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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.

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.

This mock draft has the same rules applied to it as my first a few days ago. To summarize, I attempt to keep the mock draft as realistic as I can within an established set of rules. (That means no trades!) Also, I only allow myself to take a player that’s consistently available. With that said, I allowed a little leeway with this draft based on a few biases I have toward positions of need versus the best player available.

Even when trying to be realistic, remember this is an entertaining exercise that will likely miss the mark. No onward to my predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft!

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First Round (21): Omarion Hampton, RB – North Carolina

Could it be a quarterback? That’s what a lot of the highest rated casinos believe the Steelers will pick, but I think it’s a smokescreen for their true plans. This year’s quarterback class is thought of as a down year, with Miami’s Cam Ward in his own tier and likely being picked first overall by the Tennessee Titans. After Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is believed to be the next-best passer with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart also invited to the green room on Thursday night, hoping for his name to be announced in the first round as well.

If anyone’s learned their lesson from taking Kenny Pickett in the same spot in 2022, it’s the Steelers. Granted, their next franchise quarterback will likely come from the NFL Draft, but this isn’t the year to take a flyer on one. Defensive line and running back are the other glaring needs for Pittsburgh. 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. While I’ve run drafts where the Steelers can land Michigan’s Kenneth Grant or Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, I’m led to the best available player on the board who can play on day one and potentially be a star: Omarion Hampton.

Should Hampton slip by by the Denver Broncos at pick 20 I feel he’s the best bet for Pittsburgh long-term. Hampton would not only replace but upgrade Najee Harris, who signed with the Chargers this offseason. If anything, I’d love to trade back and gain an extra pick to snag one of these plays in round two, but remember, that’s against my rules.

That’s okay, because Hampton can be a three-down back who helps support whoever the quarterback is. He’s physical, and offers more as a pass blocker or catcher than Harris did. The Steelers have Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, two seasoned NFL veterans to split carries in the backfield, but both are tied to the team one one-year deals at best: and each has health and ball security issues that makes them far from reliable for a 17-game season.

With 38 games at UNC, Hampton amassed 3,565 rushing yards with 36 rushing touchdowns and added 635 receiving yards with 4 touchdowns on 38 receptions. Ball protection is no problem, as Hampton has no credited fumbles to his name over his last three seasons with the Tarheels. He feels like the best bet to step in and contribute on the field right away.

Also considered: TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)

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Third Round (83): Darius Alexander, DL – Toledo

I still believe the quarterbacks the Steelers are looking at will be around with pick 123 in the fourth round. So, I now have my eyes set on an interior defensive lineman, which becomes a position of need after running back is settled.

What the Steelers 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 must plan on facing Henry up to three times this year, but they also need to begin planning for life after Cameron Heyward, who turns 36 in May.

The good news is, Heyward isn’t going anywhere just yet. With a draft deep with defensive linemen one will fall down to 83 to the Steelers. By this point, I suspect that at least three or four quarterbacks are taken, and that the remaining passers will be available 40 picks from now. Besides, it’s unlikely a third round quarterback will be a Week 1 starter in Pittsburgh anyway.

My reasoning for passing on d-line in the first round pick is that player won’t see the field right away. With a healthy Heyward and Keeanu Benton, the next available lineman may be lucky to play half of the defensive snaps, especially in their first season. That will help groom Heyward’s successor for future seasons as they ease into more playing time.

Enter Alexander, a nice fit to play inside in the Steelers 3-4 scheme. Listed as 6’4″ 305 lbs., Alexander could fit anywhere along the defensive front. He fits the Steelers long-standing tradition of finding players in smaller conferences such as the MAC and is a five-year collegiate player with a whopping 58 games played. That also means he’s an older player getting his start in the NFL, which I believe will cause him to drop into the Steelers lap at 83.

Let other teams make that mistake: a mature adult is precisely what this defense needs as they snag one of the standouts from the Senior Bowl.

Also considered: Joshua Farmer (DL, Florida State)

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Fourth Round (123): Will Howard, QB (Ohio State)

By this point Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe should be long gone. That’s why I went with Alexander in round three, with the hopes of cashing in on any number of passers still around in round four.

A day three target doesn’t indicate a future starter, but stranger things have happened in the NFL. Even if this pick were to turn into a longer term backup, there’s nothing wrong with that. A reliable backup that can win games is also coveted in a league that sees teams regularly go 2-3 players deep on their quarterback depth charts. (See also: Mason Rudolph.)

In my other mock I soundly went with Ohio State’s Will Howard. I believe he has the same size and toughness as Ben Roethlisberger. I don’t think there’s enough separation between Howard and Dart to merit using a higher pick on Dart. And I don’t think that Milroe or Texas’ Quinn Ewers are in the same category as Howard, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, or Syracuse’s Kyle McCord. Shough and McCord have big arms but also carry injury or turnover concerns that Howard hasn’t had.

Howard’s experience will be a big factor having appeared in 50 games over a five-year collegiate career. That experience includes winning the National Championship in the first expanded College Football Playoff. He also has nearly 9,800 yards passing, including 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns last season with the Buckeyes.

Those factors will at least give Howard some consideration to compete for a backup spot, albeit that time may not come until 2026, should the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers.

Also considered: Kyle McCord (QB, Syracuse), Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)

Joe Kuzma’s 4-round 2025 Steelers mock draft: First round running back? appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Mock drafting the National Football League can be as complex as getting a perfect March Madness bracket and no matter how many predictive models get mixed with facts – like team visits, pro days, meetings – it can be hit and miss. With the Pittsburgh Steelers preparing for this week’s 2025 NFL Draft, it’s impossible to know with 100 percent certainty what the team will do once they’re on the clock. We can as fans, however, make educated predictions.

Looking over all the visits the Steelers have and have not made this spring, my magic 8 ball for the first round of this year’s draft keeps coming up with one position when I flip it: defensive tackle.

The Steelers had four defensive tackles in for official ’30’ visits and another four defensive linemen. It’s not a secret that the team needs to find talent on their defensive front with Larry Ogunjobi’s departure and Cameron Heyward entering the latter years of his career.

Pittsburgh covets strength in the trenches, and they’re in need of better pressure and run stopping prowess along the defensive line.

Several of the players they visited with that play those positions did not align with a first-round talent score. Not that pre-draft scores have ever been incorrect – they have. One player the Steelers have shown interest in that does score high happens to play defensive tackle and is predicted to be available without needing to move up to select him: Derrick Harmon.

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Why Harmon?

After spending three seasons developing from a 3-star recruit to a solid defensive piece at Michigan State, Harmon rolled the dice that his transfer to Oregon would be transformational. That roll paid off.

The 6’5″, 310-pound interior defender went from being a rotational player to a cornerstone of the Ducks’ dominant defensive front. Part of the historic 13-0 run that led to the Big 10 championship title, Harmon was the anchor.

An area that Harmon excels in is quarterback hurries (39 in 2023) and his quick first step found him in many opponents’ offensive backfields wreaking havoc. Harmon has raw power off of the snap that forced opponents to adjust their protection schemes to keep their quarterbacks in play. He’d get double-teamed and chipped yet still find ways to dominate, especially against the run.

That isn’t to say Harmon can’t act as a pass rusher, though. He found ways to penetrate gaps and be disruptive while showing he is scheme-versatile.

That type of versatility is the type of skill the Steelers love to build on and develop.

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What scouts have pointed out

Harmon impressed pro scouts with the elite upper body strength and core strength he exhibits while utilizing big hands to win leverage battles. Possessing an impressive rip move, Harmon has three-down potential. His awareness and play recognition skills have shown Harmon has the ability to diagnose plays before the snap and get into position to beat blocks and stuff runs.

Harmon has big dog mentality in competition, and isn’t afraid of contact maintaining gaps or collapsing pockets. He can work down the line well laterally and is quick to adjust.

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Why DT over any other position?

The Steelers obviously have pressing issues at quarterback. After assembling a bevy of mock models, it seems clear that Pittsburgh can still get a rookie at that position in a later round and not suffer irreparable damage.

Likewise, the Steelers could use a running back to develop. The rushers they met with were not, as a group, ranked high as first-round talent. That seems to indicate that the scouting group has found at least one player they feel will be available and address depth at that position.

The defensive line, though, has been a concern over the past two NFL seasons. Just when the Steelers thought they were solid, someone – including Ogunjobi – would suffer a setback. They were especially vulnerable against teams that fielded big rushers and quarterbacks willing to use their feet.

Harmon is unlikely to make it past the opening round of the draft. The other players the Steelers visited with may still be quality options, but they’re not quite as NFL-ready as Harmon is.

Again, predictions are like a magical potion of fact, feeling, sight, gut, and gambles. Nothing in the NFL Draft is certain until the team’s pick is in and official.

But, taking everything into consideration, grabbing a Top 10 defensive lineman off the board in the first round makes the most long term sense for a Steelers team that has boosted nearly every other position on defense leading up to the draft.

NFL Draft Prediction: Steelers take defensive tackle in first round appeared first on Steel City Underground.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have completed their visits with prospects for the upcoming 90th annual National Football League’s Player Selection Meeting, or 2025 NFL Draft. The events will be held at Lambeau Field and adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Beginning on April 24, the event will feature the first round selections and will continue through April 25 and 26.

Pittsburgh has wrapped up its pre-draft visits – 30 officially allotted visits plus local meeting that do not count towards the allotment – and looks ahead to the upcoming events in Green Bay. As the big boards are finalized, and mock drafts completed, we assembled a list of the visits for fans. This list is corroborated by the following range of sources: the Steelers (officially), local news outlets (like KDKA, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), and national news outlets (ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.), as well as confirmations from our own sources.

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The list of 30

We have compiled the pre-draft visitors by the last names in alphabetical order for ease of access for fans.

• Alexander, Darius – DL (Toledo)
• Amos, Trey – CB (Ole Miss)
• Black, Yayha – DT (Iowa)
• Blue, Jaydon – RB (Texas)
• Caldwell, Jamaree – DL (Oregon)
• Dart, Jaxson – QB (Ole Miss)
• Emmanwori, Nick – S (South Carolina)
• Farmer, Joshua – DL (Florida State)
• Giddens, D.J. – RB (Kansas State)
• Golden, Matthew – WR (Texas)
• Gordon II, Ollie – RB (Oklahoma State)
• Hampton, Omarion – RB (North Carolina)
• Harmon, Derrick – DT (Oregon)

DRAFT NEWS:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have scheduled a Top-30 Visit with Oregon DT Derrick Harmon.

Harmon is a Top 5 defensive linemen in this years class, and after an impressive Combine and 2024 season, expect him to hear his name called on Day 1. pic.twitter.com/I5IomHRfax

— Steelers Draft HQ (@SteelersDraftt) April 9, 2025

• Harrison-Hunte, Jared – DT (SMU)
• Harvey, R.J. – RB (UCF)
• Henderson, TreVeyon – RB (Ohio State)
• Higgins, Jayden – WR (Iowa State)
• Johnson, Kaleb – RB (Iowa)
• McCord, Kyle – QB (Syracuse)
• Noel, Jaylin – WR (Iowa State)
• Pegues, J.J. – DT (Ole Miss)
• Roberts, Elijah – DL (SMU)
• Sampson, Dylan – RB (Tennessee)
• Sanders, Shedeur – QB (Colorado)

Steelers will visit today in Pittsburgh with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

Next week the Steelers also will host a visit for Syracuse QB Kyle McCord. pic.twitter.com/jrRIY8TS7P

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2025

• Shough, Tyler – QB (Louisville)
• Stewart, Shemar – EDGE (Texas A&M)
• Thomas, Azareye’h – CB (Florida State)
• Tuten, Bhayshul – RB (Virginia Tech)
• Walley, Justin – CB (Minnesota)
• Williams, Savion – WR (TCU)

Local visits (not counted)

• Bartholomew, Gavin – TE (Pitt)
• McMillon, Donovan – S (Pitt)
• Milum, Wyatt – OT (West Virginia)
• Sauls, Ben – K (Pitt)

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Draft order

Currently, the Steelers hold pick No. 21 overall. They also hold the 83rd overall pick in Round 3, 123rd overall pick in Round 4, 156th overall pick in Round 5, 185th overall pick in Round 6 (from Seattle through Chicago), and 229th overall pick in Round 7 (from Atlanta through Philadelphia). They traded their Round 2 pick to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the D.K. Metcalf trade.

Steelers: Completed pre-draft visits, draft overview appeared first on Steel City Underground.

In case you missed it (or anything) the SCU Week in Review recaps all articles, videos, posts and more, shared via Steel City Underground’s various platforms throughout the week.

Prediction time! Let’s mock the Steelers 2025 mock drafts!

Joe and Brian are back with another 2025 NFL Draft preview as the hosts discuss an annual tradition of mocking the mock drafts.

Mock drafts can be found anywhere on the Internet. Some are better than others, and many are repetitive. Regardless, they are a fun exercise and this year’s draft predictions for the Steelers, unlike previous years, are all over the map!

See which drafts the hosts like, which they loathe, and which ideas they scoff at in this edition of the SCU Steelers Podcast.

View the video below on YouTube or visit our podcast page to find it on all popular audio platforms.

Weekly Highlights

How Steelers 2024 class sets up 2025 NFL Draft

How Steelers 2024 class sets up 2025 NFL Draft

Three first round draft targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Three first round draft targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers put 2024 in their rearview as they enter the NFL Draft and offseason

Steelers put 2024 in their rearview as they enter the NFL Draft and offseason

Throwback Thursday: Most recent Steelers draft pick in Top 10

Throwback Thursday: Most recent Steelers draft pick in Top 10

The Steelers must gamble in the draft to find their next quarterback

The Steelers must gamble in the draft to find their next quarterback

Plays of the Year: Herbig strip leads to Wilson scoop and score

Plays of the Year: Herbig strip leads to Wilson scoop and score

SCU Week in Review – April 20th appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the top runs, catches, hits, and everything else in between from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season.

Due to the way the NFL structured the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 schedule, the team would not play any AFC North opponents before Week 11. Following Week 11, it was an onslaught of division rivals through the following four weeks as the Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens first in Week 11, and would then visit the Cincinnati Bengals, sandwiched between two games against the Cleveland Browns.

It would be the Week 13 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals that got interesting, especially in the second half. The early December weather made for a chilly event, as the awkward stadium design allowed for whipping winds to blow off the Ohio River while the football field lighting design at Paycor Stadium caused trouble yet again, with the middle deck ribbon going out at times and displaying the wrong game clock at others.

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Despite these shortcomings, the Steelers were ahead by ten points in the waning moments of the third quarter. That’s when Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw a pass that was picked off by Steelers CB Donte Jackson. Disappointingly, Pittsburgh’s offense wasn’t able to convert on the turnover and was forced to punt the ball back to the Bengals.

Then, two playmakers on the Steelers’ defense made a statement.

The Bengals started their offensive series at their 11-yard line thanks to a good punt by Corliss Waitman. From the shotgun, Burrow completed two short passes; on the second to Tee Higgins, Joey Porter Jr. was called for defensive pass interference. On 1st & 10 from their 27-yard line, the Bengals chose to run, and then Burrow threw another short pass that was brought back due to an illegal formation penalty.

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On 3rd & 8 at the Cincinnati 29, Burrow was looking for an opportunity to get a strike to convert the down when Nick Herbig, playing at right outside linebacker in place of an injured Alex Highsmith, got off his blocker. As T.J. Watt applied pressure from the left, Herbig was able to stretch out his right arm and strip Burrow as he made the sack. T

he ball, loose on the turf, was scooped up by rookie linebacker Payton Wilson and ran to the end zone for a defensive touchdown.

Nick Herbig —> Payton Wilson: Strip, Scoop, Score #HereWeGo https://t.co/lQJ9DeLEI9

— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) December 1, 2024

The score would give the Steelers a sizeable advantage in the shootout, going up 41-24 with a little over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Yet, the Bengals would score two more touchdowns in a frantic comeback attempt.

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However, the Steelers were able to earn the team win with some smart gamesmanship of their own after securing an attempted onside kick. Justin Fields, on an obvious keeper play, went untouched for a seven-yard run that earned a first down conversion, sealing the victory.

The Steelers knelt down for two plays to run out the game clock and walked away with a victory, 44-38. They would improve 9-3 on the season, retaining a lead over the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North’s top spot as the scheduled dwindled down to five games remaining.

Plays of the Year: Herbig strip leads to Wilson scoop and score appeared first on Steel City Underground.

The NFL Draft is less than one week away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are tightly linked to this year’s quarterback class, since they do not appear to have a defined answer at the position.

After failing to revitalize the careers of former first-round picks (Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields) and Super Bowl-winning veterans (Russell Wilson) the team moves on yet again in their search to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger.

In order to find that replacement, Steelers GM Omar Khan may have to take some risks. Some risks, however, are weighted differently than others. Such is the gamble on finding a franchise quarterback, as teams either tank their seasons or trade away highly prized assets to acquire a top pick with the hopes of selecting a long-term star.

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There is no foolproof answer to finding a quarterback, however. While landing the top pick in the NFL Draft has yielded positive results, such as Joe Burrow or Andrew Luck, but even the top selection has its share of mixed success. While the story is still being written for Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, or Trevor Lawrence, we know the career trajectories of other first overall picks such as Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray.

That list doesn’t instill much confidence that using the top overall pick on a player guarantees superstardom. If anything, it shows the risk of giving up too much and missing on the position.

If the top overall pick yields mixed results, so does any first-round pick. The Steelers aren’t immune to this either, using their 2022 first-round selection to take Kenny Pickett, the first QB drafted in his class.

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While Pickett didn’t workout, the attempt was worth it for Pittsburgh if it did. The only risk involved was their draft pick, albeit a high one. There were no other assets at risk, such as a trade of draft picks or players – and it’s not as if first round picks have worked in the Steelers favor over the years anyway. All draft picks carry risk. In fact, you’d have a better chance of using a promo code for Wow Vegas and betting on which players get selected by what team than gambling on long-term success.

Since 2015, the Steelers have drafted the following players (aside from Pickett) in the first round: Bud Dupree, Artie Burns, T.J. Watt, Terrell Edmunds, Devin Bush, Najee Harris, Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu. While Watt was a homerun, and the last two choices are “to be determined” the others were hardly surefire picks for long-term success.

That’s why taking a quarterback that falls to them might be a wise decision for the Steelers. Yet, where they select that player could also mitigate the odds of said risk. Josh Allen was taken seventh overall in a class that saw Sam Darnold taken third and Josh Rosen taken tenth. Lamar Jackson was in the same class, but selected with pick 32.

Two years later, Burrow headlined a class featuring Tua Tagovailoa (pick 5), Justin Herbert (pick 6), Jordan Love (pick 26), and famously, Jalen Hurts, who was selected in the second round with pick 53.

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Steelers fans will quibble over not taking Jackson or Hurts in those drafts, yet it’s unlikely either quarterback has the same career path or success if they went to the Steelers. Jackson would’ve waited until 2022 to start behind Roethlisberger, as would’ve Hurts: but Jackson would’ve been on a new contract or a fifth-year option from his rookie deal and a big decision to be made on a player who saw limited time.

Hurts, on the other hand, was jeered by Eagles fans until he wasn’t. A great deal of Philadelphia’s success last season came from Saquon Barkley running the ball and a shutdown defense.

The Steelers could attempt the same pattern, but don’t forget those who wait later in the draft to select a passer might not find a Hurts – or a Brock Purdy or a Tom Brady, both of whom are extreme exceptions to the rule. It’s highly unlikely 32 NFL scouting departments all get a pick wrong, after all.

Of the 176 quarterbacks taken since 2010, 13 were selected in round two:

• Will Levis
• Kyle Trask
• Jalen Hurts
• Drew Lock
• DeShone Kizer
• Christian Hackenberg
• Derek Carr
• Jimmy Garoppolo
• Geno Smith
• Brock Osweiler
• Andy Dalton
• Colin Kaepernick
• Jimmy Clausen

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Few of those names have had a large amount of success in the league, yet the few times a team has risked those picks, it has paid off. The same can’t be said of the 49 quarterbacks taken in the first round, but that goes to show you how risky of a situation selecting a passer can be.

Of the 20 third-rounders since 2010, the most notable names are Russell Wilson, Mason Rudolph, Nick Foles, and Jacoby Brissett. Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins are the headliners of 23 fourth-rounders, with Gardner Minshew, Tyrod Taylor, Trevor Siemian, and Brock Purdy rounding out the final three rounds (71 quarterbacks).

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It speaks volumes to speculating on a passer, who then needs the time and support to properly develop into a franchise player. Should the Steelers take a swing at the quarterback position in this draft, they may want to swing early.

Waiting for Tyler Shough or Kyle McCord in the later rounds indicates they’ll be among the fifth or sixth quarterback drafted, and the odds of those players blossoming into stars are almost zero.

It’s better to take a shot at Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe, as free agency isn’t likely to yield a long-term solution, and hitting on a quarterback by risking a single pick could be the equivalent of winning the Powerball for an NFL franchise – so long as you’re not wasting tons of capital investing in that winning ticket!

The Steelers must gamble in the draft to find their next quarterback appeared first on Steel City Underground.