The NFL Combine kicks off this week, marking the start of the next cycle of football activities leading up to pro days and the NFL Draft. It's an exciting opportunity to see how these draft prospects perform in their tests at the Combine. The Pittsburgh Steelers have no shortage of draft needs and there are several directions they could go in Round 1 this April.
For the Steelers and their fans, the NFL Combine is a first look at how some potential first-round picks for Pittsburgh fare in Indianapolis.
First-round Pittsburgh Steelers prospects to watch at the 2025 NFL Combine
The NFL Combine is a great opportunity to scout top talent ahead of the draft, especially for players who didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl. For the Steelers, the first-round focus seems to be leaning toward either a defensive lineman or a wide receiver.
One often-overlooked but important aspect of the Combine, particularly for Pittsburgh, is how players perform in the various athletic drills. Over the past few years, Omar Khan and Andy Weidl have shown a tendency to prioritize players with high Relative Athletic Scores (RAS).
This metric compiles a player's testing results and physical attributes to assess their overall athleticism compared to others at their position. Since these scores are largely determined at the Combine, it provides key insight into the type of athletes the Steelers might target.
As for potential first-round targets, a few names to watch closely include wide receivers Luther Burden III, Emeka Egbuka, and Matthew Golden. On the defensive line, players like Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon, and Alfred Collins could be in play. Many of these prospects, particularly Burden, Golden, and several defensive linemen, are expected to test extremely well.
While the Steelers also have needs at quarterback, running back, and cornerback, it would be a bit outside the box to see them go in this direction. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is the top running back in the class, but he's expected to be off the board before the Steelers are on the clock with the 21st pick. Meanwhile, the top two quarterbacks—Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders—will be gone and there may not be a cornerback enticing enough to take at pick 21 when Pittsburgh has other pressing needs.
With this draft class being particularly deep on the defensive line, the Steelers have a great opportunity to reinforce that unit. However, if they choose to go with a receiver early, Burden, Egbuka, and Golden are the most commonly linked names to Pittsburgh. Either way, the Combine will offer a clearer picture of which direction they might go.
Weigh-ins and drills begin with a talented defensive line group and linebacker group on Thursday. Keep your eyes peeled!