Amid speculation, Mike Tomlin clarifies Pittsburgh’s draft strategy and reveals why Shedeur Sanders wasn’t their first-round choice.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers were not going to draft Shedeur Sanders, and general manager Omar Khan made that clear in their post-first-round pick press conference. Derrick Harmon was the player the Steelers wanted from the outset. When asked why the team passed on Sanders, Khan gave a simple answer.

Most mock drafts projected Sanders to be a first-round pick, with the Pittsburgh Steelers frequently seen as a likely destination. However, the Steelers opted for Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round. Then they chose Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round, passing on Sanders both times.