The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their first choose of the 2025 NFL Draft, sticking and selecting Oregon DL Derrick Harmon as their first-round alternative. As issues stand this morning, the workforce has one choice on Day 2 of the drafts, Rounds 2-3, slotting in at No. 83 general within the third spherical. So who’re choices the Steelers may take into account with the choose? Primarily based on the Harmon choice and their different pre-draft strikes, listed below are some prospects.
This listing will assume affordable prospects within the third spherical and never projecting a commerce up into the second.
Will Howard/QB Ohio State
Bypassing quarterback in Spherical 1, the Steelers nonetheless determine to pick a passer sooner or later within the draft. Some insiders imagine Pittsburgh may transfer up however even nonetheless, choosing one of many “large three” remaining in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Louisville’s Tyler Shough can be robust to perform.
Howard is a extra possible possibility. Maybe he might be had within the fourth spherical, however No. 83 isn’t an excessive amount of of a stretch. Profiling like extra of an old-school pocket passer, Howard deliver measurement and management after main Ohio State to a nationwide title. With plus contact, accuracy, and expertise in NFL-like techniques at Kansas State and Ohio State that put loads on his plate, Pittsburgh may have curiosity.
Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith attended Howard’s Professional Day and it wouldn’t be surprising if he was their alternative with one among their subsequent two picks. The Steelers love a winner and Howard gained in school.
Kyle McCord/QB Syracuse
If not Howard, McCord is one other risk. Pittsburgh’s curiosity in him wasn’t recognized till late within the course of when the Steelers introduced him in for a go to, one among 4 quarterbacks to take action (Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders, and Tyler Shough the others).
With arm and extremely productive 2024 season at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State, stories point out NFL groups are larger on him than draftniks. He’s battled-tested with a short-term reminiscence to bounce again from down moments and might be the choose at No. 83.
Dylan Sampson/RB Tennessee
Operating again has a powerful probability to be addressed within the third or fourth spherical. Sampson hits all the precise notes as a speedy and productive operating again who dominated the SEC, main the convention in carries, speeding yards, and touchdowns. His 2024 season completed with 258 makes an attempt, 1,491 yards (5.8 YPC), and 22 scores.
Not even 21, he’s one of many youngest gamers within the draft. At 5-8, 200 kilos, he’s undersized however the Steelers are specializing in big-play backs than the workhorse ones they’ve sometimes chosen. Plus, Pittsburgh will love his character as one of many “cleanest” prospects off the sector within the class. Sampson was one among 9 operating backs to come back in for a pre-draft go to.
Bhayshul Tuten/RB Virginia Tech
Tuten is a speedy again who burned a 4.32 40 on the NFL Mix. He additionally brings a Steelers connection, cousins with former Pittsburgh again Isaac Redman and coached by him rising up. However Tuten brings loads of on-field worth. Transferring from North Carolina A&T to Virginia Tech for 2023, he rushed for over 2,000 yards. In 2024, he averaged a scorching 6.3 yards per carry with 17 whole scores (15 speeding, two receiving). Fumbles are his greatest concern, eight of them his previous two years.
At 5092, 206 kilos, he performed in a zone-heavy scheme in school that might match and go well with the Steelers’ exterior zone-based system. Some will debate if he’s really value a third-round choice or higher fitted to the fourth. Both spherical matches him effectively as Pittsburgh searches for a operating recreation able to ripping off large performs. Tuten got here to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft go to, too, making these dots exceedingly straightforward to attach.
RJ Harvey/RB UCF
Harvey affords an analogous basic talent set as Sampson and Tuten. Brief however compact at 5080, 205 kilos, Harvey ran a 4.40-flat on the Mix. His recreation velocity signifies he’s a tick slower than that, however he shined brightest in our explosive run charge research, main all operating backs in runs of 10- and 20-plus yards by broad margins.
A former quarterback, Harvey rushed for not less than 1,400 yards in every of his closing two seasons at UCF. In 2024, he carried the ball 232 occasions for 1,577 yards (6.8 YPC) and 22 speeding scores. He made an impression as a receiver, discovering the top zone thrice by the air. On tape, he exhibits good contact steadiness and open-field capacity.
Drafting Harvey would scratch the itch of a big-play runner to spice up Pittsburgh’s stagnant floor recreation. Simply as Sampson and Tuten did, Harvey stopped by for a pre-draft go to.
On the danger of including much more operating backs on this listing, Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and Kansas State’s DJ Giddens are two others to contemplate. Judkins lacks the big-play capacity the others listed above possess however has measurement and pedigree and confirmed extra burst in 2023 at Ole Miss earlier than bulking up after transferring to Ohio State. Giddens is a laterally fast runner with plus manufacturing. Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson can also be a risk although he could not make it to No. 83.
Jaylin Noel/WR Iowa State
Although George Pickens stays a Steeler, the Steelers have executed homework on Day 2 receivers. Noel is one among two Cyclones anticipated to be drafted at present although teammate Jayden Higgins is prone to hear his title known as first. Whereas Noel is undersized at 5-10, 194 kilos, he blazed a 4.39 40-yard sprint on the NFL Mix. His jumps had been simply as spectacular (41.5-inch vertical, 11’2″ broad) with a 6.82 three cone. Collectively, it produced a 9.75 RAS.
Noel broke out for a career-year in 2024, catching 80 passes for 1,194 yards, and eight touchdowns. He notched 5 100-yard video games in 2024, together with a 167-yard, two-touchdown displaying towards Kansas.
Identified for his downfield velocity and dynamic capacity, Noel is a house run hitter who would match the Steelers’ offseason mission of including playmakers. Pittsburgh introduced him in for a go to.
Savion Williams/WR TCU
Usually in comparison with Cordarrelle Patterson and Deebo Samuel, Williams is likely one of the greatest chess items within the draft. In 2024, he recorded almost as many rushes (51) as he did receptions (60). Williams totaled 933 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, six speeding and 6 passing.
At a listed 6037, 222 kilos, he ran 4.48 on the NFL Mix.
Including Williams would provide versatility and suppleness to the Steelers’ offense. Pittsburgh must work to discover a cohesive plan to get him on the sector and the soccer, however he could be one other playmaker who may put on quite a lot of hats and roles as a rookie. He got here in for a pre-draft go to. Williams’ Horned Frogs teammate Jack Bech, additionally a large receiver, is one other title value mentioning.
Charles Grant/OT William & Mary
To throw a curveball, Grant hasn’t been talked about a lot and might be off the board by No. 83. However he’s athletic with good tape and matches the Steelers’ zone-heavy scheme. At 311 kilos, he’s on the lighter finish however has good size and a body so as to add weight. A 3-year starter at left sort out, he may keep there within the NFL or presumably kick inside to protect.
Pittsburgh enters 2025 with Broderick Jones a starter at left sort out however there’s no assure he succeeds in what’s turn into a make-or-break season. Grant may present high quality insurance coverage and even when Jones thrives, Grant may doubtlessly kick inside to interchange left guard Isaac Seumalo in 2026. Seumalo is coming into the final yr of his contract.
And for Grant, attending Mike Tomlin’s alma mater can’t damage, both.
Jamaree Caldwell/NT Oregon
Pittsburgh’s added one Oregon defensive lineman. Why not two? At 340 kilos, Caldwell is an excellent greater prospect who performed subsequent to Derrick Harmon for the Geese. Like Harmon, Caldwell transferred in for the 2024 season after a powerful 2023 marketing campaign with Houston. He did not report a sack however clogged the center and is athletic relative to his measurement and his place.
Including Caldwell would present a real dedication to beefing up the Steelers’ line of defense and run protection. Our NFL comp to him was B.J. Raji. Caldwell was on Pittsburgh’s listing of 30 pre-draft guests.
Xavier Watts/S Notre Dame & Andrew Mukuba/S Texas
Throwing a pair extra defensive gamers on the listing. It felt and nonetheless seems like Watts might be off the board by No. 83 however after only one security was chosen within the first spherical, Malaki Starks by Baltimore at No. 27, maybe your complete group slides. South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori figures to be the subsequent security chosen. A slow-ish 4.59 40-time may additionally ding Watts.
Watts didn’t are available in for a go to, however Mike Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin attended his Professional Day with Austin placing Watts by his positional drills.
Mukuba is one other risk. A ball-hawking heart fielder, he may turn into a powerful backup for Minkah Fitzpatrick and dime bundle participant who would enable Fitzpatrick extra freedom in apparent passing conditions. Pittsburgh likes playmaking defensive backs and Mukuba intercepted 5 passes in 2024.
