With Omar Khan and Andy Weidl calling the shots in the front office, fans have had reason to be optimistic about the Pittsburgh Steelers' decisions in the NFL Draft. But we can't forget that Mike Tomlin still has a hand in this process and we know how impatient ownership can be.
The Steelers have a quarterback problem, and while waiting until the 2026 draft to find a solution feels like the best choice, Art Rooney II will want answers right away—especially if they don't have a respectable starter under contract heading into 2025.
Unfortunately, this means the Steelers could repeat their mistakes from the past by taking a quarterback early in what is widely regarded as an underwhelming QB class. In my latest seven-round Steelers mock draft, I have Pittsburgh taking a swing on a polarizing QB on Day 2 and gambling on multiple boom-or-bust prospects.
Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round mock draft includes a swing for a QB
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
All early signs seem to be pointing toward an interior defender in the first round for the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the moment their Wild Card game against the Ravens ended, we knew this was a possibility as the defense allowed 299 rushing yards in the Playoff loss.
Derrick Harmon may be the ultimate prize here, but I've heard whispers that he could be off the board to the Cincinnati Bengals at pick 17. The Steelers have no problem turning their card in for Kenneth Grant. The 21-year-old has unmatched strength to be a tone-setting nose tackle for a long time at the next level.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
The Steelers don't have a second-round pick because of the DK Metcalf trade, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade back at some point in the draft to recoup another pick. But in this mock, I have Pittsburgh standing pat and selecting a quarterback with the 83rd overall pick in the third round.
Jalen Milroe is a polarizing prospect due to his sporadic accuracy and lackluster production. However, the Steelers could fall in love with his outstanding speed and athletic traits. He was clocked running as fast as a 4.37 40-yard dash at his Alabama Pro Day.
We also know that Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth had dinner with Milroe ahead of his Pro Day, which puts him squarely on the map as a prospect the Steelers could select.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Savion Williams, WR, TCU
Because I had the Steelers ignoring both wide receiver and running back until early on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, why not grab a player who can do both? Savion Williams is far from polished as a wide receiver, but he's electric with the ball in his hands—this includes taking carries from the backfield.
At 6'3 3/4'' and 222 pounds with 4.48 speed, Williams has eye-popping quickness and twitch to his game for a big man. Drops may always be an issue, but the Steelers can live with that for a player who can make things happen after the catch. Pittsburgh had a meeting with Williams so the interest is there, and he's drawn favorable pro comparisons to Cordarrelle Patterson.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
In most years, I couldn't imagine a player like RJ Harvey still being on the board in the fifth round. But the 2025 draft class is loaded with running back talent, and some impressive prospects are destined to slip in the draft as a result. The Steelers wouldn't have an issue making the call for RJ Harvey.
Pittsburgh is clearly searching for running backs in a different mold than Najee Harris. This is evidenced by their pre-draft visits with explosive RBs like DJ Giddens, Dylan Sampson, and Bhayshul Tuten. These backs will likely be off the board at this point, but Harvey is an outstanding consolation prize in Round 5.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 6: Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
The Steelers aren't afraid to take athletic or productive players from small schools in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. They did this with Alex Highsmith in 2020, and just last year, the new front office selected South Dakota State Jackrabbit Mason McCormick in Round 4.
Zah Frazier is the perfect gamble on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The talented cornerback measured in at 6'2 3/4'' and 186 pounds with nearly 33'' arms with 4.36 speed. The UTSA product is sure to catch some attention after recording six interceptions in 2024. With length and ball skills, he's the perfect late-round upside swing.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Dont'e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
In all honesty, Dont'e Thornton is likely too intriguing to slip this far in the draft. He's a 6'4 1/2'' receiver who ran an official 4.30 and has the trait to be an elite deep threat in the NFL. At the same time, Thornton has never recorded more than 661 receiving yards in college and he's a one-trick pony.
Still, this trick is special. Even with taking a receiver earlier in the draft and after trading for DK Metcalf, the Steelers could double up on the position. In the seventh round, the Steelers like to throw a dart against the wall and see if it sticks, and Thornton has the athletic profile worth gambling on.