The 2025 NFL Draft is only a few days away, which leads Steelers Nation into a nail-biting frenzy as to which players the team will select throughout the three-day event. Of course, I’m no different! I’ve been agonizing over the last few months as to what the team needs are versus the players they’d like to add.
In this article it’s slim pickings as the Steelers traded away their second round draft pick for Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf. That leaves us with only two selections in the top 100. Yikes!
Many believe that Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan will make another trade on draft day to acquire more capital, but within the confines of the rules I’ve established over the years, I’m stuck with the original picks. As a refresher, here are my mock draft ethics:
- I keep top 30 visits to the Steelers facility, past draft history, and Mike Tomlin‘s pro day visits in mind.
- I ran several simulations to come up with a somewhat realistic approach to my fantasy, er, mock draft.
- While enticing, I stick with the Steelers’ original picks: Most simulators are biased and/or broken and can be gamed to skew the outcome of a draft.
Also, I only allow myself to take a player that’s available consistently when running several mocks through various services. Each of these platforms has a different “big board” that ranks rookie prospects in varying degrees. For example, Pro Football Focus consistently has Miami QB Cam Ward falling and available with the Steelers first round pick, while he’s an odds-on favorite to be chosen first overall by the Tennessee Titans.
As realistic as I try to be with these, it’s still just for fun to see if I can predict the unpredictable. I know my picks will be wrong, but alas, here are my predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft!
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First Round (21): Derrick Harmon, DL (Oregon)
This pick will be universally panned no matter who the Steelers select. This year’s quarterback class isn’t highly thought of outside of Ward, leading many to believe Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart will be sitting there at 21 for the Steelers. The problem is, are they worth taking in the first round, and how much of gamble is it to lead with either as your top pick?
The other consensus needs for the Steelers are thought to be defensive line and running back. Both positions are considered to be deep this year, but the issue is that the Steelers won’t have another selection until the third round, so which do you prioritize?
Taking a running back in the first round feels rich for a team turning to poverty, but there’s no mistaking the swing – and miss – with a quarterback would be dire as they need help in other areas. If anything, I’d love to trade back and gain extra picks, but that’s against my rules.
Most feel as if the Steelers re-signing Mason Rudolph to add experience to their quarterback room isn’t enough. The coaching staff surely appreciates having a player who knows the rainbow riches of their offensive playbook, someone who is able to step in without missing a beat should the need arise. I know Pittsburgh needs an alternative, but I learned a lesson after the Kenny Pickett fiasco: reaching for a QB with a first round pick could hurt the roster in other ways.
With Michigan’s Kenneth Grant and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon on the board in round one, I started to lean toward defensive line. The Steelers have Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, two seasoned NFL veterans to split carries in the backfield. What they don’t have is a lot of depth on a line that got gashed by Derrick Henry, twice, during a five-game losing streak. They also need to begin planning for life after Cameron Heyward, who turns 36 in May.
In many of my mock’s Grant was already taken, and he wasn’t brought in for an official visit despite meeting with the team throughout various parts of the draft process.
Toledo’s Darius Alexander feels like a fit for the Steelers as a five-year player but he’s slightly older (turning 25 soon). Alexander is also from the MAC, a conference the Steelers don’t shy away from, but we’re talking about consistently playing against the Big Ten versus not.
That makes Harmon the pick. A versatile defender who can play anywhere along the line, Harmon could start in a traditional 3-4 while also rotating with Heyward or Keeanu Benton. Harmon’s ability to eat blocks and clog gaps is the missing piece to an otherwise stacked Steelers defense.
Also considered: Darius Alexander (DL, Toledo), Kenneth Grant (DL, Michigan), Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
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Third Round (83): TreVeyon Henderson, RB – Ohio State
The running back class is deep and unpredictable in this draft, leaving me to find my preferred back, Henderson, about half of the time I pick at 83. The Steelers brought in a plethora of backs that could be selected in any round, including Hampton, Henderson and more. Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, Central Florida’s R.J. Harvey, and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson are all noteworthy targets who I’d be happy with.
I’m also thinking ahead. If Jaylen Warren gets hurt and a mid-to-late round rookie such as Dylan Sampson (Tennessee) or Jaydon Blue (Texas) is thrust into action with a rookie quarterback such as Sanders or Dart, it could spell a bigger disaster than the Steelers have seen on offense over the last few seasons.
It’s Henderson that feels like a draft steal here at 83. If I can will it into existence, the Steelers will have found a four-year starter with 3,761 career rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns at Ohio State. Tack on another 853 yards and 6 touchdowns receiving, and Henderson looks like a nice consolation prize for passing on Hampton in the first round.
Also considered: Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa), Joshua Farmer (DL, Florida State)
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Fourth Round (123): Will Howard, QB (Ohio State)
I fully suspect that any draft lurkers have already taken their shot by the fourth round, meaning Ward goes to the Titans as expected, and the Browns, Giants, and Saints all risk higher picks on the likes of passers such as Sanders, Dart, and Milroe.
Unlike those teams, the Steelers can be patient, as they most likely have Aaron Rodgers on their speed dial to jump in and takeover. Regardless if Rodgers plays or not in 2025, Mason Rudolph has proven to be effective as a starter. He might not move the needle in ways that Josh Allen or Joe Burrow can, but handing off to Warren and Henderson while playing strong defense could still land Mike Tomlin another postseason berth.
The Steelers’ quarterback strategy reflects an organization embracing adaptability in the modern NFL. If Rodgers, Rudolph, or another veteran has disastrous results, Pittsburgh could jump ahead to giving playing time to a rookie. The test run would be similar to that of Justin Fields in 2024, where a 4-6 starts paints a picture as to where the team might go at the position in 2026. A poor season would mean that the Steelers are drafting higher. They’re also projected to have more picks, which would allow them to target their quarterback of the future in what looks to be a much deeper class next year.
As for now the pick is Will Howard, who did not visit the Steelers but had a dinner meeting with the team. Mike Tomlin loves his Buckeyes, and with Henderson, plus RB Quinshon Judkins attending too, it’s hard to overlook prospects from the NCAA National Champions.
The smokescreen the Steelers are sending is that they have interest in former Buckeye Kyle McCord or Louisville’s Tyler Shough. While both are similar targets for the team at this point in the draft, one of those players could be gone by pick 123. Howard, is the better bet of the three, with a larger frame that hasn’t turned the ball over as frequently and has been more durable throughout a five-year collegiate career. His 50 starts check the experience box too, with McCord (37) and Shough (42) having less big game experience.
Now, that’s not anointing Howard as the future, but imagine if Rudolph or Howard plays, and proves to be a long-term solution for the Steelers? It would be akin to San Francisco finding Brock Purdy, allowing for a nice window where Omar Khan and company can maximize their salary cap around a less expensive, but effective passer.
Also considered: Jaydon Blue (RB, Texas)
4-Round 2025 Steelers Mock Draft: When do they get a QB? appeared first on Steel City Underground.
