Category: NFL Football

Predicting how the 2025 Steelers draft class may shake out

With the 2024-25 season concluded, the Pittsburgh Steelers look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, set for Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. After a disappointing end to the season, the Steelers will look to fill some key holes with this year’s draft.

Without further adieu, here is an early 2025 Steelers mock draft with Pittsburgh’s current projected draft positions.

Round 1, Pick 21: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

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With Pittsburgh’s lack of receiver depth in 2024, many believe they will go that route in the early rounds of the 2025 draft. This also comes with the uncertainty of star receiver George Pickens’ status with the team entering the new season. Pickens was the clear leader for this receiver room last year but after their early exit from the playoffs, speculations have begun regarding where he will be in 2025.

At the No. 21 pick, someone like Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka looks to be a promising selection for the Steelers. Across Egbuka’s four years with the Buckeyes, he has brought in 199 receptions for 2,804 yards and 24 touchdowns. This season, he has 10 touchdowns to go with his 947 receiving yards. Egbuka and Ohio State being in the National Championship this year further increases the promising receivers’ draft stock, posting a 6-64-0 line in their win over Notre Dame.

Round 2, Pick No. 52: DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M

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Veteran sensation Cameron Heyward will look to build off his outstanding 2024 campaign as he and the Steelers move into 2025. Despite Heyward’s dominant play, his fellow defensive tackles could have done more. Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams all had strong moments throughout the season but seemed to lack sustainability. With that being said, adding a highly touted defensive tackle could be of high priority for Pittsburgh.

Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner is currently evaluated as a second-round pick that may fall to the Steelers in their draft range. Turner has a fast-twitch off the line that he carries into his strong rushes at the quarterback. Over his four years with the Aggies Turner went for 115 total tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Turner could be a strong piece if the Steelers look to add depth behind Heyward.

Round 3, Pick No. 83: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

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The Steelers signed quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson each to one-year deals knowing this dilemma would eventually come. With Fields having a strong opening to 2024 due to Wilson being sidelined by injury, fans were optimistic he could be the one. Then, Wilson returned from injury and took over as QB1 where he had his ups and downs. This now leaves GM Omar Khan with a decision to make regarding the most important position on the field. With it being doubtful the Steelers keep both Fields and Wilson, Jaxson Dart looks to be a valuable find in this draft.

Dart led Ole Miss to a strong 2024 campaign, where he and the Rebels started the season at 8-2. The opening ten games featured impressive wins over Georgia and Oklahoma. However, Ole Miss was unable to put it all together down the stretch as they found themselves in the Gator Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils. Here, Ole Miss trumped Duke by way of a 52-20 score. In the Gator Bowl, Dart shined, throwing four touchdowns along with 404 yards and no picks. His 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions put him amongst College Football’s elite this season. Whatever the Steelers decide to do at quarterback, Dart could be a piece to build around for the future.

Round 4, Pick No. 121: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville

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The Steeler’s secondary performed better this year with the addition of Donte Jackson at cornerback. However, Jackson is now a free agent, and with his status being undetermined, snagging someone at this position in the draft could be key.

Quincy Riley, out of Louisville, is on the heels of a six-year collegiate career as he plans to enter the 2025 draft. His 2024 campaign features 33 total tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. If the Steelers can add a stable young talent to play alongside Joey Porter Jr. they may be set at cornerback for years to come.

Round 5, No. 161 IOL Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech

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A much improved offensive line in 2024 for Pittsburgh still features its holes. With Troy Fautanu and James Daniels sidelined nearly the entire season with injuries, the state of a fully healthy line is uncertain. Regardless, having depth at the position will be key as seen this season. For that reason, drafting someone in this position may pay off in the long run.

Texas Tech’s Caleb Rogers is listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and could provide more size on the interior of the line. If it is the end of the road for Daniels in the black and gold, the versatile Rogers could serve as a strong replacement for the future.

Round 7, Pick No. 223: WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado

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As stated previously, the Steelers are in dire need of building receiver depth. Whether they go all in during the draft or free agency, it is a position of optimal need. With that being said, grabbing someone late in the draft like LaJohntay Wester could be big for Pittsburgh.

Wester played alongside star Travis Hunter at Colorado, potentially stunting his true capabilities at the position. Wester spent 2020-2023 with Florida Atlantic University before coming to Colorado for his final season. In his final year with the Buffaloes, Wester nabbed 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite having such a talented WR room at Colorado, Wester still showed out and shows strong promise for an NFL squad.

Round 7, Pick No. 229: DL Yahya Black, Iowa

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Bolstering the defensive line could add to an already talented Steelers front. Giving Benton and Ogunjobi some competition at the position may help the Steelers succeed not only in the current time but also in the future.

Iowa’s Yahya Black spent all five years of his collegiate career with the Hawkeyes and is now prepared for the draft. Black’s final season features 34 total tackles including one sack, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. The 6-foot-5, 317-pound machine may be a late-round snag for one NFL squad.

Round 7, Pick No. 245: RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan

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The Steelers running back room is as unpredictable a spot on the roster as they come. With both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren being free agents, there are a plethora of options for Pittsburgh. Assuming they keep both, adding someone late in the draft to play behind the two could provide strong depth when necessary.

Donovan Edwards’s final year at Michigan did not go as expected for many people; his 589 yards and four touchdowns underwhelmed expectations, with him being the presumed No. 1 back. While he may not have shined this season, the potential looks to be there for the 6-foot-1 back. Taking Edwards late in the draft could shake out to be a steal if teams are willing to take the chance.

How would you feel if the Steelers ended up with this as their 2025 NFL Draft class? What would you prioritize differently? Let us know in the comments!

Pittsburgh’s draft slot is now official

With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 NFL season officially having come to a close, their spot in the 2025 NFL Draft is officially locked in. The Steelers will be picking 21st in the draft order after their 10-7 finish and first-round exit in the playoffs.

Though compensatory picks have yet to be awarded, here’s a look at the Steelers’ projected picks by round as it stands to close out the Divisional Round, per Tankathon. Keep in mind that the position of these picks may shift given that some of the teams whose picks the Steelers hold are still in playoff contention.

Steelers 2025 draft picks

• Round 1, Pick No. 21
• Round 2, Pick No. 52
• Round 3, Pick No. 83
• Round 4, Pick No. 121
• Round 5, Pick No. 161
• Round 6 — None
• Round 7, Picks No. 223, 229, 245

Steelers draft pick notes

Thanks to plenty of wizardry from Steelers GM Omar Khan, there are a few trades to be aware of when assessing Pittsburgh’s collection of draft picks in 2025. Here are a few considerations worth noting:

• The Steelers owned both their own 2025 fifth-round pick, as well as a fifth-round pick acquired from the Los Angeles Rams acquired in the Kevin Dotson trade. The Steelers traded one of these picks to acquire WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets, but it’s unclear which of the two draft picks were involved in the trade.
• The Steelers sent a conditional sixth-round pick to acquire QB Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears that would escalate to a fourth-round pick if he played more than 51% of offensive snaps in 2024. Fields played 36.14% of offensive snaps, so the pick will be a sixth-rounder.
• The Steelers acquired a sixth-rounder from the Houston Texans in the trade of Kendrick Green.
• It’s unclear which of the sixth-round picks (Steelers, Texans) that the Rams and Bears received in their respective trades.
• In 2022, the Steelers traded a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick for William Jackson III and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Though it hasn’t explicitly been acknowledged that the conditions of the pick were not met, it would appear that is the case, as the Steelers traded away two sixth-round picks since, including one to the LA Rams and the aforementioned sixth-rounder sent for QB Justin Fields.
• The Steelers acquired two seventh-round picks from the Philadelphia Eagles in the Kenny Pickett trade — the two most favorable of the Broncos, Eagles, Falcons and Saints picks.
• The Steelers sent a conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 for OL Jesse Davis. It’s unclear if the conditions of the trade were met, so the team may or may not own its draft pick.
• The Steelers sent a seventh-round pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for LB Preston Smith. It’s unclear what draft pick was sent for Smith.

Free agency is right around the corner…

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season is over, and they enter 2025 with more questions than answers and a whole slew of pending free agents whose departure (or re-signings) could shape the future of what’s to come.

Here are four pending free agents the Steelers should consider bringing back in the 2025 NFL season.

QB Justin Fields

At one point this season, it looked like the Steelers would almost surely bring back Russell Wilson on a long-term contract. However, a five-game skid to close out the season should, at the very least, give the organization some pause when it comes to a potential second contract. Justin Fields, however, seems to have gained momentum as the team’s potential starter in 2025, having gone 4-2 in his short stint as QB1 prior to Wilson’s return from injury.

Fields brings a ton of athleticism that enables him to extend plays (and create) with his legs, while also having the ability to pass from the pocket — a true dual threat that offers a similar skillset that we once saw from Wilson in his prime.

The Steelers spent his first year with the team adjusting some of his mechanics (particularly in regard to his footwork) to help get back to his roots, and he’s now got a year under his belt in Arthur Smith’s run-friendly offense. With the right offensive system (and the right weapons in place), Fields could be a fairly low-cost option with long-term upside. At just 25 years old, the former first-round pick posted a career-best 93.3 NFL passer rating, 9% sack rate, 0.1% INT rate and 42.9% successful pass rate per Pro Football Reference.

RB Jaylen Warren (RFA)

The Pittsburgh Steelers passed on Najee Harris’ fifth-year option, citing the fact that it wasn’t yet clear what direction the offense was heading, Harris said himself. It is worth wondering if the potential to re-sign backup Jaylen Warren wasn’t also a factor in the equation, though. Warren, a third-year former UDFA out of Oklahoma State, dealt with some injuries throughout his 2024 campaign that forced him to miss three games altogether (and likely affected his overall efficiency to some degree). Over the past two seasons, however, Warren’s 31% missed forced tackle rate is tied to lead all RBs (min. 250 rush attempts), averaging 4.8 yards per carry (9th) and 3.5 yards after contact per rush attempt (6th). He may not be the type of workhorse that Harris has been, but the 2025 NFL Draft class is rich and deep at running back, and Warren is a very affordable complement for this roster that very much values running the football.

ILB Elandon Roberts

The Steelers made some splash plays at ILB over the past year, signing Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million deal that made him the highest-paid free agent in team history, as well as drafting rookie Payton Wilson out of NC State — arguably the best inside linebacker in the 2024 draft class, though health concerns saw him fall down draft boards. Still, with Cole Holcomb a potential cap casualty heading into 2025, Roberts should be considered a priority to retain for what he offers in terms of depth and his abilities as a run defender. Despite playing his fewest defensive snaps since the 2020 season, Roberts notches 10 pressures — the second most he’s ever had in a season — and was the team’s highest-graded run defender per PFF, credited with the fifth-most defensive stops all season.

WR Ben Skowronek

There were plenty of flaws in all phases of gameplay for the Steelers in 2024, but a consistent bright spot was the contributions of Danny Smith’s special teams — and Ben Skowronek was a big part of that. Though he totaled just 69 receiving yards over 10 games this year, he made several key plays on special teams, including the recovery of a muffed punt against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14.

Despite playing just 11 total games in 2024, Skowronek tied for the second-most tackles on special teams and earned the Steelers’ fifth-highest special teams grade on the year per PFF.

Which Steelers free agents would you like to prioritize re-signing in 2025? Check out the full list of Steelers free agents here!

7:30 PM EST

(6) Ohio State Buckeyes 13-2 vs (5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish 14-1 OSU-8.5O

It’s here folks, the final game of the 2024-25 college football season. Two teams with plenty of fans, and more who want them to lose every game.

Somewhere around half of the people tuning in will be happy in about 3 hours from now.

What’s your meal, which team are you pulling for/against, and which players are you watching? There’s a good article about players in this game here: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/1/19/24346095/notre-dame-vs-ohio-state-steelers-players-to-watch-2025-nfl-draft

Hopefully everyone will enjoy the game, no matter the outcome. That being said, Go Buckeyes!

The future Hall of Famer may become available

The Los Angeles Rams nearly completed a late comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. However, the Eagles held on for a six-point win to eliminate the Rams from the postseason.

That in mind, it was the post-game comments from head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford that caught the attention of many. McVay expressed how proud he is of Stafford, and Stafford himself was asked about his future, to which he said he feels like he’s got more football left in him.

Stafford has a potential out in his contract this offseason, which is making fans wonder if this past Sunday was his last game in a Rams uniform. With that in mind, should he become available, the Steelers should sprint to acquire him.

This is much different than going after a Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers. Stafford’s play hasn’t shown any signs of falling off, and he’s coming off another very good year, finishing 11th in success rate and with a passer rating north of 93. Even though Stafford will be 37 when the 2025 season kicks off, he is still one of the 10-12 best quarterbacks in football. Bringing him in, and getting real weapons to put around him would make the Steelers instantly better.

More awards pour in for the Steelers’ best.

It’s awards season for the NFL’s best, and three Steelers just received another accolade following impressive regular season performances.

The Pro Football Writers of America named its 2024 All-NFL team today, and defensive lineman Cam Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt, and kicker Chris Boswell all made the cut.

Unsurprisingly, all three also made the PFWA’s All-AFC team.

Heyward and Boswell are not surprising inclusions. Both made the AP’s All-Pro first team this season, with Heyward having an eight-sack season at age 35 as one of the NFL’s top interior linemen. Boswell went an incredible 41/44 on field goal attempts in the regular season.

Watt, who finished outside of the NFL’s top five in sacks for his first full season since 2018, was a bit more surprising to see on the list as he was not an AP first-team All-Pro. Still, he was undoubtedly one of the NFL’s top edge rushers, finishing second in the league in tackles for loss and first in forced fumbles.

The PFWA separates outside linebackers from defensive ends on its ballot, meaning Watt and Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto were named the best at their position. At defensive end, Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson were the picks.

Chris Jones joined Heyward as the picks for interior defensive line.

This year’s PFWA honors further add to the impressive Steelers careers of Heyward, Watt, and Boswell.

The Steelers add some offseason depth at running back.

The Steelers continue to make offseason roster moves. On Monday, the team announced the signing of running back Jonathan Ward to a reserve/future contract.

Ward should be a familiar name to Steelers fans. He’s been part of over 15 roster moves since first signing with the team in May of 2024. Ward spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad and active roster over the season, appearing in four games. He rushed five times for 22 yards over that span, adding 59 special teams snaps.

The 27-year-old running back will now stay with the Steelers through the 2025 offseason. Given his experience with the team, he could be a name to keep an eye on if the Steelers shuffle their running back room entering the new season.

Ward has recorded 143 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown over his time in the NFL, but more importantly, he’s an experienced special teamer who’s also returned a few kicks over his five-year career.

The Steelers now have 81 players on the team between the active roster, reserve/future contracts, and reserve/injured list. Cole Holcomb remains on the PUP list while Markus Golden is still on the reserve/retired list heading into the new league year.

Having played out the first three seasons of his rookie contract, George Pickens is eligible for an extension. In spite of that fact – and his status as a potential 2026 free agent – his Steelers future remains a notable point of discussion and uncertainty.

Entering the draft, Pickens was regarded as one of the most talented prospects at the receiver position. Character concerns played a role in his drop to the second round, but expectations remained relatively high for his rookie campaign. Serving as a No. 2 option to Diontae Johnson, Pickens posted 801 yards on an average of 15.4 per reception in 2022. During the following season he took over as Pittsburgh’s top option in the passing game, leading the league with an 18.1 yards per catch average and recording a 63-1,140-5 statline.

Johnson was traded away last offseason, but that move and the decision to release Allen Robinson left the Steelers short on established wideouts. Efforts to make a major addition by trade (in particular Brandon Aiyuk during the summer and Christian Kirk ahead of the deadline) did not result in a deal being made. Pickens therefore remained the top catalyst on offense for the Steelers, a unit which struggled mightily down the stretch. Part of Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak (counting the wild-card round) to close out the campaign included Pickens’ missed time due to a hamstring injury, but even upon return he had an inconsistent showing.

While sorting out the quarterback position is an obvious priority for the Steelers this offseason, adding at the WR spot is another. Acquiring a new No. 1 option through free agency, trade or the draft would be challenging for general manager Omar Khan, but doing so could open the door to moving on from Pickens. As Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes, trading away the 23-year-old is an option the team may be prepared to explore if a major pickup were to be made this spring.

Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson are recent midround receiver draftees, but further investment will be needed moving forward. As Kaboly adds, selecting a wideout in the first round of April’s draft would not come as a surprise; that would of course be particularly true if Pickens were to be dealt. Finding a suitor willing to acquire and extend the Georgia product could be difficult, though.

Pickens is in line for a second contract any time between now and next offseason, and the top of the receiver market sits at $35MM per year. Matching Justin Jefferson’s compensation (or that which Ja’Marr Chase is in line to receive soon) would be a stretch, but Pickens could easily join the list of receivers (which currently sits at 23) making $20MM or more on average per year on an extension. He comfortably led Pittsburgh in receiving in 2024 and will be expected to continue as one of the league’s premier deep threats and contested catch specialists on the Steelers or another team moving forward.

Head coach Mike Tomlin – who will remain in place as Pittsburgh’s head coach for 2025 – has a reputation of maximizing the potential of wideouts carrying off-the-field and attitude concerns. That has been the case so far with Pickens, although earlier this year Tomlin admitted in a post-game press conference his team’s WR1 needs to “grow up.” The sentiment regarding Pickens around the league will (along with financial considerations) be a key factor in determining his potential trade market.

Of course, the Steelers have the option of keeping Pickens in place for at least one more season. A franchise tag could also be used to retain him for the 2026 season if no long-term commitment is made, although by that point it will be clearer if team and player wish to continue their relationship. Should the Steelers open extension talks in the near future, the likelihood of a trade would obviously decrease. In the event negotiations are put on hold or do not progress as planned, however, the possibility of making a deal will no doubt be raised in Pickens’ case.

Who’s ready for some more playoff football??? The Rams are headed to Philly for a Divisional Round showdown! And if Saturday’s NFC matchup taught us anything, it’s that you just never know what’s in store.

What are your predictions for tonight’s game? Join your fellow Steelers fans in the comments as we sit back and watch some more playoff football.

Divisional Round Edition

Final Friendly Classico 77 until the winter season starts. It’ll be chilly, and the field we play at is on top of a hill that has its own weather pattern, so it could be snowing or sunny, I’ve seen both on the same day. See everyone around 1 pm pt.

Give us your thoughts about the NFL and your day so far, prior to the games beginning.

Go either Rams or Eagles!

Go Bills!!!!