PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers may have blocked Shedeur Sanders from ing Steelers, says NFL insider

Sanders fell from a projected No. 1 overall pick to No. 144 in the 2025 NFL Draft, potentially losing $44 million in the process.

Aaron Rodgers
Aaron RodgersLAPRESSE

Just months ago, Shedeur Sanders was being discussed as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Fast forward to Day 3 of the event, and the former Colorado quarterback was still waiting to hear his name. That wait finally ended when the Cleveland Browns selected him at pick No. 144, a stunning drop that reportedly cost him upwards of $44 million in projected earnings.

Now, a surprising theory has emerged pointing to a future Hall of Famer as a key factor in Sanders' unexpected fall.

Shedeur Sanders starts spending big money at a huge party

Insider points the finger at Rodgers

According to NFL analyst Ross Tucker, there's growing belief that Aaron Rodgers may have influenced the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to on Sanders. During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Tucker floated the idea that Rodgers, who is rumored to be in talks with Pittsburgh for a possible comeback, may have made a quiet request to the team: don't draft Sanders.

"Nobody wants the most high-profile player on the team to be the backup QB," Tucker explained. "I have no proof of this, but I'm convinced Aaron told the Steelers, 'I'll come, but don't take that kid.'"

While Rodgers has yet to sign with the Steelers, the rumors of a verbal agreement have persisted throughout the offseason. Pittsburgh, holding the No. 21 pick, was widely viewed as a likely landing spot for Sanders, who had even hinted at the possibility prior to the draft.

Pittsburgh's loss becomes Cleveland's gain

Instead of stepping into a potential starting battle in Pittsburgh, Sanders s the Browns with a chip on his shoulder. As quarterbacks flew off the board ahead of him, including names less touted by analysts, the fall only added fuel to speculation that teams were avoiding distractions in their QB rooms.

Rodgers, 41, has never been shy about controlling narratives around his teams, and if he does suit up for Pittsburgh, he may have already shaped its future.

As for Sanders, the spotlight may have dimmed slightly, but it's far from gone. If anything, the fifth-rounder now has even more motivation to prove that his name should have been called far earlier. The revenge tour starts now.

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