son of an NFL Hall of Famer, but he stands a good chance of becoming a legitimate NFL quarterback. The question is whether or not he can become something special and not just another guy.
SHEDEUR SANDERS
• Position: Quarterback
• College: Colorado (2023-24), Jackson State (2021-22)
• Class: Senior
• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 212
• 40-yard dash: N/A
• RAS score: N/A
• PFF Big Board: No. 47 overall, No. 2 QB
• Combine meeting: No
• Pro day visit: No
• Pre-draft visit: Yes
NFL comparison: Geno Smith
OVERVIEW
Sanders started his college career with two seasons at Jackson State, where his father Deion Sanders was head coach. As a freshman, he won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS and was named second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and SWAC Freshman of the Year. Sanders started all 13 games, completing 65.9% of his passes for 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
As a sophomore, Sanders was named SWAC Player of the Year, first-team All-SWAC, HBCU first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the top player in the FCS. He completed 70.5% of his passes for 3,752 yards, a school record 40 passing touchdowns and six interceptions.
After transferring to Colorado, following his father as he became head coach of the Buffaloes, Sanders continued to grow and succeed. In 2023, he was an honorable mention for All-Pac-12, ranking eighth in the FBS with 69.3 completion percentage for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Sanders' 2024 season turned him into a legitimate first-round option in this draft. He was named second-team AP All-American, first-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, the nation's top quarterback. Sanders led the FBS by completing a school-record 74% of his 477 passes and led the Big 12 in completions (353), attempts (477), passing yards (4,134), passing touchdowns (37) and yards per attempt (8.7). His 37 touchdown passes set a school record for a single season, and his 64 touchdowns over his two seasons in Colorado was also a school record.
Sanders is a highly-experienced quarterback, and it shows with his ability to read defenses before and after the snap. He has clean fundamentals and a repeatable, effortless throwing motion that leads to a high number of accurate passes.
Despite being a pretty good athlete, Sanders doesn't possess the mobility a lot of teams desire at the NFL level. But, he is savvy, cool, calm and collected in the pocket. That may, in fact, be his best trait. He is not only willing, but capable of standing tall in the pocket and making throws regardless of the pressure that's encircling him.
Sanders can, however, try too often to make the big play. That leads to a high number of sacks (94 times in two seasons at Colorado). He's got a pretty average arm for NFL standards, which means he can make a lot of throws from the pocket, but lacks the ability to make throws downfield or off-platform with consistent zip.
It's hard to find young quarterbacks that are as polished as Sanders is from the pocket, which is why he's a first-round option. The Steelers hosted him for a pre-draft visit two weeks before the start of the draft, so it'll be interesting to see if the team is interested should Sanders be available when they're on the clock.
HIGHLIGHTS
PFF GRADES/STATS
• Overall grade: 90.9 (8th of 306 QB)
• Passing grade: 90.5
• Intermediate grade: 92.8
• Deep grade: 94.8
• No pressure grade: 93.0
• Pressure grade: 65.2
STRENGTHS
• Exceptional pocket presence, especially for his age. Seldom deterred by pressure, just works through his reads regardless of what's happening with his protection.
• Keeps eyes up amid pressure. Gives everything a chance to play out from the pocket, even when being swarmed. Can be very slippery in the process.
• Very accurate passer. Can make many different throws to all areas of the field.
• Clean mechanics and repeatable throwing motion. Knows how to use his legs for power. Everything works in unison on a consistent basis.
• Makes consistent throws with anticipation.
• High football IQ. Already advanced in reading defenses pre- and post-snap.
• Has a good understanding of how to improvise once he's outside the pocket.
WEAKNESSES
• Not ideal size for an NFL quarterback (measured at 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches).
• Average arm strength. Can make a number of NFL throws, but deep ball can lose its zip too often.
• Tries too often to make off-platform throws when he doesn't need to.
• Tries too often to make the big play. Needs to take what the defense gives him in those instances. Lead to a ton of sacks.
• Missed the finale of the 2023 season with a fractured back.
Other draft profiles:
• Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
• Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
• Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
• Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
• Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
• Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
• Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
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