The Pittsburgh Steelers will do everything in their power to improve their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that could include an in-draft trade. In the 2023 draft, general manager Omar Khan jumped from pick 17 to pick 14 to take Broderick Jones before trading back on Day 2 to recoup a third-round pick (that was used to select Darnell Washington).
This year, the Steelers are set to enter the NFL Draft with just six total selections and without a second-round pick, which was sent to the Seattle Seahawks in the DK Metcalf trade. With only one pick inside the top 80, a trade-back feels possible—even likely. But based on some of their recent pre-draft visits, moving back from pick 21 could be even more likely than you think.
If the Steelers had no interest in moving back in the draft, you'd think they would only use top-30 pre-draft visits on players who are worthy of being selected with the 21st overall pick in Round 1 or on prospects they could potentially select at pick 83 in the third round or later in the draft. However, this isn't what we have seen from many of their visits.
On April 15, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson became Pittsburgh's latest pre-draft visit. Before this, the Steelers met with players like Toledo defensive lineman Darius Alexander, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas.
What do all of these draft prospects have in common? They each project as second-round players.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could attempt to trade back to pick up another Day 2 pick
It would be odd to assume the Pittsburgh Steelers believe the above names are worthy of being selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Though these are quality draft prospects, the consensus is that they are viewed as Day 2 selections.
But why meet with so many potential second-round picks if the Steelers don't have a second-round pick themselves? The answer is that they could look to acquire one during the NFL Draft.
While we can never predict which teams might be willing to jump up in the draft for a player they love, the lack of draft capital this year and Pittsburgh's top-30 pre-draft visits suggest they are willing to move back. Drafting a player like Henderson, Alexander, or Johnson looks a lot better if the Steelers can slide back to the end of the first or early in the second round to take them—picking up an extra Day 2 pick in the process.
Taking any of the aforementioned names would universally be considered a reach at pick 21, and knowing that this team has taken names that were high on the consensus board over the past two years, it would be a bit out of character for Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl to reach this early in the draft—especially on a position like running back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers might be operating with the belief that they need more than just six draft picks to fill their roster holes and secure a quality draft class this year. Their lack of draft capital and curious pre-draft visits with second-round prospects suggest they may look to trade back in the 2025 NFL Draft.