Steelers May Find Insane Wide Receiver Value Later In 2025 NFL Draft After Pro Day Blunder

The Pittsburgh Steelers sent shockwaves through the NFL when General Manager Omar Khan made the huge move to trade for DK Metcalf. The former Seattle Seahawks pass-catcher will now enjoy a fresh contract that averages over $30 million per season. This acquisition has left some questions about the future of George Pickens, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2025. If the plan is to simply let him play out his contract and walk in free agency come 2026, the organization could be targeting a wideout in the third or fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft in late April.

A lot of the Steelers' draft intentions are given away during the preparation process with Top 30 visits and Pro Day attendances. That doesn't always tell the full story, especially if a certain player that Pittsburgh did not think was in range ends up falling down the board at some point. One opportunity may be arising after an injury affected a standout receiver's 40-yard dash during the University of Miami's Pro Day.

Xavier Restrepo had a phenomenal career at Miami, which came to an end after a 2024 campaign that saw him haul in 69 catches for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. He isn't known to be the fastest, but the 4.76 40-yard dash time he ran on Monday had many wondering if his speed could be a big-time problem at the next level. Wideouts need to be fast and while Restrepo wrote that he had some hamstring tightness, some teams may see the attempts in a negative light.

It's clear that Restrepo wanted to make it known that he had some hamstring issues before he ran, but even if that was the cause of the slow runs of 4.76 and 4.83, respectively, it could hurt him come draft weekend. He has been mocked by some as high as the second round. The Steelers gave away their second-round pick for Metcalf, but if Restrepo falls deep into the third, or even into the fourth, he could be in play for Khan and co.

While Restrepo hasn't been lauded as one of the fastest receivers in the 2025 draft class, he has a lot of good parts to his game that will excite football fans. Even former NFL players have noticed his potential.

It's certainly not a bad thing that Restrepo is being compared to guys like Cooper Kupp and Ladd McConkey. Neither is the fastest out there, but both are shifty and capable of getting open. Pittsburgh lacks a second-round pick and would be targeting a different receiver in round one if the opportunity presented itself, but there are bigger needs, like the defensive line. A fall from Restrepo due to teams being concerned about a new hamstring injury and his 40-time could be a win for the Steelers.

Steelers Will Likely Take A Wide Receiver In The 2025 NFL Draft

Calvin Austin III is also entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, while several questions still surround 2024 selection Roman Wilson. Unless there is an unexpected plan to extend Pickens right next to Metcalf, Pittsburgh should be looking to draft a pass-catcher at some point in the draft. There hasn't been any known interest in Restrepo yet from the organization, but that could change rather quickly, especially if the front office believes his Pro Day runs were a fluke.

Do you like Restrepo as a potential draftee for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!

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