Steelers Mock Draft: Post Combine

Good day everyone! Glad to be back! AskQuestionsLater here with the 2025 Steelers Mock Draft. Quite a bit has happened since the end of the combine (today included) so there is a lot to discuss. With introductions out of the way, let us begin!


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Round 1: Pick 21:


Steelers select; Derrick Harmon: Defensive Lineman from the University of Oregon.


Back to back years selecting from the PAC 12?! Yep; you betcha. Troy Fautanu was one of the best picks from Day 1 of 2024. Sadly, he was not able to showcase that ability due to him being gone for the rest of the season via an injury. Thankfully though, he is back to full strength and will prove himself in 2025. Why lead off with Troy into Derrick?! Outside of the conference connection, Derrick Harmon did put together a great Junior Campaign before he declared. Though his Junior year wasn't without its fair share of trouble, tackling consistency being key among them, he still was one of College Footballs best overall Defensive Lineman; a tough conference no less. While he is in need of fine tuning of leverage and tackling; his abilities as both a pass rusher and a run stopper will allow him to fit right in with the Steelers. Given how the team is in dire need of a youth movement along the IDL, Harmon is a great pick here.





Round 2; Pick 52:


Pittsburgh's Second Round pick belongs to Seattle as part of the trade for D.K. Metcalf




Round 3: Pick 83:


Steelers Select; Charles Grant: Offensive Tackle from William & Mary University



Mike Tomlin went to William & Mary. That would be the major connection most would take away from this. However, I am here to tell you that Charles Grant is oh so much more than a mere Player and Coach School Collection. Say hello to the most underrated OT in the entire class as a whole. Charles Grant saw to it that William & Mary had not just the best overall Rushing Attack in the entire FCS but fourth overall in the entire NCAA College Football World. Not alone of course but Charles was William and Mary's best overall player in 2024... and it showed big time. Climbing to the second level won't be an issue for zone heavy rushing teams (hint hint). Speed rushers?! Not a problem with Charles either.... mostly. I do caution mostly for the case of him not facing top tier FBS level competition in addition to his missed opportunity at the Senior Bowl. That said, Charles is a super athletic OT that the Steelers both could use and could need given how they are razor thin in terms of depth of OTs.




Round 4: Pick 122:


Steelers Select; Xaiver Restrepo: Wide Receiver from the University of Miami


Not only is this good CA III insurance for the future, it also keeps Roman Wilson honest about the Number 3 spot not being given to him. However, Xaiver is more than just a mere slot option. While he isn't the speedster Calvin Austin the Third is, he more than makes up for it tremendous Football IQ, superb separation and exceptional route running; among the best in the class. His production in the slot has been both well documented and noted; evidenced by his three touchdown performance against Duke. That said, he still is limited to the slot and will have to be used as such. First things first; he has to actually win the job; something I know that Calvin Austin the Third or even Roman Wilson is giving up without a fight. Even in the event he doesn't win the job, Xaiver can use this season as a Red Shirt while picking up some experience along the way. Should the worst happen to the WR room though, he is ready to step in whenever he is called upon.



Round 5: Pick 163:


Steelers Select; D.J. Giddens: Running Back from Kansas State University



It is no surprise that Najee Harris isn't coming back. It is also no surprise that the Steelers Running Back room is barren with very limited options; Jaylen Warren just recently receiving a Second Round Tender option. What is worth noting is that, now Arthur Smith is in charge, the Steelers need both an explosive and powerful runner for the Wide Zone Offense that Smith employs. D.J. Giddens fits hand in glove with this approach; a north south battering ram with speed and acceleration to match. That said, he is a pure runner only at this point; both receiving and pass protection being in dire need of an overhaul. Even so, as far as an immediate impact, rely on D.J. for short yardage situations.



Round 7: Pick 225:



Steelers Select; Mello Dotson: Cornerback from the University of Kansas



Now, for much of 2024, lots of people, myself included, thought that the Steelers had it all figured out with Beanie Bishop Jr. as the true Slot CB successor to Mike Hilton. However, as the season winded down, so did Beanie's snap count. Why?! Lack of trust via the Coaching Staff?! Not proficient enough in coverage?! Whatever the case may be, Beanie's snap totals saw a sharp decline. That leads us to some competition in Mello Dotson. Now technically speaking.... Mello is actually better suited for the outside given his tremendous levels of production there. However, he does have more than enough functional length and explosiveness to play inside as well. He does need to work on his tackling though; an area where Beanie does have him beat. In addition, his stiffness in his hips is also not a glowing sign for someone to play the slot. However, given his tremendous play recognition and ball skills, adding another potential playmaker, this late in the draft, is never a bad thing.



Round 7: Pick 231:


Steelers Select; Cam Jackson: Defensive Lineman from the University of Florida


Mr. Jackson; the one trick pony of this draft class for the Steelers. Yes, his very limited pass rush upside and lack of conditioning do not make him appear to be the IDL so many want. That said, his major trick to his trade does involve with something that the Steelers need more of.... besides the aforementioned discussed youth movement. Cam Jackson is one of the most underrated run stuffers in the entire class of a historic IDL group. Again, he will not be challenging the likes of Kenneth Grant, Alfred Collins, Tyleik Williams or Alfred Collins but he is within the Top 10 conversation as far as pure run stuffers go. With his immense size at 6'6, 325lbs begets great length at 34 inches. Due to that fact, he has shown to be nigh immovable at the POA and is very knowledge about gap integrity and assignments. Conditioning and his lack of pass rush though do let him down greatly overall; doubly so compared to other IDLs in the class. That said, for a 7th Round pick?! Cam is definitely worth taking a shot on.



Round 7: Pick 247:



Steelers Select; Xaiver Truss: Offensive Lineman from the University of Georgia.



Pittsburgh have some Georgia connections already on the radar. Broderick Jones, Darnell Washington and George Pickens. Nabbing Xavier Truss isn't a College Reunion though of any kind. Truss has been a Two Time National State Champion at his time at Georgia; a fixed starter since 2021. However, Truss isn't limited to one position; 1800 total snaps of playing Left Tackle, Left Guard, Right Guard and Right Tackle to his credit. That said however, while Truss did display consistency at times at both Tackle Positions, his overall recovery speed against the better speed rushers from the SEC forces him to play inside as a Guard. Granted, he does possess nearly an 83 inch wingspan with 33 inch arms to boot but length alone doesn't beget a good tackle; much less a great one. At Guard though; his full season of starting at Left Guard in 2022 at that?! That is worth investing in; doubly so if the Steelers permit him to learn Left Guard and exclusively that position. Even if the team gets Nate Herbig back, it never hurts to invest in the Offensive Line.



Other Notes:


Granted, the Steelers could still technically opt for a First Round WR should the Steelers want to have a potential failsafe in case they cannot either resign Pickens in 2026 or if the team is still more confident about adding IDLs later in the draft. Personally I would not but nabbing a Round One WR isn't out of the realm of possibility here. I also would not be shocked if the First Round Selection is a Corner; Jahdae Barron being chief among them. If not Jahdae, another option would be Benjamin Morrison of Notre Dame. Wildcard pick though would be Omarion Hampton of North Carolina. I say Wild Card though due to the fact that the Running Back Class this year is great; doubly so from a season ago.


Finally, for the IDL, don't be surprised if the Steelers bring in other mid to late Round IDLs either. I still want them to nab Kenneth Grant though I have all but conceded in them acquiring Harmon. Should neither be around?!... Alfred Collins might be the contingency plan.




That will do it everyone on the Post Combine edition of the Steelers Mock Draft. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Hope to see you guys again for we will be diving into the updated Top Five Positional Rankings for the 2025 Draft and boy oh boy.... are there A LOT of changes.



Until then, this is AskQuestionsLater saying so long, stay safe and have an awesome day!!!

 

Been out with the Flu!!!


Took me a whole month to recover!!


Apologies in advance for the lack of Draft updates!!

 

1. Harmon is my man

3. Grant, one of the few mid round true tackles. Like him.

4. Restrepo, love him. I watched almost every Miami game this year. He's one of those guys they describe as "He's just a good football player." He's Miami's all time reciever. He really, for some reason, reminds me of Hines. He couldn't outrun my grandma but he's tough, always open somehow, and catches everything. He'd be a fantastic pickup in the 4th.
5. Been pushing Giddens. Good size, burst, and got some sweet moves.

7. Was watching som Cam Jackson last week. A very large human. I would be really surprised if he went this late. But, he could I guess.

 

If we could get Mello Dotson in the 7th that would be a major steal. I've seen him listed up in the 4th round.

 

I don't think they still have two 7th round picks.

 

But we do have a 6th.

 

Top Five Positonal Rankings: Post Free Agency Edition drops tomorrow!!!

 

21.....Mykal Williams DL, Georgia. Plays everywhere in the front7. Can line up 4i thru wide9, OLB or ILB. Formal meetings and dinner with Tomlin.

83.....Tyler Shough QB, Louisville. You don't wait on a QB. If the Steelers do not draft one at 21, they will here.

122....Rocket Sanders RB, SC. Considered the best receiving RB in this class.

156....Ty Robinson DT, Nebraska. Power and space eater 3tech DE.

185....Antwane Wells Jr WR, Ole Miss. Smart, physical, receiver for depth and ST.

229....Nazir Stackhouse NT, Georgia. The 6'3"-330LB run stuffing NT fans have been screaming for.

I didn't get a Safety although I think this is a good draft to take one. Safety depth is very thin and I believe the Steelers will look to get one. 2DL from Georgia follows the eagles philosophy of putting guys together that are used to each other already. This also makes Wyatt Milum an OG option to play beside Frazier.

 

Williams is an edge rusher at about 260lbs I doubt the Steelers will be drafting him in the first round.

 

Maybe not. I only put him there because he is the only 1st round rated prospect that has had dinner with Tomlin so far. We know how much Tomlin loves guys with position flexibility and Williams can play all over the front7. I actually prefer Nick Emmanwori at 21.

 

Need another day everyone!!


Power finally got turned back on after a Tornado rolled through my area. Everything on my end is okay!!

 

That having dinner with him doesn't mean much they usually have dinner with other members of the team too. They need DL at #21 Emmanwori wouldn't start next season anyway.

 

Yeah, this is kind of where I landed with Williams as well when a mock early on had him fall into the 20s. I like him, but don't see an ideal fit for the system.

 

What the need is doesn't matter. You take the best football player you can get at #21. Depending on how they value players on their board, we could take another OL in the first. DL, DB, RB, even QB and WR are in play depending on how the board falls and how they value the individual player. If you just lock in on a position you end up with Jarvis Jones, Artie Burns, or Devin Bush.


The Steelers may have their #1 rated guy in this draft as Mason Graham DL, Michigan. If there at #21, take him. But don't lock in on the next highest rated DL just because you perceive a greater need at that position.

 

I agree with you completely, but the Steelers are usually quite predictable in what position/s they're likely to target in rd 1.Everybody knew they were taking tackles the last couple years, Najee was obvious, most of us called Watt and Bud based on need and draft position, Artie Burns wasn't obvious but the position was(we thought Jackson would be it. Thanks Cinncy). It's a pretty safe bet that DL will be the pick in rd 1, knowing the Steelers. Maybe they decide to reach for QB again, but hopefully they've learned their lesson.

All of this is magnified by the fact that they don't have a 2nd rd pick. I can't imagine them waiting till pick #83 to take a DL. That doesn't even seem realistic to me knowing their tendencies. And considering Metcalf, and them having already signed two CB's.

If they trade for a second it possibly changes things, but for it not to be DL, something crazy would have to happen, like W. Johnson or Sanders falling. If I was forced to bet my bag, I would say our 1st rd pick will be out of the pool of W. Nolan, K. Grant, or D. Harmon, or even A. Collins.

 

I know we hate the Artie Burns pick. We would have been more than happy had Jackson fallen to us. But neither had their fifth year option picked up, and Artie is actually still in the league, while Jackson hasn't played since 2022.

 

That may happen. Williams is an Edge on the list but if you watch film on him (or just highlights), he moves all over the front 7. That, and him being the only 1st round rated prospect that Tomlin has had dinner with, makes him the leading option in my mock I posted. I don't really care if it's DL, OLB, or NB/SS. I want to draft the next great.


Are we currently done at OT? BroJo has not been spectacular, and Fauntanu hasn't even played. I would not rule out a 3rd consecutive OT. As you point out, we have a gap from 21- 83. We cannot afford to go less than BPA at 21.

 

I'd be fine with a OT. The only realistic options there would probably be Simmons or Conerly. I'd be fine with either. I'm just saying what I think is going to happen

 

do they use one pick or two is my thinking.

we have added a defensive lineman in free agency. yes we need some youth added but......

o-line has lost 3 guys, two on the interior. yes mccorrmick played well but he really wasn't expected to step in as a starter last year and the reviews are mixed. we have a vet at one guard spot but again the reviews were mixed in his play last year. he has a year left. age is creeping up.

fautanu is like a draft pick this year. didn't get that rookie year in. if this isn't a need spot then what is?

grey zabel
donavan jackson
wyatt milam

3 names to keep an eye on. they have shown interest in zabel. they have had milam in for a visit. jackson is highly rated as a guard or a tackle. i believe all these guys could fill that role. next MT was at georgia's pro day. two really good guards there. alabama has a highly rated guard.

magic 8 ball, what do you say? you have to protect the qb that we end up with. the run game has to carry this offense to an extent and it can't if you don't have the guys up front to do that. just sayin.

 

I haven't gotten to the point of what I actually think will happen. I'm still just rearranging chairs.

 

You don't draft an edge rusher at #21 even if he's the BPA, not when the owner complains about the team not being able to stop the run after last season.

 

According to stats.... the Steelers were ranked 6th in rush defense. 25th in passing defense. 8th in scoring defense.


I mean, we do always want to get better.

 

Well, it's clear Art wasn't happy with the run defense after those two losses against the Ravens.

 

Who would be happy after losing to the Ravens? I agree with him.

 

I think it was more about them giving up 300 yards rushing in the playoffs, that being ranked 6th against the rush means nothing in both losses against the Ravens we saw the DL get manhandled.