NFL Draft HQ 2025: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
The Pittsburgh Steelers have six overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with the 21st overall in the first round. Here are the team’s picks:
• Round 1, selection 21 overall
• Round 3, selection 83
• Round 4, selection 123
• Round 5, selection 156
• Round 6, selection 185 (from Bears via Seahawks)
• Round 7, selection 229 (from Falcons via Eagles)
TribLive sports writers Joe Rutter, Chris Adamski and Tim Benz have dug into what the Steelers are looking for in the 2024 NFL Draft. They also looked at all the top players available at each position and put together who they think the Steelers will take. (See the stories below.)
The 2024 NFL Draft will kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday and will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN and ABC. It will also be live-streamed on NFL+, and ESPN+.
This year the draft is taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with events happening inside and around Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. Next year the draft is coming to Pittsburgh with events set to take place at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium.
Follow @TribJoeRutter, @C_AdamskiTrib and @TimBenzPGH on X for live coverage of the draft.
Mock drafts
Joe Rutter’s mock draft: Steelers will turn attention to defensive line, draft Derrick Harmon
In his first two drafts as Steelers general manager, Omar Khan went to great lengths to fortify the offensive line. Expect him to begin a reconstruction of the defensive line this year.
Chris Adamski’s Steelers mock draft: Run-stopping DT is priority, so QB will have to wait
Remember the most recent time the Pittsburgh Steelers took the field? If you’re a fan of the team, you probably don’t want to. But rest assured, team management does. And what stood out most about the 28-14 beatdown to the rival Ravens during the Jan. 11 wild-card playoff game in Baltimore was the 299 rushing yards the home team effortlessly racked up.
News
Could this be year Steelers buck history and trade back in 1st round of NFL Draft?
The year 2001 was the last time the Steelers traded back in the first round of the NFL Draft, moving down three spots in a deal with the New York Jets and taking nose tackle Casey Hampton with the No. 19 pick.
Penn State’s Abdul Carter expected to go top 3 in NFL Draft, could be perfect fit for Giants
Over his 42-game Penn State career, Abdul Carter had an indelible effect on the Nittany Lions program. It didn’t take him quite that long to make his first impact.
TE Gavin Bartholomew might be Pitt’s best draft prospect
Gavin Bartholomew arrived at Pitt as a recruit “flipped” from the University of Buffalo during that crazy pandemic year of 2020.
Steelers to host NFL Draft watch party
With the 21st pick in the 2025 National Football League Draft the Pittsburgh Steelers choose… Fans are invited to be on hand when the team announces that pick on Thursday at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for a free draft watch party beginning at 7 p.m.
Steelers, Mike Tomlin reiterate that Aaron Rodgers’ status won’t affect potentially drafting QB
Forget what the pundits and draftniks say, Omar Khan said. A mediocre crop of quarterbacks available in next week’s draft? The Steelers general manager disagrees.
Jeannette grad Marcus Barnes confident his name will be called in NFL Draft
He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, but all that did was give Jeannette’s Marcus Barnes more mental leverage, more fuel to prove the doubters wrong. He could have a life-changing week, have his dreams come true, but he won’t hide the giant chip on his shoulder along the way.
Steelers draft preview
Quarterback
Steelers among NFL teams putting quarterbacks under microscope
Quarterback was the least of the Steelers’ concerns a year ago heading into the NFL Draft. They had three veterans under contract, including a Super Bowl champion and a first-round pick trying to invigorate his career. But with all three passers on one-year contracts, the Steelers knew the situation would be different in 2025.
Running back
After losing Najee Harris, Steelers have plenty of RB options in draft
For the past four seasons, Najee Harris’ durability and consistency were valued commodities for the Steelers. Harris never missed a game and, while he rarely popped a breakaway run, he topped 1,000 yards in each season.
Wide receiver
WR could be in play for Steelers regardless of George Pickens’ future
Until the Steelers acquired DK Metcalf in a trade, wide receiver was a priority position to fill early in the NFL Draft. It still could be — depending on what the Steelers do with George Pickens.
Tight end
Patience pays off for former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren
Penn State is historically known for churning out linebackers to the NFL. Tyler Warren did his best last year to help carve out a niche for his position on offense. Tight End U, anyone?
Interior linemen
Interior of offensive line no longer immediate concern for Steelers
After spending five draft picks over the past two years on the offensive line, including three on the interior, the Steelers are expected to use their resources elsewhere this year.
Offensive tackles
Steelers to look elsewhere after taking tackles past 2 years in 1st round
Until the first year of the Omar Khan-Andy Weidl regime atop the front office, the Steelers hadn’t selected an offensive tackle in the first round of an NFL Draft since 1996.
Edge rusher
Deep edge rusher class could be intriguing to Steelers
With outside linebacker T.J. Watt entering the final year of his contract amid rumors that extension talks have stalled, the thought of the Steelers using the No. 21 overall pick on an edge rusher isn’t so far-fetched.
Defensive lineman
Potential Steelers draft pick Derrick Harmon ready to take next step
Feeling he needed a change of scenery, Derrick Harmon left the comforts of home, flew across the country and spent a season on the West Coast. All to prove he had the potential to be a high NFL draft pick.
Inside linebackers
Son of former Steelers player, Carson Bruener trying to make name at ILB
Carson Bruener wanted to play college football. Just like his father. Check. He wanted to attend Washington. Just like his father. Check. He wanted to be a tight end. Just like his father. Um, not so fast.
Safety
Steelers could stand pat at safety amid class that gets little love from experts
Minkah Fitzpatrick encountered a third partner at safety in as many seasons when the Steelers signed free agent DeShon Elliott last offseason. The Steelers thought enough of the pairing — they used Terrell Edmunds in 2022 and Keanu Neal in 2023 — that they apparently will maintain the status quo in 2025.
Cornerback
CB/WR Travis Hunter brings unique value to top of his class
If the top of the NFL Draft unfolds the way most experts predict, the Steelers will be facing the Heisman Trophy winner — and an unprecedented two-way talent — two times a season.
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview
Tim Benz: What the Steelers will do — and what they should do — in the 2025 NFL Draft
We’ve finally reached the 2025 draft for the Steelers and the rest of the NFL. Here’s our “Breakfast With Benz” analysis of what the Steelers should do — and what they will do — this weekend.
Not enough ‘superhero’ in Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart for Steelers
In the first podcast episode of our annual NFL Draft preview series, we focus on the quarterback position. As recently as a few weeks ago, with the 21st pick in the first round, the Steelers weren’t expected to swim in those waters.
Tim Benz: Of all the Steelers’ QB options, this idea is the worst of the bunch
There are many options for what the Steelers should do at quarterback this year: draft a potential starter, continue the free-agent pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, or one that Tim Benz absolutely hates.
When Steelers should select a RB — and who they might get when they do
The Steelers have Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Cordarrelle Patterson ready to replace Najee Harris at running back. But all three of those players totaled 1,442 yards from scrimmage last year.
Multiple reasons Steelers may go TE before WR
As our series of pre-NFL Draft podcasts shifts to the pass catchers, our former NFL and college scout, Matt Williamson, has a very different opinion of the talent available at wide receiver and tight end.
Bet on 1 of these 3 defensive linemen to be the Steelers’ 1st-round pick
In this year’s NFL Draft, two pools of talent that are particularly deep appear to be along the defensive line and at running back. That’s good because the Steelers need help at both positions.
Little reason to think secondary will be primary target for Steelers
For the finale of our pre-NFL Draft podcasts with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, we didn’t exactly save the best for last by waiting until Wednesday to discuss the secondary.
Mark Madden
The Steelers should do the obvious Thursday and draft a much-needed defensive lineman with the 21st pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. Save fixing quarterback till 2026. That draft is stronger at QB and, with any luck, the Steelers go 5-12 this coming season to get a better pick.
Mark Madden: With Deion sure to interfere, Steelers should steer clear of Shedeur Sanders
The Steelers would be insane to draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sure, they’d get a legit first-round talent. But they would also get the nuttiest Little League dad this side of LeBron James.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.