As the Pittsburgh Steelers wait until their 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft, they must watch the draft board fall. The organization has remained adamant about having an open mind regarding who their top choice will be. Recent speculation believes that Shedeur Sanders could become their best option. It will depend on how everything shakes out with the 20 picks in front of them.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan is ready for anything and has been outspoken about the possibility of a trade or two at the draft. Pittsburgh is without its second-round pick following the DK Metcalf deal earlier this offseason. They would love to acquire a mid-round pick in a trade back, but that's easier said than done. Finding a trade partner who wants to move up will be difficult.
The Steelers might want to trade back but can't pass up a top prospect if one falls to them.
Pittsburgh Steelers might refuse to trade back in upcoming NFL Draft
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
It was a tough pre-draft process for Michigan's Will Johnson, which created more questions than answers. The star cornerback was perceived as a top-15 pick in the draft following the college football season. He refused to run a 40-yard dash, which could scare off teams. The NFL is a fast game, and cornerbacks must match the speed of the receivers they cover.
Johnson could be slipping in the first round due to these red flags.
The Steelers failed to express much pre-draft interest in Johnson. They can't imagine a realistic avenue where he falls to their pick. If Johnson slides into their selection, it would be impossible not to take him. There will be consistent questions about his speed coming out of the NFL Draft, but adding this star cornerback would be tremendous value for Pittsburgh.
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Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Every year brings a fast riser in the NFL Draft, and one of them this year is Texas's Matthew Golden. The electric receiver has flown up draft boards from a day two pick after the college football campaign to a top selection in the first round. Golden has speed for days and could become a superstar if he develops at the next level. Pittsburgh brought him in for a pre-draft visit, but he won't be available.
Most mock drafts have Golden going in the top 15 picks. The Steelers cannot afford to trade up, but if the explosive receiver slips to their top selection, they'd have to take him. Pittsburgh might consider trading back, but they'd struggle to skip past Golden if he were available.
They might not be desperate for a receiver this year, but Golden would give them a long-term option.
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Most draft evaluators believed Derrick Harmon would be available at Pittsburgh's top choice, but a new injury concern could flush his draft stock down the toilet. Latest reports claim that Harmon is dealing with an ongoing concern regarding his shoulder. If he has any possibility of missing time due to an injury, it could force him to wait much longer than experts have him projected.
The Steelers had Harmon join the team on a pre-draft visit, in which they conducted their medical exam on the player.
A similar situation happened with Troy Fautanu last year, and Pittsburgh still took him with their first-round choice. Harmon is a perfect fit with the Steelers, and unless his shoulder injury is a monumental problem, he could easily be their top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.