The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have officially wrapped up their top-30 pre-draft visits. Fans who follow the team closely keep a watchful eye on who the front office brings into the facility ahead of the NFL Draft, and history has shown that pre-draft visits are a predictor of who they could select in the draft.
Last year, in Omar Khan's second NFL Draft as general manager of the Steelers, Pittsburgh hosted Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson, and Mason McCormick for pre-draft visits. Each player was ultimately selected by the Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Knowing this organization values taking an up-close look at prospects before they are drafted, we can use the pre-draft visit list as a means of predicting which players the Steelers could target in each round of the NFL Draft.
On April 15, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson became the 30th and final prospect to round out the pre-draft visit list (excluding local visits). With the list complete, here's a look at every Pittsburgh Steelers top-30 pre-draft visit ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers full top-30 pre-draft visit list for the 2025 NFL Draft
Quarterback (4)
- Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (via Noah Strackbein)
- Tyler Shough, Louisville (via Mike DeFabo)
- Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (via Mike DeFabo)
- Kyle McCord, Syracuse (via Adam Schefter)
Running back (9)
- D.J. Giddens, Kansas State (via Justin Melo)
- Dylan Sampson, Tennessee (via Tony Pauline)
- Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech (via Justin Melo)
- Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State (via Ryan Fowler)
- Jaydon Blue, Texas (via Alex Kozora)
- Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Omarion Hampton, UNC (via Nick Farabaugh)
- RJ Harvey, UCF (via Justin Melo)
- TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (via Nick Farabaugh)
Wide receiver (4)
- Jaylin Noel, Iowa State (via _MLFootball)
- Savion Williams, TCU (via Brooke Pryor)
- Jayden Higgins, Iowa State (via Dale Lolley)
Tight end
- Gavin Bartholomew, Pitt, local visit (via Nick Farabaugh)
Offensive line
- Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, local visit (via Mike DeFabo)
Defensive line (8)
- J.J. Pegues, Ole Miss (via Mike DeFabo)
- Yahya Black, Iowa (via Brooke Pryor)
- Joshua Farmer, Florida State (via Alex Kozora)
- Elijah Roberts, SMU (via Joseph Hoyt)
- Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Derrick Harmon, Oregon (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Jared Harrison-Hunte, SMU (via Brian Batko)
- Darius Alexander, Toledo (via Justin Melo)
Edge rusher (1)
- Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M (via Ryan Fowler)
Cornerback (3)
- Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Trey Amos, Ole Miss (via Alan Saunders)
- Justin Walley, Minnesota (via Ray Fittipaldo)
Safety (1)
- Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Donovan McMillon, Pitt, local visit (via Ryan Fowler)
Kicker
- Ben Sauls, Pitt, local visit (via Nick Farabaugh)
Players the Pittsburgh Steelers could target from their pre-draft visit list in the 2025 NFL Draft
Let's start at the top of the list with the quarterback position. Throughout the process, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to quarterbacks. Jaxson Dart was a name that started gaining steam back in February, but as the NFL Draft inches closer, it's Shedeur Sanders who is drawing the most buzz in connection to the Steelers.
The Steelers also used a top-30 visit on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough and Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord. Based on Pittsburgh's visits at quarterback, taking a signal-caller in Round 1 feels like a possibility. If not, this team may wait until roughly the fourth round to address the position.
Shockingly, the Steelers used the most visits (nine) on running backs this offseason. Pittsburgh clearly has a need for another RB to pair with Jaylen Warren, though I would argue the philosophy of using this many visits on running backs is questionable. The Steelers have met with first-round prospects like Omarion Hampton and TreVeyon Henderson, through Day 3 prospects like RJ Harvey, Jaydon Blue, and Ollie Gordon II.
Most of the evidence suggests the Steelers will use a third- or fourth-round draft choice on a running back this year, but taking one with the 21st overall pick is something we can't rule out, based on their pre-draft visit list.
Interestingly, the Steelers met with a pair of second-round prospects at the wide receiver position in Iowa State's Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, which is ironic considering Pittsburgh doesn't have a second-round pick after the DK Metcalf trade. They could just be doing their homework in case one of these receivers slips in the draft far enough to trade up for, or if the Steelers decide to trade back from pick 21.
On defense, the Steelers used nearly as many visits on defensive linemen as they did on running backs. The biggest name is potentially their top target in the 2025 NFL Draft: Derrick Harmon. The Oregon Ducks prospect has an impressive 2024 season and is only scratching the surface of his potential. Harmon blew up the NFL Combine when he blazed with a 4.95 40-yard dash at 6'4 1/2'' and 313 pounds.
If the Steelers miss out on Harmon, it looks like they could target an interior defender practically anywhere in the draft. From players like Darius Alexander, Jamaree Caldwell, and Joshua Farmer to late-round prospects like Jared Harrison-Hunte and Yahya Black. Interestingly, the Steelers also met with an edge rusher hybrid in Shemar Stewart, who could offer versatility as a sub-package interior pass rusher at the next level.
We also can't rule out the possibility of the Steelers selecting a cornerback in the first round, with Ole Miss' Trey Amos earning a pre-draft visit. Amos is slated by most to be a late first- or early second-round pick. The Steelers have also shown interest in athletic safety Nick Emmanwori, but there are whispers that he will be off the board by the time Pittsburgh is on the clock in Round 1.