Ranking Shedeur Sanders' Worst NFL Fits After Raiders, Steelers Visits

The divide regarding Shedeur Sanders' status as a prospect seems to be vary greatly within NFL front offices.

Sanders is widely seen as a first-round pick by those outside of league circles. However, four of six high-level personnel evaluators who spoke with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler didn't have Sanders graded as a first-round talent. Two others did have Sanders in the "mid-to-late first-round" mix.

"If it was me, I couldn't do that," an AFC executive told Fowler when asked about the possibility of taking Sanders in the top 10. "Not [a] great athlete, not big, not strong, undisciplined game, comes with scrutiny. Is he going to be good enough?"

Non-believers see limited upside and believe Sanders needs to be in a specific style of offense.

"He needs to be in a timing offense—three-step drop, timing, throw," an AFC executive told Fowler.

With that in mind—while also looking at which teams should still be in the quarterback market—the following squads wouldn't be ideal fits for Sanders in this year's draft.

5. Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Michael Laughlin

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward

The Tennessee Titans have the No. 1 overall pick and appear to be leaning toward selecting a quarterback. However, Cam Ward is the overwhelming favorite for that spot, while Sanders' status beyond that point is far more dubious.

Ward earned his status as this year's QB1 after he transferred to Miami and rewrote the storied program's history books. The reigning ACC Player of the Year's skill set is what separates him in this particular discussion.

Ward displayed superior arm talent than Sanders and has far more upside as a playmaker. While the latter could potentially thrive in Brian Callahan's passing attack, he wouldn't be the right fit for the team, which matters greatly when it comes to the No. 1 overall selection.

4. New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore

The New Orleans Saints might seem like a logical destination for Sanders since they're eventually looking to move past Derek Carr as their starting quarterback. However, that desire is rooted in a lot of the same reasons why some evaluators don't necessarily see Sanders as a top-flight quarterback prospect.

Carr has always been a quality, albeit limited, starter. He can execute within the scheme, but he struggles to do anything beyond that point. In today's game, the ability to create outside of structure is vital to a quarterback's success.

In Sanders' case, a potential marriage with new head coach/offensive play-caller Kellen Moore may not be the ideal pairing. In two of the past three seasons while serving as the offensive coordinator between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, Moore's quarterbacks ranked among the league's top 10 in average air yards per attempt.

That statistic can vary based on the quarterback and his style of play. At the same time, Moore would have to cater his offense to Sanders since he's quite different from both Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott.

Sanders' peak may be more in line with Jared Goff with the Detroit Lions. That's still an excellent quarterback, but there's a reason why the Los Angles Rams traded for Matthew Stafford to win a Super Bowl.

3. Los Angeles Rams

AP Foto/Derik Hamilton

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford

No one should argue that a creative and proven offensive mind like Sean McVay wouldn't get the most out of Shedeur Sanders. At the same time, how much horsepower would Los Angeles be adding to its offense by selecting him? None.

The Rams chose to trade Jared Goff because they saw an opportunity to upgrade at the game's most important position, while Matthew Stafford looked for a fresh start elsewhere. Goff is an excellent distributor who orchestrates an offensive scheme well, but Stafford expands what's possible because of his natural arm talent and playmaking ability.

The Rams are looking at quarterback prospects since Stafford is 37 and has taken a pounding throughout his NFL career. His retirement could be right around the corner.

If the Rams were to spend an early draft pick on a quarterback, they'd probably look for someone with higher overall upside. Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart is one such possibility.

Stafford set a new standard within the organization, which will be what every possible quarterback decision will be judged by.

2. New York Jets

AP Photo/John Locher

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields

The New York Jets might not be in the quarterback market after signing Justin Fields in free agency. However, Fields isn't a proven starter, and they can easily get out of his contract after the 2025 campaign.

The real issue is about building a team with an aligned vision. Selecting Sanders would immediately qualify as organizational failure by the Jets.

The Jets absolutely should draft a developmental quarterback to push Fields and possibly give them a long-term option if the 26-year-old doesn't develop as hoped. However, Fields and Sanders have diametrically opposed skill sets.

If the Jets want Fields to flourish, they need to build their system around his athleticism and playmaking ability. He needs to be a foundational part of Gang Green's designed run game. However, Sanders is a pocket passer.

The Jets should be looking at other developmental options like Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Ohio State's Will Howard. They would be more aligned with how the offense should operate under new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

Don't set up a quarterback to fail before he even gets a chance to take the field because of a lack of commitment and inability to properly build around his talent.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith

Out of any team featured here, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most desperate for a quarterback. However, they'd be the worst fit for Sanders.

The Steelers are currently waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he'll play in 2025. Even if Rodgers does join them, they can't count on the 41-year-old beyond the 2025 campaign (if even that long).

So, the Steelers need to draft a quarterback at some point this year to develop as a potential long-term solution. If Sanders is still on the board with the 21st overall pick, they couldn't submit the card soon enough, right? Wrong.

Although Sanders has a scheduled predraft visit with the Steelers, two main factors make them a bad fit for him.

First, Arthur Smith's offense runs most effectively when it's built around a strong run game, specifically the outside zone, as previously seen with the Tennessee Titans. The passing game is then built around the play-action attack. However, Sanders primarily played from shotgun for the majority of his career. He'd therefore have a steep learning curve in his transition to the NFL.

Second, Sanders already spent the last two years playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football. In the NFL, he won't be able to get away with some of the bad habits he's developed as a result.

The Steelers do have some talented young players along their front five, and the likes of Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick could show tremendous growth during their second seasons. However, Broderick Jones is making the transition from right to left tackle after a disappointing sophomore campaign, while Troy Fautanu is expected to enter the lineup after missing nearly all of his rookie season. The Steelers' O-line finished among the league's worst in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

The best-case scenario with this pairing? Sanders eventually reaches whatever limited ceiling the Steelers hoped for when they drafted Kenny Pickett three years ago.