Steelers Expected To Completely Ignore Biggest Need In 2025 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a growing concern on the roster, and that is the future of the defensive line. Cam Heyward is still one of the best in the league at his position, but he is nearing retirement and unit can use an upgrade as a whole. The class of defensive tackles entering the 2025 NFL Draft is expected to be deep, and the Steelers should be able to pick premiere talent at the position during the first round of the event. It seems like a sure thing that the organization will be attacking the position in April, but there are other positions that could be addressed as well.

There are a ton of intriguing prospects at defensive tackle for Pittsburgh to consider with the 21st overall pick. Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen, and Kenneth Grant would all be excellent selections. Grabbing one of these players seems like the route Pittsburgh has to go, but analyst Chad Reuter of the NFL predicts the Steelers will skip out on the position entirely.

Reuter released a four-round mock draft recently, and the Steelers made three selections in the exercise due to the team trading away its second-round pick. The analyst mocked running back Omarion Hampton to the Steelers in the first round, Pittsburgh selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the third round, and then the franchise added to the defense with edge rusher Josaiah Stewart from Michigan. All these picks were made in their original slots, and the Steelers were apart of no trades.

The Steelers have a need at running back and quarterback, so the selections of Hampton and Shough make some sense. However, the running back class is extremely deep. There is going to be value at the position on the board during the third day of the draft, so it seems a bit pointless to use a premium pick on the position, especially a first rounder. The Steelers are going to be shuffling their offensive line again ahead of the 2025 season, and the unit is still fairly inexperienced. A premium pick shouldn't be used on a back until the unit is reliable.

Shough addresses the obvious need at quarterback, and he is considered the most pro-ready quarterback prospect entering the NFL. He has plenty of experience at the collegiate level, and he has been connected with Pittsburgh quite a bit. Landing him in the first round would be great for Pittsburgh, as some draft analysts believe there is steam behind him being drafted in the first round.

The selection of another edge rusher in Stewart is on-brand for the Steelers. It is always good to have depth at the position, but the organization chooses another edge rusher before finding a defensive tackle the fan base may riot. It has never been more clear that the Steelers should probably spend two picks on a defensive tackle, and Reuter doesn't believe they will use any of their first three picks at the position.

Steelers Need To Find Future Elsewhere As Well

While solidifying the future of the defensive line needs to be a priority in Pittsburgh, so does finding a franchise quarterback. The Steelers should take a swing at the position during the draft whether Aaron Rodgers decides to join the Steelers or not. Shough is a fantastic option, but so is Jalen Milroe. Milroe is a raw product that is always one of the best athletes on the field, but his draft stock isn't too high because of his struggles throwing the ball.

Milroe can out run anyone, but his struggles with accuracy are conflicting to most organizations. He will probably be a Day 2 pick in the draft, which means Pittsburgh would need to use its third-round pick on him or make a trade to gather additional draft capital. 

By no means is Milroe a sure-fire prospect, but he fits the mold of the modern-day quarterback. The upside is limitless, and he would be an exciting player to see in Pittsburgh.

What do you think of the mock draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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