After another season ended in a pitiful playoff loss, the winning culture in Pittsburgh—at least when it comes to the postseason—has become a distant memory. Cameron Heyward is the only player on the team who won a playoff game with the Steelers and T.J. Watt, now 30 years old, is still searching for his first playoff victory.
But the Steelers can get that winning mentality back quickly. All it takes is one impressive draft class loaded with champions.
Ohio State recently defeated Notre Dame in the College Football National Championship, and the Buckeyes have a plethora of players who will be drafted this April. The talent pool from Ohio State is so rich that Pittsburgh could take a player from this dominant program in practically every round. Here's what a three-round Steelers mock draft would look like only taking CFB champions.
Round 1 (pick 21): Emeka Egbuka, WR
Emeka Egbuka might not have the most upside, but he's exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers need at the wide receiver position. Egbuka, a former five-star recruit, is a no-nonsense receiver who has an excellent route tree, can line up anywhere on the field, and catches the football with consistency.
For Pittsburgh, Egbuka would slide right in as the starting receiver opposite Pickens. And if Pickens were to get traded this offseason, Egbuka could be the team's top target from Day 1. If he's there on the board at pick 21, this would be an easy selection.
Round 2 (pick 52): TreVeyon Henderson, RB
After four years of grinding out tough yardage with Najee Harris, the Steelers finally turn the page and look for something opposite in this mock draft. TreVeyon Henderson might not be an every-down running back in the NFL, but he's incredibly explosive and can gash defenses for one chunk play after the next.
The Steelers have admitted that they need speed, and Henderson has lots of it. The Ohio State product is expected to run in the mid-4.4s in the 40-yard dash, but he plays even faster than his timed speed on film. Pittsburgh would have no trouble increasing their explosive play rate with Henderson in the backfield.
Round 3 (pick 83): Davison Igbinosun, CB
It's no secret the Steelers need to add both depth and talent to the cornerback position. Joey Porter Jr. took a step back in his second season in 2024 while Donte Jackson is a free agent (and unreliable down the stretch when he played). Meanwhile, Cory Trice Jr. shows promise as a boundary cornerback but has been unable to stay healthy in his first two seasons.
In steps Davison Igbinosun—a 6'2'' cornerback with impressive traits from a winning program. Igbinosun would be a great fit in Pittsburgh's defense. Despite his third-round draft status, the rookie would be able to come in and compete to start alongside Porter in the secondary.