Ryan Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers star, expressed strong discontent with the team's decision to pass on Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders, a highly-touted quarterback prospect, surprisingly went unselected in the first round despite being considered a top talent. Criticism of his predraft interviews and his tendency to hold the ball too long were factors that reportedly affected his draft stock. The Steelers opted to use their 21st pick on defensive tackle Derrick Harmon instead, prompting Clark to criticize the team's strategy and decision-making. Additionally, the New York Giants, despite signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, chose to trade up for another quarterback, Jaxson Dart, further highlighting Sanders' unexpected fall in the draft rankings.

Ryan Clark reacted strongly to the Pittsburgh Steelers' choice to pass on Shedeur Sanders in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, expressing his dismay with the decision.

Shedeur Sanders, a former quarterback from Colorado, was initially anticipated to be a first-round pick, but criticism surrounding his predraft interviews and on-field tendencies reportedly hurt his draft stock.

Despite being linked to the New York Giants, who had signed Russell Wilson, the team decided to trade up for another quarterback, Jaxson Dart, instead of selecting Sanders.

The Steelers used their first-round pick on Derrick Harmon, a defensive tackle from Oregon, which was a surprise to many, including Clark, who critiqued the team's decision-making and strategic approach.

Sanders' fall in the draft spotlighted concerns over his prolonged ball retention during games, which was seen as a potential liability by several teams evaluating quarterback prospects.