As the 2025 NFL Draft inches closer, Pittsburgh Steelers fans continue to make their best predictions as to which player their team will take with the 21st overall selection this year. Since the beginning of the pre-draft process, the interior defensive line has been on the radar. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is also without a capable quarterback as we sit here in April, while running back remains a pressing need.
Anyone who follows closely can see a trail of breadcrumbs that ultimately leads to just a handful of players. But their most likely first-round selections will leave fans dumbfounded.
NFL.com's NFL Draft IQ uses Next Gen Stats analytics and DraftKings Sportsbook odds to predict the first-round targets and most likely draft positions of each team in the upcoming NFL Draft. Shockingly, the two most likely names for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 1 are Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams.
The next players in line on the list included Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have shown sneaky interest in Shedeur Sanders and Mykel Williams ahead of the NFL Draft
The Steelers have a need at quarterback, and Pittsburgh recently hosted Sanders for a pre-draft visit. However, Sanders is expected to be off the board before the Steelers are on the clock at pick 21.
Pittsburgh's brass skipped out on Sanders' Colorado Showcase to host Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart for a pre-draft visit, so it appeared they were interested in pursuing the polarizing Sanders. However, that quickly changed when they followed up with a 30-visit for Sanders shortly after.
The potential Steelers first-round pick who is sure to raise some eyebrows is Mykel Williams. The stout Georgia edge rusher doesn't come at a major position of need with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig on the roster, but Pittsburgh could have different plans for him.
Williams possesses unusual strength for a 260-pound edge rusher. He showed the ability to two-gap and hold up at the point of attack at 5-technique and '4i' as a 19- and 20-year-old player the past two seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. I recently wrote about how the Steelers could view Williams as a versatile defensive lineman who can slide all around the D-line.
Interestingly, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan had a Pro Day dinner meeting with Williams, so the interest is real. And if he falls to pick 21, Williams may be the selection for Pittsburgh.
Most Steelers fans have an idea of what their first-round pick could look like, but based on NFL Draft IQ, we could be in for a surprise on draft day.