Colin Cowherd is no stranger to making hot takes. During his time as the host of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Fox Sports 1, Cowherd has made some of the most outrageously memorable assertions of any famous sports personality. Whether or not his predictions actually end up coming true, they always manage to start conversations among the sports community.
On Thursday’s show, Cowherd made a hypothetical trade proposal that would send shockwaves throughout the entire NFL landscape. He stated that the Steelers should take a big swing in the upcoming NFL Draft by trading up to select their potential quarterback of the future. Cowherd suggested that Pittsburgh should move up and draft Shedeur Sanders if they determine that he could be their next franchise QB.
Colin Cowherd’s Hypothetical Trade Would Come At A Hefty Price
Not only did Cowherd recommend that the Steelers make the trade, but he was also quite candid on the lengths they should go to ensure that the move gets made. Cowherd asserted that he would not hesitate to move TJ Watt, George Pickens, and multiple 1st-round picks in order to lock up a draft pick that would produce Shedeur Sanders. Pittsburgh would most likely have to make a deal with the Tennessee Titans, who currently own the rights to the first overall pick.
Making a trade with Cleveland for the second overall pick would be highly unrealistic for several reasons. For one, It would not make sense for either side to want to do business with a hated division rival. Second, Cleveland is in desperate need of a quarterback themselves, making it unwise for them to pass up the opportunity to pick at second overall where they could get Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
Would It Be A Smart Move For Pittsburgh To Consider?
As outrageous as the idea might seem to some, Cowherd’s argument does carry some validity. The Steelers are in serious need of a big move to transform their franchise back into a perennial contender. Ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh has had nothing but mediocre-at-best quarterback play. As has been the case throughout their history, they have only been able to win Super Bowls when they have a star QB under center: all six of their championships were either with Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger at the helm.
All indications are that Shedeur Sanders could very well be an elite quarterback in the NFL, just like he was at Colorado. Sanders’ ceiling is certainly higher than that of both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at this point. Realistically, Pittsburgh will never have the chance to draft a QB with as much potential as Shedeur with their own draft pick because Tomlin’s teams never finish near the bottom of the league.
For those who say that the price tag is too steep, I implore you to think about the move from a business standpoint. TJ Watt will turn 31 years old in 2025. In all likelihood, Watt’s best years are behind him, or they will be very soon. Pittsburgh should have no reservations about trading George Pickens, whose behavior has continually proven to have a negative impact on the locker room. Pickens has the talent to be a superstar receiver, but his antics have become tiresome and increasingly detrimental.
The Steelers have also shown their willingness to trade high draft picks in the past. Back in 2019, Pittsburgh gave up a 1st-rounder to the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick—a move that has paid dividends for them ever since the deal was made. Going out on a limb to get arguably the best quarterback in the draft could end up changing the fortunes of a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for a decade. Maybe Cowherd has a valid point with this take, no matter how absurd it may seem on the surface.
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