Steelers take matters into their own hands at WR in latest 2025 NFL mock draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't hiding the fact that they need help at the wide receiver position. Even after spending a third-round pick on Michigan's Roman Wilson in the 2024 NFL Draft, Omar Khan and the front office diligently sought help at the position.

The Steelers reportedly had a deal on the table that would bring 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh, but San Francisco wasn't willing to pull the trigger. We would later learn that Aiyuk was unhappy with the contract the Steelers would have given him had a trade been executed.

If Khan can't get an opposing team to bite, the Steelers will be forced to take matters into their own hands next offseason.

NFL Draft expert Fields Yates of ESPN comprised his early first-round predictions in his latest 2025 NFL mock draft. With the 13th overall pick in next year's draft, Yates has the Pittsburgh Steelers turning in their card for Arizona wide receiver, Tetairoa McMillan.

"As evidenced by the Steelers' pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver is a position to further bolster in Pittsburgh," Fields writes. "And while the team's track record with non-Round 1 wideouts is solid, [Tetairoa] McMillan is far too good to pass on. He has rare 6-5 size and power, and the way he snares everything within arm's reach jumps out on tape. McMillan is a good route runner, he's strong after the catch and he has the physicality to post up defenders to win on contested catches..."

Listed at 6'5'' and 210 pounds, McMillan's remarkable frame would make even George Pickens look small. The Arizona star is coming off a season that included 90 receptions, 1,402 yards, and 10 touchdowns. With McMillan working opposite Pickens, the Steelers would have an unmatched catch radius at the wide receiver position -- which would create a perfect situation for whoever the quarterback ends up being in 2025.

Steelers determined to make high investment at wide receiver

If the Steelers aren't able to land a receiver before the 2024 trade deadline, selecting one early in the 2025 NFL Draft is very much on the table. Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl spend extensive resources beefing up their offensive line, and if their offense still struggles, wide receiver will be one of the first positions they point to.

Of course, drafting a quarterback isn't out of the question. Neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is guaranteed to be the answer, and their performances will determine which quarterback (if either) returns next year.

Assuming Mike Tomlin looks to roll with a veteran at the QB position next year, wide receiver is a safe bet to be Pittsburgh's first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adding a blue-chip prospect like McMillan could offer an instant boost to the offense that the Steelers can't find in anything short of a trade for a player like Brandon Aiyuk.