Ryan Clark Blasts Steelers for Passing on Shedeur Sanders in NFL Draft Drama

Shedeur Sanders continues to make headlines after a draft slide that nobody saw coming. As the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped up, Sanders, once a top quarterback prospect out of Colorado, was still waiting for his name to be called. Rumors swirled about his pre-draft interviews and a habit of holding onto the ball a bit too long, which only fueled the talk that his stock was slipping.

The New York Giants, despite picking up veteran QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston earlier in the offseason, were rumored to have their eyes on Sanders. But when it came down to it, they traded back into the first round to grab Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss instead. Sanders, meanwhile, was left out in the cold—at least for now.

Enter Ryan Clark, former Steelers safety and current ESPN personality, who did not hold back after watching his old team pass on Sanders during their first-round pick. When the Steelers chose defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at 21st overall, Clark’s reaction was blunt: "What the hell!"

Clark, clearly unimpressed with the Steelers’ quarterback situation, went off: "Mason Rudolph? Mason Rudolph!? He went to Tennessee and got worse. You know what we're gonna do? Oh, let's wait for Aaron. Wait for Aaron to make a decision. We let Aaron Rodgers hold us hostage like we're a four. We the Pittsburgh Steelers! We're supposed to be acting like a 10. We acting like a four."

For the record, Mason Rudolph left the Steelers after 2023 for the Tennessee Titans, where he posted a pretty average nine touchdowns to nine interceptions in eight games. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers—yes, that Aaron Rodgers—recently chatted with the Steelers’ front office, but is still keeping everyone guessing about his future. At this point, Skylar Thompson is the only other QB under contract in Pittsburgh, which is a bit like showing up to a potluck with just napkins.

As for Sanders, he wrapped his 2024 college season with a hefty 4,134 passing yards and carries the legacy of being the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who also happens to coach Colorado. The draft drama continues, but it’s safe to say the Steelers’ quarterback room isn’t getting any less complicated soon.