The Falcons held onto Cousins long enough for $10MM of his 2025 salary to vest into a full guarantee and have signaled their willingness to keep him as an expensive backup this season. He would prefer to find a starting job elsewhere, though he’s wary of a repeat of last year’s situation in Atlanta. The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $160MM deal in March and drafted Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick six weeks later. That put pressure on the 13-year veteran to live up to his contract while making it clear that he was not the team’s long-term quarterback.
When Cousins hit a patch of rough play in December, the Falcons benched him for Penix, effectively ending the 36-year-old’s tenure in Atlanta after 14 games. In 2025, he doesn’t want a highly-drafted rookie breathing down his neck. That would be a risk with his two most-likely suitors, the Browns and the Giants, who hold the second and third overall picks in April’s draft. After years of instability under center, both teams have been repeatedly linked with the draft’s top two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
Cousins’ willingness to wait on a trade should work for his potential suitors. The Browns and the Giants can do their due diligence on Ward, Sanders, and even Jaxson Dart and let the draft play out. The Steelers are considered a “safe bet” to land Aaron Rodgers, but if that doesn’t work out, they could inquire about Cousins, according to Breer. However, Pittsburgh may want to see if a top quarterback falls within range of a trade up from the 21st overall pick.
Cousins would only waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft if his new team commits to not using a first-round pick on quarterback, according to Breer. That condition may not be amenable to front offices in Cleveland and New York that are looking for a long-term franchise quarterback.
It’s possible that the Browns look at a talented roster besieged by injuries last year and decide that trading for Cousins and using the No. 3 pick on an impact receiver or edge rusher is enough to compete in the AFC North. That doesn’t seem likely for the Giants, who have more holes to fill on their roster. They have also signaled a desire to add another veteran and draft a quarterback in the first round, even after signingJameis Winston.
Cousins’ approach does involve some risk. If the Browns, Giants, and Steelers all solidify their quarterback situations by the end of the draft, he may be left without any suitors headed into the summer. That would leave him stuck in Atlanta as Penix’s backup with a $27.5MM salary that could be a barrier to a trade.
The Falcons would already be absorbing $37.5MM in dead cap space ($12.5MM in 2025 and $25MM in 2026) if they moved Cousins. Eating some or all of his 2025 salary would push their costs to $90MM for just one year and 14 starts from Cousins, a position Falcons owner Arthur Blank would prefer to avoid, according to Breer.
That will, of course, impact how much draft compensation teams will give up to acquire Cousins. A trade out of Atlanta to a team with a starting job available remains his desired outcome, but it seems other dominoes will have to fall first.
The Steelers’ 2025 offseason has been remarkably quiet when it comes to moves addressing the offensive line. However, Pittsburgh has finally added a depth piece, with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reporting that the team has claimed offensive guard Lecitus Smith off of waivers from the New England Patriots.
The 6’3, 314-pound lineman has appeared in 18 career NFL games (214 offensive snaps), starting three. He’s 26 years old.
In college, Smith largely played at left guard but did start one game at left tackle. In the NFL, he’s been listed at both center and guard. He now joins his former Patriots teammate, Daniel Ekuale, as part of the Steelers’ 2025 free agent class.
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Keep up with the latest pre-draft visits for the Steelers
With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine officially in the books, attention now turns to prospect pro days and pre-draft visits.
At the conclusion of the combine, each NFL team is able to bring in 30 prospects for a private visit at the facility between March 4 and April 6. These are commonly referred to as “top-30 visits,” though that phrasing can be somewhat confusing, as a scheduled “top-30 visit” doesn’t necessarily mean a player is ranked in the top 30 on a team’s draft board. No on-field workouts are permitted at these visits, but players can undergo physical exams and conduct interviews.
NFL teams are also allowed to conduct video or telephone with draft-eligible players. Per Giants.com, NFL rules restrict clubs to a maximum of “three video or telephone interviews per player, no longer than one hour in length.”
In addition to the 30 official visits, NFL teams are able to hold visits with local players, as long as they do not provide transportation. A “local” player is determined to be a player who is from or attends college in the “local metropolitan area as defined by a current Rand McNally map.”
Pre-draft visits can be huge indicators of a team’s potential interest in a player, and the Steelers, in particular, have used these visits to their advantage. In 2024, the team had top-30 visits with first-round OT Troy Fautanu, ILB Payton Wilson, OL Mason McCormick and DL Logan Lee and had local visits with C Zach Frazier and CB Beanie Bishop (signed as an UDFA). DB Ryan Watts and WR Roman Wilson were the only two draft selections in 2024 that Pittsburgh did not bring in for a top-30 visit.
Here’s a look at the reported top 30 visits for the Steelers heading into 2025, as well as reported local visits. We’ll be keeping this updated leading up through the NFL Draft.
Scouting one of the Steelers’ top-30 visits at running back.
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
One of the Steelers’ top-30 visits, K-State’s D.J. Giddens is a candidate to watch if Pittsburgh drafts a running back in the middle rounds.
In an insanely deep running back class, D.J. Giddens might be a name who’s a little bit underrated. He’s entering the NFL Draft coming off two straight 1,200-plus-yard seasons, with a career average of six yards per rush.
I’ll start off this scouting report with the caveat that some of Giddens’ highlights say more about his offensive line and/or bad Big 12 defenses than his actual ability, but I still believe that he has a skill set that will transfer to the NFL level.
Giddens has solid size at 6’0, 212 pounds, but he’s a deceptively smooth, agile runner. He doesn’t have consistent, home run speed, but he can make defenders miss in the open field and effortlessly cut behind the line of scrimmage. His games are full of chunk gains (No. 31 in all clips).
Giddens’ tape doesn’t scream speed, but his 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the Combine was the same as popular speedster TreVeyon Henderson. He’s certainly not slow.
Giddens wins with his patience behind the line of scrimmage, quick cuts, and the ability to get skinny and dart through holes in the defense. His vision is one of the top assets in his game, and it makes him a scheme-versatile runner at the next level.
The biggest hole in Giddens’ game is the lack of any true elite traits. As you can gather from the clips above, his lateral quickness is really impressive but he’s not an elite straight-line accelerator. Giddens also doesn’t run with a whole lot of power. He has good effort and falls forward, but he isn’t going to be moving scrums and can get stopped in his tracks by defenders with his high center of gravity.
As a pass-catcher, Giddens struggles to make grabs outside of his frame, and he was often late to turn his head around when leaking out of the backfield. However, he showed the ability to contribute and has room to grow there in the NFL.
Giddens doesn’t strike me as a surefire feature back in the NFL, but he has a solid baseline of abilities with room to grow and a better-than-expected athletic profile. He’s a strong option in the group of middle-round running backs the Steelers seem to be eyeing.
D.J. Giddens strengths
Patient; great vision; light on his feet behind the line of scrimmage
Knows when to get vertical as a runner
Good combination of size and speed; deceptively shifty
Excellent contact balance; always falling forward
Consistent production for the last two years
Weaknesses
Lacks great power; not a pile-mover
Slow to get his head around as a pass-catcher; doesn’t make difficult catches
Longer strides; not the quickest accelerator; lacks true home-run speed
A productive runner with good size, Giddens lacks explosive elements in his game. He defies expectations as a big back who doesn’t run with heavy power. He’s a long-strider with wiggle between the tackles. He’s patient behind his blocks and quickly processes run-lane development. He’s not sudden and lacks the burst to outflank defenses, so running behind his pads and picking up the tough yardage inside might have to be his ticket into a rotation.
D.J. Giddens is a big productive running back who was able to carry the workload for his team as the bell-cow back. He boasts quick, clean footwork and patience in the backfield for holes to develop. He is also a capable receiver in the backfield with natural hands and he’s able to get open in scramble drills. Despite the combination of size, Giddens play strength does not match it. He is not a pile mover and unable to break tackles without a running start. He has the size to be a capable pass blocker but needs to work on his technique and rely less on diving. All in all, Giddens is an elusive, well-rounded running back prospect who has the capability to carry the workload. He is seen as a middle round selection with a wide variance.
Strengths: Pressing the line of scrimmage; Lateral agility; Reading blocks; Body control … Concerns: Explosiveness; Passing-down consistency; Pass-protection technique … Giddens is a scheme-versatile, savvy runner with the tools to carve out a nice role on early downs in a committee backfield. If he wants to be more than that, working on his third-down capabilities will unlock a more impactful role in the NFL. Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
While Giddens won’t replicate Najee Harris’ power, he could provide the smooth zone-running skill set the Steelers have needed in their running back room under Arthur Smith. His lack of elite power or acceleration make it a little worrying with how often he could get hit in the Pittsburgh backfield, but his excellent vision alleviates some of those concerns.
Giddens’ rough edges in the passing game will hinder his usefulness early on, but on a team like Pittsburgh with a committee of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, he wouldn’t be asked to do too much too early. Overall, I’m a fan of the fit.
TL;DR: Giddens is a productive Big 12 runner whose skill set is somewhere in between an early-down and third-down back — not quite enough speed or pass-catching ability, but not a ton of power, either. However, he consistently wins with great vision and surprising elusiveness, and should find a role at the NFL level.
What are your thoughts on Kansas State running back D.J. Giddens? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
We are tracking all pieces of news and rumors about Pittsburgh Steelers free agency, all in one place.
2025 NFL free agency is here! And before the action has even officially begun, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made a blockbuster trade, acquiring star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf after an approximate 18-month pursuit of depth at the position and several superstars missed out on, including 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk. The work isn’t done, though, with quarterback still the biggest need of all.
But before we get into the nitty-gritty of the latest Pittsburgh Steelers’ free agency news and rumors, here’s a few key reminders:
When does the legal tampering period begin? The NFL’s legal tampering period begins Monday, March 10 at noon ET.
When does 2025 NFL free agency officially start? NFL free agency begins with the official start of the 2025 new league year, set to open up on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.
How much salary cap space the Pittsburgh Steelers have in 2025? Prior to the trade to acquire WR D.K. Metcalf, Over The Cap projected the Steelers with $61,076,769 in effective available cap space — the fifth-most cap space in the league. The NFL announced a record-high $279.2 million salary cap for the 2025 season in late February.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed newly-acquired WR D.K. Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million contract extension, Adam Schefter reported.
The Steelers have placed a second-round tender on RB Jaylen Warren worth $5.346 million in the 2025 NFL season.
The New York Jetsare signing departing free agent quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing cornerback Darius Slay, Jordan Schultz of Fox reported.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran DL Larry Ogunjobi, clearing $7 million in cap space for the 2025 NFL season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing linebacker Malik Harrison to a two-year, $10 million contract, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Monday evening.
The Steelers have agreed to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell.
The Steelers have signed former New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, Jordan Schultz of Fox reports.
Former Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has agreed to a four-year, $82 million contract with the Tennessee Titans, including $50 million in guarantees, Adam Schefter reports.
The New York Jetsare signing departing free agent quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed.
The Los Angeles Chargers are signing cornerback Donte Jackson to a two-year, $13 million contract.
Former first-round starting running back Najee Harris has agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers worth up to $9.25 million.
Former Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Van Jefferson to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
The Miami Dolphins have signed former Steelers RG James Daniels to a three-year, $24 million deal.
Recently released Larry Ogunjobi signed a one-year, $8.3 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.
The Washington Commanders signed former Steelers OL Nate Herbig to a one-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Pittsburgh Steelers free agent rumors
A hold-up regarding the potential re-signing of QB Justin Fields could stem from the need to “get past any sting/distrust” with Steelers HC Mike Tomlin following his return to the bench last season after a 4-2 start, Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS Sports reports.
Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports that Justin Fields and the Steelers are “not close” on a contract and that the 26-year-old quarterback is expected to test free agency.
Gerry Dulac reports that the Steelers have not dismissed pursuing outside options for the quarterback position.
The Steelers are expected to make an offer for quarterback Sam Darnold, Diana Russini of The Athletic reports.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is “emerging as an option” for the Pittsburgh Steelers at quarterback, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday.
QB Aaron Rodgers is reportedly deciding between contract offers from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.
Per a report from Dejan Kovacevi of DK Pittsburgh Sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached out to former quarterback Mason Rudolph regarding a potential reunion.
ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor names Mason Rudolph as a potential option for the Steelers and states that Kirk Cousins is an unlikely fit.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared on 937 The Fan radio “that the issue between the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers is that the Steelers thought Rodgers would come cheap,” Andrew Fillipponi shared on X.
Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson is visiting with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants this week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro fullback for a visit Thursday.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Aaron Rodgers is waiting on the Minnesota Vikings to make a decision regarding their plans at quarterback before he decides on a landing spot for 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers trades
Pittsburgh Steelers acquired WR D.K. Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a swap of sixth and seventh-round picks.
Pittsburgh Steelers pending free agents
*Players listed in italics indicate starters
Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields (Signed two-year, $40 million deal with New York Jets), Kyle Allen
Running back: Najee Harris (Agreed to one-year contract with Los Angeles Chargers worth up to $9.25 million), Jaylen Warren (RFA — Steelers placed second-round tender)
Wide receiver:Van Jefferson (Signed one-year, $2.5 million contract with Tennessee Titans),Mike Williams (Signed one-year contract with New York Jets), Scotty Miller (Re-signed by PIT), Ben Skowronek (Re-signed by PIT)
Tight end: MyCole Pruitt
Offensive tackle: Dan Moore Jr. (Agreed to a four-year, $82 million deal with the Tennessee Titans), Calvin Anderson
Guard: James Daniels (Signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Miami Dolphins),Nate Herbig (Signed one-year deal with Washington Commanders), Max Scharping
Defensive line: Isaiahh Loudermilk (Re-signed by PIT)
Inside linebacker:Elandon Roberts (Agreed to one-year, $3 million deal with Las Vegas Raiders),Tyler Matakevich
Safety: Damontae Kazee
Cornerback: Donte Jackson (Agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers), Cameron Sutton, C.J. Henderson, James Pierre (Re-signed by PIT)
Follow along with us as we update this tracker through the first week of NFL free agency, and join BSTC’s free agency mega-thread to discuss the latest news, rumors and more!
Vote on the best front office moves in Steelers history
It’s the fourth week of Steelers March Madness, our annual NCAA-style journey through black and gold history. This year’s theme is the 64-best front office moves in Steelers history. It’s time to vote on the Elite 8!
Pierogi Bracket
Pierogi Bracket ‘25, Elite 8
1 seed: April 20, 1996 – Traded for running back Jerome Bettis
In one of the most lopsided transactions in NFL history, Pittsburgh moved down 13 spots from pick 59 to 72 and added a future 3rd rounder in exchange for Jerome Bettis. The Rams were transitioning to a pass-oriented offense and drafted Nebraska’s Lawrence Phillips. St. Louis gave Bettis the option to pick his destination, and he almost considered Houston. Writers in Pittsburgh didn’t love the trade initially, because Bettis had a pair of down seasons and his contract was up at the end of the year. But they changed their tune after The Bus won Comeback Player of the Year and became the highest-paid player in Steelers history at that point.
VS
3 seed: October 3, 2015 – Signed free agent kicker Chris Boswell
(signed two-year, $960,000 deal)
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Yinz really picked Boswell over trading up for Santonio Holmes in the Sweet 16?!
In Week 4, kicker Josh Scobee missed two fourth-quarter field goals in an overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was released two days later and replaced with Boswell. Since then, Boswell has played in 150 games in the black and gold and has more 50-yard field goals than all other Steelers’ kickers combined.
Halupki Bracket
Halupki Bracket ‘25: Elite 8
1 seed: April 26, 2003 – Traded up to draft safety Troy Polamalu
Pittsburgh was almost not in the market for a safety in 2003. The Steelers had a verbal agreement with Dexter Jackson, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, but he would end up signing with Arizona. Polamalu was the top-ranked safety in the draft. When San Diego traded down at pick 15 instead of addressing the safety position, Pittsburgh traded up from 27 to 16 with the Chiefs. The Steelers traded away the 92nd and 200th overall picks.
VS
2 seed: February 14, 2000 – Signed free agent nose tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen
(signed a four-year, $11 million deal)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Kevin Colbert’s first free agent signing as the Steelers’ general manager. Von Oelhoffen spent six years in Cincinnati as a nose tackle, but Pittsburgh soon converted him to defensive end. He started 94 games for the Steelers including Super Bowl XL.
Chipped Ham Bracket
Chipped Ham Bracket ‘25: Elite 8
1 seed: April 5, 2002 – Signed free agent linebacker James Farrior
(Signed a three-year, $5.4 million deal)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Farrior was the 8th overall pick in the 1997 draft, but the Jets used him as an outside linebacker. New York was not interested in extending him after his rookie contract, despite putting up career numbers in 2001. Farrior says he received no other offers besides Pittsburgh. He went on to start 154 games at inside linebacker.
VS
2 seed: March 8, 2001 – Signed free agent center Jeff Hartings
(signed a six-year, $24.2 million deal)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Former general manager Kevin Colbert was with Detroit when the Lions drafted Hartings. Although Hartings played guard in the NFL, Colbert knew he could play center, and replace the retiring Dermotti Dawson. Hartings went on to make two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team during his 89 starts in Pittsburgh.
Banana Split Bracket
Banana Split bracket ‘25: Elite 8
1 seed: April 3, 1993 – Signed free agent linebacker Kevin Greene
(signed a three-year, $5.35 million deal)
Greene came to Pittsburgh in free agency because of Defensive Coordinator Dom Caper’s 3-4 system. He didn’t come cheap. He was the highest-paid Steelers defender ever at the time. Greene was only in Pittsburgh for three seasons, but in those 48 games, he earned 35.5 sacks, two Pro Bowls, and an All-Pro season in 1994. He played in two AFC Championship games for Pittsburgh and one Super Bowl.
VS
2 seed: March 14, 2006 – Signed free agent safety Ryan Clark
(signed a four-year, $7 million deal)
Set Number: D153547 TK1 R1 F32
After two seasons, Washington cut Clark but was willing to bring him back on a smaller, minimum contract. R.C. felt disrespected, so he chose to test the market. Pittsburgh was his only offer. Clark went on to play in 80 games, starting 78, and made three Super Bowl appearances.
Next week, we’ll have our Final Four. Your votes matter more than ever! Defend your picks in the comments.
Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Keep up with BTSC’s latest draft content.
The 2025 NFL Draft will be here before we know it, and the BTSC staff is here to prepare you for the big event with draft profiles, mock drafts, and more ahead of April 24.
As more draft content gets published, this page will update with the latest. Make sure to bookmark this article and check back throughout the week!
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A fun middle-round option for the Steelers.
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
Defensive lineman is a popular option for the Steelers’ first round pick, but the team has also shown interest in middle-round prospects. Could J.J. Pegues be an option for the black and gold?
The basics on J.J. Pegues
Position: Defensive line
Class: Fifth-year senior
Size: 6’2, 235 pounds
Age: 23
Projected draft round: 4
Stats via Sports Reference
J.J. Pegues scouting report
J.J. Pegues is one of the more interesting prospects I’ve scouted this year while going over potential Steelers draft targets. Given his size (playing weight was 325 pounds, even if he weighed in at 309 at the NFL Combine) and the general discourse around him, you’d expect the typical nose tackle profile.
However, watch Pegues and you’ll realize his NFL fit is a bit more convoluted, in both good and bad ways.
For one, he’s far from a traditional nose. Pegues played all over the line at Ole Miss, logging snaps from 0-tech to edge rusher.
Surprisingly, the latter is where some of Pegues’ best reps are. He has some juice as an edge rusher, with a little bit of bend and a good chop move. The Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was underwhelming, but Pegues looks a lot more explosive on tape.
And as a run defender, Pegues excels at setting the edge. He has the size and athleticism to wrangle runners, and it’s always funny to see a pulling tight end try to block a defender of Pegues’ size one-on-one. Sometimes, it’s just physics, and the 320-pound guy is probably going to win.
As a rusher, though, Pegues’ game is rather raw. He started his college career as a tight end, and that lack of defensive experience can show. Pegues has a good first step off the line but his rushes tend to lose some steam early on. His hand usage often slows, and while he occasionally counters, he more often ends up turned around and awkwardly shouldering the lineman. That lack of a consistent pass-rush plan and a hot and cold motor are worrying and will likely mean Pegues is a rotational player to start his NFL career.
However, he has the strength and explosion to hit O-linemen with a solid bull rush, helping him collapse the pocket.
In short, Pegues is a bit of a project as a defensive lineman who will need to continue to develop at the NFL level. He also played on an absolutely stacked defensive line at Ole Miss (Walter Nolen, Jared Ivey, Zxavian Harris, Princely Umanmielen) and as a result, didn’t see a ton of double teams.
His stamina and pass-rush arsenal need to improve, but there are a lot of tools to work with, and his absurd versatility will make him an intriguing prospect for defensive coordinators.
Speaking of versatility, the reason why both defensive and offensive stats are featured above is because Pegues was a wildcat short-yardage rusher for Ole Miss last year who excelled in the role with seven rushing touchdowns — enough production to rise from college shenanigans to Hmm… maybe this could work in the pros.
Also…. here is every carry for Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues this year. He was used on short yardage carries. He’s a former TE who moved to the defensive line but now dabbles as a short yardage back with 7 rushing TDs this year. pic.twitter.com/PpJUv82nHG
Told you Pegues wasn’t an average nose tackle. His NFL fit is a little murky, but he’s undeniably one of the most fun talents in this year’s draft class.
Strengths
Extremely versatile; success playing all over the defensive line
Good athlete
Size, strength to hold up against double teams, set the edge
Flashes good bull rush
Lateral movement to corral runners
Success as a short-yardage runner
Weaknesses
Hand usage isn’t urgent; often stalls if initial move fails and can get washed out of plays
Below average awareness, motor when following the ball
Compact, thick-hipped defensive lineman with versatility to play multiple positions — including short-yardage running back! Pegues can be hell on wheels when he’s motivated and has it cranked up. He’s quick off the ball but not explosive into first contact as consistently as he could be. He’ll beat reach blocks and double teams if he gets his technique ironed out. He has quicker hands and feet than most opponents he’ll face and has the talent to get to the other side of the line in both phases. He has rush talent and can finish using rare change-of-direction quickness, allowing him to capture pocket-mobile quarterbacks. Ole Miss leaned on Pegues as a short-yardage runner on offense, using his power and athleticism to convert at a high rate. He has the potential to become a very productive interior defender but his ceiling and floor will be determined by the consistency of his motor.
Pegues projects as a rotational talent at the NFL level. In a perfect storm of personnel moves around him, he could potentially be a starter, but he’ll be best optimized in a rotation that helps keep him fresh — as his combination of size and urgent play style will test his endurance. Pegues projects best to a penetration front as a B-gap defender.
Pegues projects as a rotational defensive tackle at the NFL level with scheme and alignment diversity. He should be able to play from multiple alignments for any one-gap “multiple” defensive scheme run at the NFL level. Although, Pegues probably shouldn’t be used as an edge defender at the NFL level – at least outside of “jumbo” packages in short-yardage situations. He lacks the second step acceleration to be a truly consistent threat as a pass rusher, which could keep teams from viewing him as a starter or a regular option on early downs. However, he’s a good enough pass rusher and run defender that a team should feel confident rotating him onto the field in most situations.
If the Steelers want a plug-and-play defensive lineman in this year’s draft, Pegues isn’t going to be the best fit. At this stage in his career, he’s a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none, but there is a lot of potential.
Pegues has the size to be a nose tackle at the next level, but the athleticism to be a chess piece all over the defensive front. He’d be a great option if the Steelers decide to double up on the defensive line in this year’s draft, giving Karl Dunbar a rotational piece who can play in a lot of different game scenarios. And I’d bet the team is interested — Pegues is one of the Steelers’ top-30 visits this year.
TL;DR: Pegues is a versatile, athletic defensive lineman who even scored seven touchdowns last season as a short-yardage wildcat runner for Ole Miss. His pass-rush plan is still underdeveloped and his motor can sputter, but he’s an intriguing talent in 2025’s loaded class at defensive line.
What are your thoughts on Ole Miss defensive lineman J.J. Pegues? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
Ryan Parish is back with his look at prospects the Steelers could select on Days 2 & 3 of the NFL Draft. The 2025 receiver class isn’t getting much love from analysts, but there are still some intriguing option
During the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Parish debuted his list of “Bargain” NFL prospects the Steelers could target at positions of need. Of the 31 players highlighted, 29 players played NFL snaps in 2024, and one prospect — Roman Wilson — was actually drafted by the Steelers. Now, Ryan’s series is back — with some slight rebranding — to once again highlight some of the lesser-known players in this year’s class. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather highlight some players Ryan thinks would fit with the team and should be available in Rounds 2-7. For this series, Ryan will avoid highlighting players frequently listed in the top 50-75 range on big boards.
Following the 2024 season, if you polled your typical Yinzer, they’d have told you the non-quarterback position that needed the most attention this offseason was wide receiver. So naturally, that’s where I began my work for this year’s Draft Gems series. Since then, the Steelers have traded for DK Metcalf, making the need a little less dire. Still, George Pickens is in the last year of his rookie deal and the depth behind him could use more bolstering.
Much like last year, the ability to play in the slot or in the Z-receiver role was heavily favored. With Metcalf and Pickens both able to play the X-reciever role, there is less priority for those types of receivers in 2025. Solid X-receivers are hard to come by anyway, as any prospect showing promise in that role tends to climb up draft boards. Still, this year’s list will have a little bit of everything for receiver aficionados.
As a reminder, this series isn’t looking to highlight the same names you’ll hear on every mainstream television show or radio hit. This series is for the sickos, the NFL Draft obsessives. A good rule of thumb: If a player is being mocked in the first round consistently or has a BTSC player profile written about them, the most likely won’t appear on this list! So with apologies to Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Jack Bech, Tre Harris and Elic Ayomanor— let’s dive in!
Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Age: 22/23? April birthday, but haven’t found his birth year
Height/weight: 5’11, 193 pounds
Arm Length: 30 3/4”
RAS: N/A, incomplete testing
Pro Comparison:
We’ll start things off with one of my favorite route runners in the class.
After playing sparingly during the shortened 2020 season, Daniel Jackson became an integral part of Minnesota’s offense for four seasons. A former high school quarterback, Jackson finished his career third all-time in school history for receptions (208), fourth in yards (2,685), and sixth in touchdowns (18), despite playing in one of the most anemic passing attacks in the country. Minnesota has struggled to recruit quarterbacks and in 2022 and 2023 the Gophers failed to have a quarterback exceed 1,850 passing yards.
For most of his collegiate career, Jackson was Minnesota’s main — and sometimes only — weapon in their passing attack. In multiple seasons led the team in receptions (‘23, ‘24), receiving yards (‘22, ‘23, ‘24), and receiving touchdowns (‘22, ‘23) and never finishing lower than second on the team in any of those key statistics. In 2023, Jackson accounted for 35.9% of the Gophers’ receptions, 44.5% of their receiving yards, and 27.5% of their offensive touchdowns.
Sticking to the Big 10 is one of my favorite WRs in this class. A player who has been severely slept on in my estimation.
I’m speaking of Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson who absolutely ethered this poor Purdue defender on this double movehttps://t.co/jEyurQntNW
Jackson’s two best qualities are his quick feet and his superior tracking skills when the ball is in the air. Minnesota needed Jackson to wear a lot of hats for their offense, which both gained him experience at the X, Z, and slot positions while also depressing his yards-per-reception to a deceptively low 11.5 in 2024. But make no mistake, Jackson is a threat vertically.
The clip above, from a 2023 game against Purdue, is what first put Jackson on my radar. In this play, Jackson displays his craftiness and efficiency as a route runner, while also putting his tracking ability and toughness on film. In four steps, Jackson sells the defensive back on a 5-yard slant. Playing off-man coverage with inside leverage, the defender breaks on the slant only for Jackson to plant and drive off his fifth step, flipping his hips to break his route back vertically and create nearly five yards of separation.
However, his job isn’t finished. Having created separation he now needs to find the ball. His quarterback is late on the throw and floats it in there. Jackson has to slow his route to match the trajectory of the pass, but he also has to prepare for a big hit from the safety who was able to sprint from the deep center of the field to the sideline during the arc of the pass and deliver a hit to Jackson at full speed at the ball arrives. Jackson holds on.
Jackson is an intriguing vertical threat who excels tracking the ball in the air, and possesses the body awareness and control to give him the best chance at reeling those throws in. pic.twitter.com/lBeJHx1KjK
Watching Jackson on film, it’s notable how smooth his routes are. He runs with tempo and pacing ahead of most prospects coming out of college that I’ve watched for this exercise. Against off-man or zone coverage, he displays a knack for using patience early in his route to lull the defensive back into a sense of security before speeding up his feet to make sudden, sharp cuts to create separation. He’ll need to keep developing his release package against press coverage as a pro. He didn’t have to face it often, but at his size, press corners were able to give him more difficulty, like in the first play in the clip below. It could lead to him being primarily a slot receiver in the NFL, but I wouldn’t pigeonhole him in that regard.
But Jackson’s route running, timing and instincts aren’t limited to just vertical routes. Smart, savvy, tough player that finds success at every level and area of the field pic.twitter.com/Af226NMfHV
Overall,Jackson is a fun player. I’m a little baffled about why he has received relatively little buzz thus far.
He was invited to the NFL Combine but only participated in the agility drills: the 3-Cone Drill and the 20-Yard Shuttle. His 6.78 second (79th percentile) 3-Cone matches the score of Hall of Fame returner Devin Hester, and his 4.07 second (87th percentile) 20-Yard Shuttle time matches marks previously posted by Calvin Austin III, Tyler Lockett and D.J. Moore. And while his full Pro Day results have proven difficult to find, Minnesota posted on social media that Jackson jumped a 10’5 broad jump, which would match numbers posted by Terry McLaurin, Nico Collins and George Pickens just to name a few. I’m confident that he possesses NFL athleticism.
In the era of the transfer portal, Jackson stuck with Minnesota for all five seasons despite the middling quarterback play.
Perhaps the lack of buzz can play into the Steelers’ favor. They are expected to still draft a wideout at some point in the draft, but could do so later in the draft following the trade for Metcalf. If Jackson is there in Round 5 or later, I think the Steelers would be wise to consider him.
And no Jackson highlight reel is complete without showing off this ridiculous TD catch against Michigan pic.twitter.com/ePg5RtW8iR
Every year, there are one or two prospects I become a fan of who falls under a certain archetype of player: the wide receiver built like a running back. You know these guys. They max out at a height of 6’, and they typically weigh between 205-215 pounds. They’re stocky, they’re quick, they break tackles, and move like a halfback once the ball is in their hands. My all-time favorite Steeler, Hines Ward, was one of these cats. Maybe it’s why I like this style of player so much.
Jalen Royals is that dude for 2025.
Kicking things off with the winner of our DJ Moore/Deebo Samuel Memorial WR Who Is Built and plays like RB award: Utah St. wideout Jalen Royals
Royals, who is projected to go on Day 2 of the draft, has had a unique journey to the NFL. In 2022 he didn’t record a single stat, playing mostly on special teams for Utah State. The year before that, he attended a small junior college, Georgia Military College.
He finally broke onto the scene in 2023 with 71 receptions, for 1,080 yards at 15.2 YPR and 15 touchdowns, seven of which were 50 yards or more, most in the country. But before that, Royals was fairly anonymous. After his breakout season, Royals reportedly had NIL offers that would have paid him millions but chose to stay loyal to the coaching staff that gave him an opportunity. I’m not a person who views transferring as a negative character trait, but I will point out that finding that kind of loyalty is rare in a collegiate climate that incentivizes players to maximize their personal value. For a team like the Steelers that has had its fair share of headlines surrounding effort and commitment from receivers in recent years, that has to be an appealing character trait.
One of the thing that stands out on Royals tape is his toughness and grit. He’s not afraid of contact and will fight through it to reach the sticks or to secure a downfield catch pic.twitter.com/7MWn9fvtPg
A foot injury shut down Royals’ 2024 season early, an unfortunate turn of events as he was poised to blow his previous season out of the water. Through seven games, Royals had totaled 55 receptions, for 834 yards, six touchdowns and once again 15.2 YPR.
Royals isn’t the most precise route runner — he at times can round his route at the top of his break — but he has a good feel for space, quick feet and rapid acceleration with a knack for plucking the ball while already in stride.
We also know the Arthur Smith offense will feature plenty of vertical shots. I don’t think Royals is a traditional X at the next level, but with the Steelers he wouldn’t need to be thanks to Metcalf and Pickens.
Royals also performs better than you’d expect on contested targets for a receiver with his proportions. In 2023, of receivers with at least 10 contested catch opportunities, Royals had the second-most receptions (17), and the fourth-best conversion rate (73.9%), trailing only top-10 pick Rome Odunze, 2026 draft-eligible Elijah Sarratt, and Cornelius Johnson, who was featured in this series last year.
Royals recovered enough from his foot injury to participate in the NFL Combine. He only ran the 40-Yard Dash (4.42), but added a vertical jump (36”) and broad jump (10’1) at Utah State’s Pro Day.
Royals isn’t the twitchiest athlete, but he consistently finds those “hidden yards” after a catch, uses his body to shield defenders from the ball, and if he does shake loose he’s got enough juice with 4.42 speed to take it to the house pic.twitter.com/aTn1ImtQEc
Another prospect whose draft stock may be impacted by injury is Colorado State’s Tory Horton. Coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, Horton’s decision to return to school for a fifth year ultimately backfired when he injured his knee, only playing in six games in 2024. It was a disappointing result for another player who gets a character green flag for choosing to return for one more year due to his relationship with his coaches and belief in the program when he could have easily gone pro.
Horton’s misfortune could end up being a boon for whichever team is able to draft him in the middle rounds. When watching Horton’s tape, I can’t help but be reminded of George Pickens.
We’ll head to the Moutain West for our final two prospects. We’ll be using 2023 tape for Colorado State’s Tory Horton after a knee injury made him miss most of 2024.
He was healthy enough to participate in the Combine. 6’2 1/2 w 4.41 speed and 37.5″ vert pic.twitter.com/RPVubgANuy
Horton provides a combination of size, speed, strong hands, and loose, fluid movement. He primarily played the X in college, but I wonder if he’d be most comfortable as a Z-receiver. Physical corners can give him trouble and mess with his timing.
In 51 career games, Horton accumulated 265 receptions for 3,615 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s frequently shown his ability to catch the ball away from his frame and he’s got enough wiggle to create after the catch.
If there’s one area I’d critique Horton’s game, it’s that he’s not as consistent with contested catches as you’d like to see with his size. He went 19-for-38 in such opportunities during three seasons at Colorado State. That flaw is counterattacked though by Horton’s natural feel for space and route timing, plus a level of body control that leads to highlight reel catches.
Should the Steelers be questioning their future with Pickens, Horton could provide depth as a rookie and then eventually slide into a bigger role in his second year.
If you’re plugged into the online NFL Draft community, you might be aware of Kyle Williams. Williams — another fifth-year senior who took advantage of an extra year of eligibility thanks to the 2020 season — has gained a reputation for being your favorite analyst’s favorite prospect. And it’s not hard to see why. Earlier I said Jackson is one of my favorite route runners in the class. Williams might actually be the best.
Williams is one of the best route runners who will probably need to play a ton of slot in the NFL, but he can win anywhere pic.twitter.com/vGob9FQ5Rv
Williams’ tempo and feel for space make him one of the most enjoyable watches. In the first play in the clip above, Williams recognizes his quarterback is stuck and runs to open space to give him an option.
Williams began his collegiate career at UNLV, where he spent three seasons totaling 117 receptions, 1,568 and 9 touchdowns. Williams then transferred to Washington State where his production exploded. In just two seasons with the Cougars, Williams had 131 receptions, for 2,041 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Like Jackson earlier, Williams might be forced to a primary slot role in the NFL due to his size. That shouldn’t prohibit an NFL team from taking advantage of his versatility though. Possessing 4.40-speed, Williams can provide a spark inside and out. He’s particularly dangerous in space.
And last, but not least. We have to include a draft nerds’ favorite – Washington State’s Kyle Williams
For an offense that has struggled as much as the Steelers have in recent years, finding skill players who can create after the catch should be a priority. If the Steelers are truly planning to bring in Aaron Rodgers, they will need players who can win quickly underneath. Rodgers has always operated a game heavily reliant on quick-timing concepts with vertical shots sprinkled in. For the Steelers, it will be crucial to find players who are just as good at finding an extra yard or two on every play as they are at winning vertically. Fortunately, Williams can do both.
Another player whose tape I would recommend as a fun watch was Maryland’s Tai Felton. Last year I joked that Ricky Pearsall would be my nomination for an “All-Juice Team” among receiver prospects for his combination of electric speed and moxy. This year he passes that baton to Felton.
We’re going to take a tour through Big 10 country next. We know Coach Tomlin has an affinity for Terps and guys from Virginia, so let’s check out Tai Felton.
Felton is ⚡️ in a bottle who also gets some extra credit for his passion. Felton’s a bit of a yapper & energizes his team pic.twitter.com/xwZok2bYvu
I swear I wasn’t looking for this when I was scouting prospects, but Felton is another player who showed loyalty sticking with Maryland for all four years of college. He’s easy to root for, as you can see his passion for the game in several of these clips. He’s the type of guy who brings energy to the huddle. Looking into his background, Felton played blocking tight end in his high school’s Wishbone offense, which explains why he plays like a much larger person than he is.
At 6’1 and 183 pounds, Felton has a sleight frame and I’d like to see him get into the 190s. However, he doesn’t shy away from contact and fights for extra yards. If he sheds a tackle, his quick burst makes him a threat to defenses. pic.twitter.com/Yfno7FHqV1
Felton’s production increased each year, primarily starting out as a special teams player and steadily gaining more involvement in the offense. After a 723-yard, 6-touchdown junior campaign, Felton broke out his senior year, finishing fourth in the nation in receptions (96), 15th in receiving yards (1,124), and 20th in touchdowns (9).
Felton’s had one of the better Combine performances this year. His 4.37-speed (90th percentile), 10-yard split (81st percentile), 39 1/2” vertical (89th percentile) and 10’10 broad jump (91st percentile) all indicate a player with top-level speed and a sudden get off.
And don’t let Felton’s stature lull you into thinking he’s not a threat in the Red Zone. pic.twitter.com/MnDdD1cQCZ
While Felton’s speed is tantalizing, he isn’t without his flaws. Felton’s size makes him another player who will have to prove he can be more than a slot player at the next level. If he’s going to hang in the NFL, he’ll either have to prove that he can beat physical corners on the outside or that he can provide run blocking from the slot. If not, he could find himself in a much narrower role.
Chimere Dike, Florida
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Age: Turns 23 in December
Height/weight: 6’1, 196 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/8”
RAS: 9.69
The last player we’ll highlight is Chimere Dike (pronounced CHIM-ray Dee-Kay). Dike spent four years at Wisconsin before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. When looking at his production, Dike doesn’t have a production profile that will get anyone excited. But when I threw on the tape, I saw an athletic player with tools that could be molded into a useful role player.
With Calvin Austin entering the final year of his rookie contract, I would view Dike as competition for Roman Wilson to take over that role. He possesses similar speed (4.34 40-time) and is much more active blocking downfield than the diminutive Austin.
Dike’s route tree still could use further development, but he’s already highly effective on the types of crossing routes the Steelers often deploy for Austin. In 2024, 44% of Dike’s targets came on these types of routes which he paid off with 18.6 yards per catch.
Next, we can’t get through this exercise without an SEC prospect. Florida transfer WR Chimere Dike (pronounced D-K) started out at Wisconsin. If you’re looking for a guy that crushes on crossing routes, Dike is your guy. pic.twitter.com/ySsShI44fM
When I watch Dike’s tape, I see an imperfect player, but one whose role would be immediately obvious early in his career. He can round his routes — which might be why Florida had him run so many crossers — and he struggles against more physical corners who are able to jam him early or force him to fight through contact at the catch point.
But he has enough flashes on his tape that a late-round pick is a worthy gamble if a staff can refine his game further. I looked at Calvin Austin’s career thus far as the production floor for Dike. If he can develop further, a vertical slot role like Christian Kirk’s could be his ceiling.
That isn’t to say Dike doesn’t have other tools in his bag. Dike wasn’t a high volume target, but I think there is a role for him in the NFL as a WR 3 who could develop into a WR2 a team. pic.twitter.com/Mg41MjcUhJ
Outside Looking In: Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor was one of the Combine’s freakiest size-speed prospects (6’4, 218 pounds, 34 3/8” arms with 4.40 speed and an 11’1 broad jump) but his tape didn’t match his testing. He’ll turn 24 in June which makes me less inclined to take him on as a developmental project… Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton Jr. is another height-speed freak (4.30 40-time at 6’5) but at 205 pounds he’s incredibly slender and I believe is more likely to serve in a Marquez Valdez-Scantling vertical decoy style role than he is to be the next Martavis Bryant … Virgina Tech’s Jaylin Lane is another interesting slot player to keep an eye on. However, I preferred Jackson and Williams, leaving little room for Lane on this list… Miami’s Xavier Restrepo (5’9, 209 pounds) is a good ball player, but with Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson already on the team, I’m not sure the Steelers could afford to roster another receiver that size.
Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!
Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.
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The Falcons held onto Cousins long enough for $10MM of his 2025 salary to vest into a full guarantee and have signaled their willingness to keep him as an expensive backup this season. He would prefer to find a starting job elsewhere, though he’s wary of a repeat of last year’s situation in Atlanta. The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $160MM deal in March and drafted Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick six weeks later. That put pressure on the 13-year veteran to live up to his contract while making it clear that he was not the team’s long-term quarterback.
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