Times appear rough for the Steelers this offseason. Most of their questions from 2024 are still issues, and the team appears directionless. They haven’t been a legitimate contender for a long time, and after a bitter collapse at the end of the year, things look bleak.
The issue on this team runs deep. A lot of their struggles stem from poor draft classes to end Kevin Colbert’s time as GM. He overvalued replaceable positions and pigeonholed himself into taking specific positions. While Omar Khan has done a better job in the draft, we saw some big oversights by ignoring the receiver room last offseason.
In this mock draft, the Steelers prove they haven’t learned their lesson.
A team desperate for a turnaround can end up making some bad decisions. That is just what Pittsburgh does in these three rounds, ignoring deeper positions in the draft to fill immediate needs. It hasn’t worked historically, and I would dread it if the draft started off like this. These three rounds ignore the value in hopes of filling specific holes despite the needs elsewhere on the roster.
In short, this is what a desperate team could do during the 2025 draft.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Jalen Milroe has to be one of the most divisive quarterback prospects in a weak class. He failed to lead Alabama to their usual heights, and as a passer, he took a lot of chances that both helped and harmed his team.
Physically, he has everything you want in a quarterback. From a strong arm to incredible mobility, he looks the part of a dynamic running quarterback. On the ground, there isn’t a bigger threat in the draft, as he is that impressive on the ground.
While he can make any throw, his decision-making as a passer is suspect, and it is clear he needs some time to develop those traits. You also have to build an entirely new offense around him. Given how shallow this quarterback class is, taking him in the first round seems like a mistake.
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While his ceiling is higher than Justin Fields's, there is no guarantee that he gets there. Being a first-round pick the expectation will be for him to be the guy sooner than later, but Milroe feels like a guy that needs a year or two to get there as a passer. This is a move that screams of desperation from a team that lacks a legitimate quarterback option.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 2: Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan
While taking a running back in the second round isn’t out of the question, it would feel disappointing if the team felt like they had to get Kahel Mullings at this juncture. With Najee Harris set to depart and Jaylen Warren stepping into the lead-back role, grabbing a power back isn’t the worst idea.
That being said, Mullings feels like a copy-and-paste clone of Harris, albeit a bit more powerful as a runner but less dynamic as a receiver. That doesn’t scream value in the second round. Add in the crop of backs set to enter the draft and this feels like a reach.
There are numerous more explosive backs that would make sense in the second round. Just as well, they could wait another round or two and bank on Warren being a bigger fixture on offense. That opens this pick to address another need.
Mullings feels like a safe back with a low ceiling but a high floor. Players like that should go later on draft day. For a team that wants a more dynamic backfield, Mullings shouldn’t be their guy.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
The best pick (in my opinion) of this draft, Zy Alexander looks the part of a Steelers cornerback and would be respectable value in the third round. He has the long frame that the team covets and should be a decent athlete.
The negatives for this pick concern the position. Yes, one could argue that cornerback is a need, but with no receiver or defensive lineman taken yet, it clearly isn’t the biggest need right now. Alexander would be sitting behind a veteran, so the instant impact wouldn’t be there.
He is also best suited for zone defense right now, as he has struggled in man and press coverage at LSU. Taking him here feels like the Steelers are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. He would round out a shockingly bad first three rounds of this draft.