Steelers 2025 mock draft after Week 8: Pittsburgh takes advantage of the bye

The city of Pittsburgh can breathe a sigh of relief as the Steelers enter their bye week after beating the Giants in Week 8. It was a close game that saw the black and gold gamble with the possibility of blowing a close matchup against a visiting opponent who is one of the worst in the NFL. Luckily, the Steelers won the battle, and the team sits at a 6-2 record going into their week off.

With success, many forget about the future outlook of the club. There are plenty of question marks that still need to be answered between now and the start of the offseason. Mock drafts always have reactive qualities to them this time of year as each week shows new weaknesses the team could upgrade. This mock draft combines together current needs and potential future necessities.

Steelers mock draft round 1: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Since the Steelers currently sit at the back half of the first round at this point, they could get creative with their top pick. Elic Ayomanor has a ton of talent as a receiver, but he remains young and raw. He burst onto the scene last year and continues to grow his numbers on a poor Stanford team. Ayomanor should be able to raise his draft stock between now and when picks get announced.

Steelers mock draft round 2: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

It has been a tough season for Alabama already, and it could get worse with how their schedule concludes. Jalen Milroe is playing for draft position now as his team will likely miss the playoffs. Milroe has shown some great qualities as a quarterback, but it seems like he might need time to adjust in the NFL. The Steelers take him here to learn behind Russell Wilson for a couple of years.

Steelers mock draft round 3: Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia

We know the Steelers watched a lot of West Virginia tape when they evaluated Zach Frazier last year, so they must have noticed Wyatt Milum. They are going to need an offensive tackle or two either in the draft or free agency. Milum has been a quality left tackle for the Mountaineers for a while now. With Broderick Jones playing terribly this season, it might be best to have Milum in the picture.

Steelers mock draft round 4: Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech

He burst onto the scene last year, but Dorian Strong has taken a step back thus far. He has slipped in most mock drafts since his productivity has dipped. Last season was spectacular for Strong as he totaled three interceptions and became a lockdown cornerback. This campaign has not been kind to his draft stock, but he still possesses size and skill that could translate well to the NFL.

Steelers mock draft round 5: Bear Alexander, DT, USC

First off, what an incredible name Bear Alexander has. He would be a terrific fit in the city of Pittsburgh. He was a highly recruited player coming out of high school. He transferred to USC after being at Georgia for a year. Alexander decided to red shirt himself since he was not comfortable with his situation at USC. Time will tell if he decides to enter the draft or transfer to another school.

Steelers mock draft round 5: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida

Maybe the Steelers re-sign Nate Herbig this offseason, but it seems unlikely. That opens the door for options to back up Zach Frazier at the center position next year. Ryan McCollum has done a respectable job, but someone like Jake Slaughter could push for his roster spot. Slaughter has flexibility along the offensive line, but he has a good chunk of starting experience at center.

Steelers mock draft round 7: Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

He is the brother of Travis Etienne, so you know the Steelers will love those NFL bloodlines. Trevor Etienne transferred to Georgia this season after spending his first two years at Florida. He hasn't produced massive numbers, but he has proven to be a quality running back with someone else to pair with. Najee Harris will be gone, but having Etienne to include with Jaylen Warren could be a nice duo.

Steelers mock draft round 7: Zakhari Franklin, WR, Illinois

It would be a good idea for Pittsburgh to take a couple of receivers in the upcoming draft. Zakhari Franklin is sitting there, and he has a long college career full of varying degrees of production. Franklin started at UTSA where he was a star receiver. He transferred to Ole Miss last year and now sits with Illinois. He has not been a big playmaker, but he could be a big body on special teams.