PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There wasn’t a credible mock draft early in the process that had Shedeur Sanders falling out of the top 10, now just days before the draft, you’ll see Deion’s kid being speculated as the future Steelers quarterback.
It’s not an overwhelming choice, there are some that still have Sanders in the first few picks, but it’s at least plausible now. Among those linking the Steelers and Shedeur is veteran draft expert Tony Pauline. He’s spent over two decades with Sports Illustrated, then USA Today and has been a part of numerous websites including now working with sportskeeeda. He studies it year-round and said on the PM Team.
“It seems as though Mike Tomlin is in favor of selecting Shedeur Sanders,” Pauline said on 93.7 The Fan. “Likes him personally, thinks he has some upside.”
Where many see Sanders going to the Saints, Pauline believes New Orleans has so many needs, they will look at another position and then find a quarterback later. It’s the big question with the Colorado quarterback that Pauline believes is switching Sanders from being an automatic top three selection to maybe even out of the first round.
“Shedeur Sanders is falling down draft boards in large part because people think he’s a good prospect, but he’s not a great prospect,” Pauline told Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller. “He’s not a prospect that deserves to be a top-10 selection and there are better players in this draft.”
Pauline started studying quarterbacks before Ben Roethlisberger was drafted and believes he’s starting to be overrated because he plays sports most important position and his last name is Sanders. However, where Pauline has him is right about where the Steelers select. He believes Shedeur is the 23rd best player in this year’s draft, well ahead of the third quarterback on his big board, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart.
Not that Sanders is perfect.
“Good prospect, needs a lot of work fundamentally,” Pauline said with the PM Team. “The fundamentals are terrible-throwing off his back foot, not using proper footwork, running in reverse when being rushed. The fact is he doesn’t have a great arm. He can’t throw his way out of trouble.”
Athleticism is not a strength when compared to several others, but accuracy, confidence and composure are intriguing qualities for an offensive leader.
Pauline said if not Sanders, by the time the Steelers currently pick again in the third round, they’ll be left with Quinn Ewers, Kyle McCord and Will Howard as the best quarterback options.
93.7 The Fan coverages continues on-air and on-line through the picks Thursday, Friday and Saturday.