Following their dreadful end to the 2024 season, it is time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to shift their focus to the 2025 NFL Draft. There’s a long list of things the Steelers need to accomplish this offseason, and having another great performance in the draft is certainly a priority. Omar Khan has had two quality draft classes since he took over as the team’s general manager and he will be hoping 2025 is more of the same.
As has become tradition, the Steelers first round draft pick will be in the low 20s – 21st to be exact. They once again find themselves in the uncomfortable spot of being too good to earn a high draft pick but not good enough to win anything in the postseason. Pittsburgh will look to overcome that misfortune in this draft, and there are a few positions that should be at the top of their list.
3 Positions Steelers Must Target Early in 2025 Draft
Cornerback
Though these positions are in no particular order, there’s a strong argument to be made that cornerback is the Steelers biggest need this offseason. Whether they address it through the draft, free agency or both, Pittsburgh needs to get better in pass coverage. Playing in a division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, the Steelers just can’t keep up with their current group of corners.
Donte Jackson’s 2024 campaign got off to a strong start, but he unraveled for the Steelers down the stretch. He is an odd fit in Pittsburgh; he’s more comfortable in zone but they are predominantly a man coverage team. Cameron Sutton was a total train wreck for the Steelers in the slot. Despite performing better, Beanie Bishop played less than Sutton as the nickel cornerback. Bishop should be back for the Steelers as a depth piece, but they can find a better starter at that position. Most importantly, they desperately need a cornerback they are confident in opposite Joey Porter Jr.
The draft process is only in its infancy, but this is shaping up to be a challenging year to land a stud cornerback in the first round. After Travis Hunter and Will Johnson (both likely top 10 picks), there is a bit of a fall-off in talent. Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame is a player to keep an eye on for Pittsburgh at 21. Draft boards will change endlessly for the next three months, so the top target could be different when April rolls around.
Wide Receiver
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the Steelers will draft a wide receiver with one of their first few picks. Like cornerback, this is a position Pittsburgh should look to target both in free agency and the draft. They have their WR1 in George Pickens, and Calvin Austin III proved to be a reliable target this season. Beyond those two, Pittsburgh has nothing but question marks. Mike Williams is a free agent, Van Jefferson was pedestrian this year and last year’s third round pick, Roman Wilson, didn’t play a snap.
If Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka would fall to the Steelers at 21, it shouldn’t take them long to make their decision. But, given their historic success at finding quality receivers outside of the first round, Pittsburgh could easily go a different direction at 21. It is hard to envision them waiting any longer than the third round to add talent at wide receiver, though. No matter what their plan is for the quarterback position in 2025, the Steelers need substantially better weapons than what they had to work with last year.
Defensive Line
At first glance, a non-Steelers fan might find it odd to call defensive line a top draft need for the team. Their defensive front is their best unit on either side of the ball. While that is true, there are some caveats. First, the edge rushers were a stronger unit than the interior defensive line. Further, they have Cam Heyward (who was arguably the best defensive lineman in football this year) and Keeanu Benton as a great starting duo, but not much depth behind them in the interior.
Heyward turns 36 this offseason and won’t be around too much longer. Benton has had a fantastic first two seasons in the NFL, but he does his best work as a pass rusher. Larry Ogunjobi was very underwhelming this year and is a prime candidate to be a salary cap casualty. Their performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs made it obvious that Pittsburgh needs serious improvement at stopping the run.
While the 2025 draft class is considered to be a relatively weak one, it’s shaping up to be a good year to need a defensive lineman. Kenneth Grant from Michigan and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams will certainly be on the Steelers radar in the first round. But they would have no trouble finding a strong run-defending defensive tackle in the second or third round if they’d rather address other positions of need first. These talented players are even more of a reason why the Steelers should target the position in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports – Imagn Images
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