Adam Schefter Offers Insight On How Steelers Could Use First-Round Pick

The Steelers aren’t in a highly valuable spot with the 21st overall pick, but they could be one of the most interesting teams in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh continues to wait on Aaron Rodgers’ decision, which has huge ramifications for which direction general manager Omar Khan and his staff go in the 2025 NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped intel about the draft Monday. According to the top NFL insider, the Steelers “had not been planning to draft a quarterback in Round 1, but they also were not expecting (Shedeur) Sanders to fall out of top 10.” That scenario is possible since Schefter and draft analysts don’t expect the quarterback to be drafted in the top 10. The teams picking in the teens don’t need a quarterback, so it’s possible the Colorado product drops to the Steelers at No. 21.

However, Pittsburgh could choose to not take a quarterback and trade back into the first round. It traded away a second-round pick in the DK Metcalf trade, and according to Schefter, that makes it more likely the Steelers will trade back in the draft, not up.

That’s why it’s important for Mike Tomlin’s side to decide if they want a quarterback or not and also if Sanders is the guy they want. Pittsburgh did its due diligence on Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe, who it reportedly isn’t that high on. The Steelers head coach reportedly was a fan of Sanders, but their meeting with the quarterback prospect was mixed.

Where Sanders is drafted will be one of the most intriguing storylines to watch, and it will keep fans on their toes if the Steelers have the chance to draft Deion Sanders’ son.