We are just weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still have no resolution to their quarterback woes. After Justin Fields decided to leave in free agency for the New York Jets, Omar Khan and the front office have placed all of their eggs in the Aaron Rodgers basket.
Though the talks between the two parties have gone well, there's no guarantee Rodgers will sign with the Steelers or when that could be. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has clearly expressed interest in many of the quarterback prospects this year, and even taking a player like Jaxson Dart in the first round isn't out of the question.
But in this seven-round Steelers mock draft, I give Khan the benefit of the doubt. Instead of falling into the dreaded quarterback trap, I have the Pittsburgh Steelers doing what they did over the past two seasons: taking the best player available (BPA) approach.
The Pittsburgh Steelers take best players available in this 7-round mock draft
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss Rebels
I've heard whispers about some character concerns that could cause Walter Nolen to slip in the NFL Draft, but judging the on-field prospect, Nolen is one of the best players in this class. Despite weighing in at just 296 pounds at the NFL Combine, Nolen has remarkable anchoring strength to take on and disengage from two blockers.
Because of his impressive strength and dominance at the point of attack, Nolen has drawn comparisons to Jalen Carter coming out of Georgia. With an aging Cam Heyward, the Steelers need defensive tackle help, and Nolen is likely to be the best player on the board if he's available at pick 21.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
The Steelers haven't done a good job of hiding their interest in the mid-round running backs this year. Fortunately, I have them landing an ideal prospect where the talent, positional need, and value all align. DJ Giddens is cut from the same cloth as Tony Pollard. He's a slashing running back who is lethal at making defenders miss in space.
As a rookie, Giddens would carve out a rotational role with Jaylen Warren in the backfield before eventually claiming a bulk of the running back duties. The Kansas State product would instantly make the Steelers' backfield more explosive than it has been in years.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Sure, the Steelers already took a defensive tackle in this mock, but why not add another to their draft haul? After all, this was a huge area of weakness for Pittsburgh in 2024, and they need young players to build around.
Jordan Phillips (not to be confused with the long-time NFL player at the same position) comes pre-loaded with physical gifts that pop on tape. While Walter Nolen could slide around the defensive line, Phillips is ideal to take over the nose tackle role. The Maryland product is raw and probably should have stayed in school for another year (he declared as a redshirt sophomore), but the Steelers will attempt to get the most out of his upside.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
The Steelers haven't had much competition at nickel cornerback in years, and they finally use a draft pick to address the position. While Beanie Bishop Jr. played as well as could be expected as an undrafted rookie, he gets a run for his money with Upton Stout.
At 5'8 1/2'' and 181 pounds, Stout will be limited to the slot in the NFL, but he brings 4.44 speed and explosion to the position. His fluid hips and tenacious demeanor are what the Steelers look for at the nickel cornerback position.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 6: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
Even after the DK Metcalf trade, the Steelers seem likely to dip their toes into the wide receiver pool earlier in the NFL Draft, but they can't complain about how the board fell in this seven-round mock. In Round 6, I have Omar Khan gambling on the athletic traits of Isaac TeSlaa.
The Arkansas product caught everyone off guard when he blew up the NFL Combine with 4.43 speed, a 39.5'' vertical jump, and a 4.05 short shuttle. He did all of this at 6'3 1/2'' and 214 pounds. TeSlaa doesn't always play to his testing numbers, but his 9.93 Relative Athletic Score is hard to ignore.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Maxen Hook, S, Toledo
The Steelers are no strangers to taking talent from the MAC conference, and they could do it again this year. Pittsburgh signed veteran safety Juan Thornhill in free agency, but they are desperate for youth at the position.
Maxen Hook was a productive player at Toledo who racked up 107 tackles in 2024. Hook has 52 games of college experience from the position, and he racked up seven interceptions over the past three seasons.