The Steelers' 2024 postseason came to a screeching halt after getting stonewalled by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round. Fans are left disappointed after another year of playoff failure as Pittsburgh continues its eight-year drought without a postseason win.
'There's always next year' is an old cliche nobody wants to hear at this time, but it's true. The Steelers showed signs of promise during the 2024 season, and though they came up short, the hope is to continue to build a strong roster that can compete for a championship next season.
The best way to do that is through the NFL Draft. Since Omar Khan and Andy Weidl took over the front office ahead of the 2023 draft, the Steelers have loaded up on talent with players like center Zach Frazier, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., edge rusher Nick Herbig, defensive lineman Keeanu Benton, linebacker Payton Wilson, and tight end Darnell Washington.
Meanwhile, raw draft picks like offensive tackle Broderick Jones, guard Mason McCormick, and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. have given us plenty of reason to believe that the future is bright. The Steelers will also be getting back injured draft picks like Troy Fautanu, Roman Wilson, Logan Lee, and Ryan Watts.
Another impressive draft class could help turn things around in a hurry for Pittsburgh. So what pick do the Steelers have in 2025 and which players could they target?
Where do Steelers pick in the first round of draft?
Because of their early exit from the tournament, the Pittsburgh Steelers own the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to Tankathon.com. Pittsburgh will be picking ahead of teams like the Chargers and Packers and after fellow Wild Card losers like the Broncos and Buccaneers.
The Steelers have picked inside the top 20 just one time over the past five years when they traded from pick 17 to pick 14 to select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones in Round 1.
Now the Steelers must once again be patient on the opening night of the NFL Draft as 20 talented prospects will go ahead of them, barring a trade-up. This doesn't mean Pittsburgh's front office is going to be left without options that could help improve the roster for 2025 and beyond.
Who could Steelers target at pick 21 in the 2025 NFL Draft?
As Steelers fans, you can bet every year that this team will never be picking high enough to land a blue-chip player in the NFL Draft without a trade-up. When Pittsburgh does strike gold on an elite player—like T.J. Watt with the 30th overall pick—it takes impressive talent evaluation and a little bit of luck for the player they want to fall to them.
Unfortunately, this also means that prospects like Colorado weapon Travis Hunter and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham will be long gone. Likewise, the Steelers won't have a shot at Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward—the top two quarterbacks in the class—and the top wide receivers are likely already off the board at this point.
READ MORE: Heads would spin with Steelers' projected pick in latest 2025 NFL mock draft
With the 21st overall pick this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers could look for help in several directions. This team is likely to target a wide receiver, cornerback, or interior defender in the first round.
We can project that the top prospects at these positions will already be off the board. Because of this, the Steelers could be looking at selecting a player like Ohio State WR Emeke Egbuke, Oregon DL Derrick Harmon, Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison, Michigan DL Kenneth Grant, or Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen.
If the Steelers are feeling adventurous, they could go with a small-school player like East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. or an off-the-wall pick like Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe or Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (if he somehow falls this far).
We will know more about who the Steelers are interested in selecting in the first round after free agency and once this team hits the scouting trail. However, based on team needs and where they will be selecting in the first round, these 2025 NFL Draft prospects make sense.