The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in a number of directions early in the 2025 NFL Draft. The quarterback position remains unresolved, and there's an increasing belief around the league that Pittsburgh's front office could be a team that takes a stab at Jaxson Dart or even Jalen Milroe in Round 1.
We frequently talk about how draft sequencing matters and how it's important to look past the first round to see where the strengths of the draft class lie. Still, hitting on early-round picks is essential to the future success of the team.
With NFL Pro Days in the books and the Steelers' pre-draft visits nearly complete, we're getting a great feel for the players they could be interested in selecting in the NFL Draft. In my latest seven-round Steelers mock draft, I have general manager Omar Khan making a selection at pick 21 that would be sure to surprise most fans.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
You might not have had Mykel Williams on your bingo card for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 1, but perhaps you should. Pittsburgh's brass had the coveted Pro Day dinner meeting with Williams back at Georgia's Pro Day, and NFL Draft IQ believes Williams is one of the most likely selections the Steelers could make at pick 21.
On the surface, this pick is hard to make sense of. Williams was an edge rusher at Georgia who weighed in at 267 pounds at his Pro Day, and EDGE is already the strongest positional group on the team.
However, Williams could be more than just an outside pass rusher in Pittsburgh's scheme. At 6'5'' with nearly an 83'' wingspan, Williams is long and stout as a run defender. He possesses the ability to two-gap and shed blocks with ease. The Steelers could view him as a player who could slide all around their defensive line, and they are sure to love the fact that he's a 20-year-old prospect from one of their favorite college football programs.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The tea leaves point to the Steelers taking a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it's not hard to see why. As we approach draft day, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only two quarterbacks under contract.
If Aaron Rodgers doesn't sign by the time the Steelers are on the clock, taking a quarterback in the first round isn't out of the question. In this mock, I have Pittsburgh practicing enough patience to wait until pick 83 in the third round to nab their guy.
The Steelers have expressed loads of interest in both Quinn Ewers and Will Howard. I have them going with Ewers here. The former top recruit out of high school dealt with an oblique injury in 2024 that hampered his play. Ewers would give Pittsburgh a quarterback on a rookie contract who possesses the traits to be an NFL starter if he can ever put it all together.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
I'd love to move away from this type of running back. Ollie Gordon II doesn't frequent the big-play department, and his lack of top-end speed on the field reflects what we saw in his 4.61 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
But doing a predictive mock draft here, Gordon will be in play for this team as early as Round 3. The Oklahoma State prospect shares a ton of similarities with Najee Harris (who joined the LA Chargers in free agency this offseason).
There are worse ideas than pairing a bruising back like Gordon with undersized runners like Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the backfield. If Gordon could cut some weight and return to the prospect we watched in 2023, he would have a higher ceiling in the NFL.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
The Steelers need bodies on the interior defensive line, and even if they view Mykel Williams as a versatile defender who can slide inside, they need more bodies. JJ Pegues is a fun player who took some snaps on offense in the Wildcat formation and even carried the ball at times for the Rebels, but for Pittsburgh, he would be a nose tackle.
Pegues would look to make his way into a rotational role early in his career on the Steelers' interior defensive line. He's a better run defender than a pass rusher, which is just what Pittsburgh needs. If he proves himself early, he could earn nose tackle duties, allowing Keeanu Benton to slide back to a more natural position on defense.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 6: Ricky White, WR, UNLV
The Pittsburgh Steelers have big wide receivers on the outside (DK Metcalf and George Pickens) and undersized slot options (Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin), so they could use a player who can line up anywhere on the field and run a full route tree.
White tested as a poor athlete with 4.61 speed at the NFL Combine, but he plays much faster on the field, and he excels at creating space. White is also a quality special teams player, so he would have a clear path to making the roster as a rookie.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane
Based on draft trends from the first two seasons of Omar Khan and Andy Weidl running the front office, we know they are suckers for athletes, and small-school status' don't scare them away. Last year, the Steelers spent a fourth-round pick on South Dakota State Jackrabbit Mason McCormick.
This time around, the Steelers could land a player like Caleb Ransaw. The Tulane cornerback earned a 9.75 Relative Athletic Score after running a 4.33 40-yard dash and posting a 40'' vertical jump. Ransaw lacks elite length but has a muscular frame and projects as a developmental cornerback with a high ceiling thanks to his outstanding athleticicsm.