2025 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections, including Steelers pick at No. 21

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Who will be available when Pittsburgh is on the clock?

As the college football season comes to a close, the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft have become unclouded. With their loss in the Wild Card, the Pittsburgh Steelers have locked in the 21st overall pick. A few notes about this draft — this is a STRONG class in the trenches, which bodes well for teams looking to bolster their units up front. There is also a lot of unknown in regard to team’s opinions on this quarterback class.

For this exercise, I will go all the way to the Steelers’ pick to give a glimpse of how this could shake out for them.

1. Tennessee Titans: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

This one is simple for me – you simply never know when you’re going to have a chance to select the best quarterback in the class. Will Levis is not the long-term answer, and Sanders would bring a buzz to Nashville that hasn’t been matched since the inception of Morgan Wallen’s bar.

2. Cleveland Browns: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

This is a tough situation to gauge. Will the Browns move on from DeShaun Watson and his nasty contract situation? I’m inclined to believe they won’t admit their wrongs just yet, even if that’s derelict of duty. Here, they take the big-bodied wideout who is easily the best in the class to try and help improve a struggling passing game.

3. New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Ward is a polished prospect who has had a sensational season at Miami after transferring from Washington State. QB Daniel Jones was released this season, and the Giants will look to upgrade the position in some form or fashion. This would be an ideal scenario after falling out of the first two picks.

4. New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Hunter, the Heisman trophy favorite, announced he will likely declare for the NFL Draft after the season just a few days ago. The two-way star would be the first to play both sides of the ball since fittingly his coach, Deion Sanders, did the same thing. I won’t put it past Hunter to star at each position, given his athleticism and endurance.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

The Jaguars took themselves out of the Travis Hunter sweepstakes by winning a few games late in the season – shame on them. However, their consolation prize is the second-best player in the class in the game-wrecking Carter. His play speed and anticipation is off the charts and reminds me of another “11” to don the Nittany Lions jersey – Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

As I move forward through this mock, it dawns on me just how far away from contention a lot of these rosters are. The Raiders have a multitude of needs, including quarterback – but I just don’t see one worthy of this spot. This is a playmakers league, and without a few dynamic skill players, you just don’t have much of a chance no matter who is at quarterback – unless your name is Patrick Mahomes.

7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

This is the biggest reach of the draft so far, especially considering the defensive talent on the board – but the Jets offense stinks, and Warren is so much fun. They should continue to do everything in their power to add playmakers because somehow they can’t seem to score with the likes of Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Davante Adams.

8. Carolina Panthers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Arguably the best player in the class drops to the Panthers here. The Panthers will no longer be in the market for a quarterback after Bryce Young’s second-half renaissance.

9. New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Another team that’s in an ugly spot in terms of talent and being up against the cap – the Saints elect to go best player available here instead of reaching for a wide receiver, another big need.

10. Chicago Bears: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama

Refer back to the explanation of the Jaguars pick. A young quarterback in Caleb Williams. Help the poor man out. Death, taxes – and Alabama offensive lineman.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan

This is a “rich get richer” situation, as Grant would step into an already strong front four and provide a boost to a run defense that dropped off mightily in 2024.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

This is the most obvious lay-up in the draft. Jerry Jones has probably already turned in the draft card. Jeanty, the Heisman trophy runner-up, is a freak of nature. The Cowboys had a chance to sign Derrick Henry this past offseason and really screwed the pooch on that one. Jeanty will help take the bad taste out of their mouths.

13. Miami Dolphins: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

I’m confident the Dolphins offense at full strength is still one of the top units in the league, even without WR Tyreek Hill. Adding a presence like Pearce Jr., who constantly creates mismatches for tackles, would provide stability to a defense that needs to control Josh Allen and the Bills if they want to remain in AFC East contention.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

I think Anthony Richardson is the Colts’ long-term starter, but if he is going to be the guy, he has to remain upright and also… not check himself out of games.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

It feels like the Falcons have been trying to solve their pass-rush issues for about a decade now. Scourton gives them position flexibility who can line up on either side of the defense and wreak havoc.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky

Walker is a tenacious pass-rusher with incredible length and would pair well with last year’s first-round pick Darius Robinson on a Cardinals team that is close to seriously contending.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Have you seen the Bengals try and defend the pass? They’ve had arguably the worst backend play in the NFL. Morrison is just a junior, but his physical traits are off the charts. I see a big-time ceiling for this kid.

18. Seattle Seahawks – Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona

Savaiinaea can play both tackle and guard but will likely kick inside in the NFL. His football IQ is off the charts, and after struggling to control the game on the ground this year, the Seahawks will look to create space for their two young running backs.

19. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The biggest surprise for me in the NFL this season has been Bo Nix, who looks every part of a future franchise sheriff. It’d be prudent to add another big weapon opposite of WR Courtland Sutton, shattering the hearts of Steelers fans.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malachi Starks, S, Georgia

Unfortunately for Todd Bowles, his Bucs have wasted some incredible efforts by his QB Baker Mayfield due to their inability to stop… anyone. Starks is one of my favorite players in the class. He’s smart, has great instincts, and can play center field as well as in the box.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

The moment you’ve probably all been waiting for. There isn’t a huge element of surprise here. The Steelers MUST address the receiver room, which at the end of the day will likely hold them back from making serious noise in the postseason. Could it be a small reach? Maybe. But GM Omar Khan has put the black and gold in this position by abandoning an upgrade at WR2. If the Steelers lose one Harris in Najee, they could gain another in Tre.

Harris is 6-foot-3 and 210 lbs. He has an enormous catch radius and would be the perfect fit on the outside, opposite of George Pickens. This would allow Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson to work underneath in the intermediate areas.

He’s a big play threat who can change a game in the blink of an eye.

I’m not sure yet who will be starting at quarterback for the Steelers next season, but my guess is it will be Russell Wilson. The patented Wilson moonball will be in full force with a combo of Harris and Pickens.

The honorable mention here is Texas WR Isaiah Bond, but he’s undersized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, and the Steelers don’t need another small-ish wideout.

Who would you want the Steelers to take if the board broke this way? Let us know in the comments section!