Abate: Steelers' 2025 Mock Draft 1.0 - Pittsburgh Addresses Huge Holes All Over The Roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 season officially came to close with a loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday evening. Fans are getting used to falling in the Wild Card Round, which also has implications for the NFL Draft come April. Due to other outcomes happening around the league in the first round of the playoffs, General Manager Omar Khan will be given the task of picking 21st overall.

Plenty of mock drafts will be all over the internet in the coming months, which should emphasize some key areas that the Steelers need to upgrade. Presented by the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator, Pittsburgh starts by addressing an aging defensive interior.

1.) Round One - 21st Overall - Kenneth Grant - DL - University of Michigan

The cornerback and wide receiver positions are areas in which Khan and co. need to get better in. That can be done in free agency and after the first round of the draft. If the team wants to find a true successor to Cameron Heyward and someone to pair with Keeanu Benton, Kenneth Grant could fill that position. Standing at 6'3" and 340 pounds, Grant is a massive run-stuffing body in the middle.

Pittsburgh's inability to consistently stop the run was highlighted against the Ravens, and while Grant is not going to get to the quarterback all that often, he provides a wall near the line of scrimmage that is hard for running backs to break through. He started 33 games at the University of Michigan and won a National Championship in 2023.

2.) Round Two - 52nd Overall - Trey Amos - CB - Mississippi

Donte Jackson will be a free agent, and the Steelers haven't seen enough consistency to rely on Cory Trice Jr. going forward. The expectation is for Pittsburgh to make a splash here prior to the draft to have someone with experience opposite of Joey Porter Jr., but taking a guy like Trey Amos from Mississippi early would provide the defense with much-needed depth.

Amos checks the height box at 6'1" and also hauled in three interceptions in 2024. He is not just a very strong corner at the line of scrimmage when pressing a receiver, but also has a significant knack for blowing up the screen game; he had three tackles for loss in his final collegiate season. Add these traits to him being a good tackler, and he becomes an ideal second-round target.

3.) Round Three - 83rd Overall - Xavier Restrepo - WR - University of Miami

At this point, no one is even sure if George Pickens will be a Steeler in 2025 after all that has happened with him throughout 2024. Regardless, the Steelers need help in the wide receiving corps, and if Pickens is traded, the first round should be where Khan targets a pass-catcher. Xavier Restrepo is small at 5'11", but he knowns how to find the end zone, scoring 11 touchdowns for the University of Miami in 2024.

No one is quite sure what the deal with Roman Wilson is, but it's fair to say that he might not be able to be counted on. Pittsburgh has been horrible on third and mid-range conversions for what seems like years. Restrepo isn't an incredible deep threat, but knows how to find the sticks and get open. He could be lethal for the Steelers on third down and in the red zone.

4.) Round Four - 122nd Overall - Cameron Skattebo - RB - Arizona State University

It's a good thing that Justin Fields did not play over 50% of offensive snaps for Pittsburgh in 2024. Him being under that number allowed the Steelers to hold onto their fourth-round pick. That, here, has led to the selection of Cameron Skattebo out of Arizona State University. It was a bit of a surprise to find Skattebo here as he projects as a day two pick, but the Steelers weren't complaining.

He rushed for a total of 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns while also hauling in 45 passes for 605 yards and three scores in 2024. He is a do-it-all running back that would have the opportunity to win the job over Jaylen Warren, assuming Pittsburgh lets Najee Harris walk in free agency. Skattebo is explosive, but isn't the fastest. He, though, is the type of running back that has excelled throughout the course of the Steelers' incredible history.

5.) Round Five - 157th Overall - Sebastian Castro - S - University of Iowa

Steelers fans may be surprised if a safety is selected early by the organization, but they shouldn't be. Minkah Fitzpatrick's play has not been up to par, and Damontae Kazee is a free agent. The way this draft panned out, however, Pittsburgh ends up taking Sebastian Castro out of the University of Iowa later on. Castro is an incredible run defender that can hang around the line of scrimmage and make a difference.

In his last two years of college, Castro totaled four interceptions and nine passes defended. He also added 11 tackles for loss in that timeframe. For a late-round pick, Castro could make a difference relatively early, especially if the Steelers are light at the safety position.

6.) Round Seven - 223rd Overall - Jonah Monheim - IOL - University of Southern California

James Daniels isn't expected to return in free agency, while Isaac Seumalo only has one year left on his contract. The Steelers invested in the center position with Zach Frazier and have Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson, but depth is going to be necessary moving forward. 

Jonah Monheim weighs in at about 310 pounds and is 6'5". He played 52 career games in college, and while he isn't projected to be available in the seventh round, he was in this scenario, so it made sense to select him.

7.) Round Seven - 229th Overall - JJ Pegues - DL - Mississippi

The Steelers end up going back to the SEC and select JJ Pegues, a large interior defensive lineman that can add some depth. He is 6'2" and weighs roughly 325 pounds, which is an ideal size for a NFL lineman. In 2024, he secured 13 tackles for loss while also sacking the quarterback three and a half times. Pittsburgh needs depth here based on the age of the current unit, so picking up Pegues after selecting Grant in the first round was a formidable approach.

8.) Steelers Land A Quarterback With Final Pick In 2025 NFL Draft

It's going to be hard for Pittsburgh to find its next franchise signal-caller in the draft with a pick that comes later in the first round. This has been the story for the team throughout the Mike Tomlin era. However, with the 242nd overall pick in the seventh round, Kurtis Rourke from Indiana University was waiting to get drafted. Rourke is the ideal size at 6'5" and over 220 pounds. He played exceptional winning football at Indiana in 2024.

Rourke threw 29 touchdowns to just five interceptions, but isn't looked at as a top prospect in his class. He was worth taking a flier on late in the draft, especially with the recent success from Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers.

What positions do you want to see the Steelers target in the 2025 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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