Get ready for the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 30th as it kicks off the pre-draft process. Pittsburgh must monitor the first all-star game of top prospects entering the 2025 NFL Draft. It's a game that historically produces quality talents selected from middle-final rounds. Those who put this roster together have assembled a top-notch list of participants.
There could be plenty of hidden gems for the Steelers to consider.
Holes litter their roster on both offense and defense. Fans are sick of their offense lacking the same capability they witness from other clubs. They want significant change. That'll only happen if the organization invests draft capital into that group. Prospects playing in the Shrine Bowl are hidden gems, but this group of players could take things to another level.
Ricky White, WR, UNLV
The list starts here with Ricky White from UNLV. His best attribute has been his consistent high-end production at the collegiate level. He rarely faced top competition during his college career, so that could hurt his draft stock. White has a perfect path in these All-Star games to raise his draft stock by outperforming his competition.
Current draft projections have White as a potential steal on day three of the event.
Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Dan Moore Jr. will leave the Steelers in free agency this offseason. That means Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu will be the only starting options at tackle. They love investing in the offensive line and they could find a quality option in the later rounds with Hollin Pierce. He is a mountain of an offensive tackle and could develop into a starting player. Pittsburgh will love his ceiling and the physical traits he administers.
Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech
Certain positions are more lucrative than others in this upcoming draft class. Fewer rival the amount of talent the running back position holds. Tahj Brooks is a back who will probably land between the fourth and fifth rounds. You cannot deny the consistency and high numbers he produced at Texas Tech. Brooks is a big running back, but he would provide similar attributes to Najee Harris.
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Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
Everyone will scout Shedeur Sanders at the Shrine Bowl, but there are other talented quarterbacks. If Pittsburgh waits until the third day to take one, perhaps Kyle McCord is a decent choice. He had a productive career in college with Ohio State and Syracuse. McCord provides the mobility and high-level production that the Steelers want.
Theo Wease Jr., WR, Missouri
Current draft projections have Theo Wease Jr. in the sixth or seventh rounds.
That is a tough start to the pre-draft process, but Wease is a talented receiver. He is coming off his best statistical campaign in college football after playing for Oklahoma and Missouri. The sixth-year Senior got overshadowed by his teammate, Luther Burden III. Wease has a tremendous opportunity to overcome the odds and increase his draft stock because of his experience and explosiveness.
The receiver position in the upcoming draft is light, so the Steelers should take someone early.