Context:

The Pittsburgh Steelers had initially planned to draft Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado, but ultimately decided against it due to a lack of consensus among their decision-makers. Despite being comfortable with Sanders' potential as a distributing playmaker, the Steelers passed on him in the fourth round, and he was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round. Instead, the Steelers selected Will Howard, a quarterback from Ohio State, in the sixth round, adding him to a roster that includes Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. The team is also hoping to sign Aaron Rodgers as a free agent to bolster their quarterback options. This decision reflects the ongoing challenges the Steelers face in solidifying their quarterback lineup for the future.

Dive Deeper:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers were linked to drafting Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado, but internal disagreements prevented them from finalizing this decision. Sanders was considered a strong candidate due to his ability to function as a distributing playmaker, but he was not seen as a 'slam dunk' pick.

• Sanders was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, while the Steelers chose to select Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round, showing a shift in their draft strategy and priorities.

• The Steelers' quarterback room now includes Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Skylar Thompson, indicating an ongoing search for a stable and long-term solution in the quarterback position.

• The team is still hoping to sign veteran Aaron Rodgers as a free agent, which could significantly impact their quarterback strategy and provide an opportunity for Howard or other quarterbacks to learn from an experienced player.

• The decision not to draft Sanders highlights the Steelers' current struggles in reaching consensus and securing a definitive future direction for their quarterback needs, relying instead on a mix of prospects and potential veteran signings.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers could've had Shedeur Sanders.

• Some linked the Colorado QB to the No. 21 overall pick. Others assumed Pittsburgh would take him at some point as he slid down the board.

• The reality, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, is that the Steelers did plan to take Sanders.

• "The Steelers were comfortable with Shedeur Sanders as a distributing point guard type, which makes it a mild surprise they didn't take him with their fourth-round pick," Fowler wrote on Wednesday.

• What was the final hold-up?

• "To borrow another basketball analogy, those inside the Steelers' building did not reach a consensus on Sanders as a slam dunk pick," Fowler wrote. "But the debate was close enough to justify taking him."

• MORE: The real reason the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Cowboys

• The Steelers wound up taking Ohio State's national champion QB Will Howard in the sixth round after Sanders went in the fifth to the Browns.

• Pittsburgh's quarterback room currently includes Howard, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.

• Howard has potential to stick in the NFL long-term, but Sanders does, too.

• The Steelers are still counting on an Aaron Rodgers free agent signing to save their QB fate this year.

• Then it might be back to the drawing board again, instead of having Sanders on board to potentially learn from Rodgers and take over down the road.

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