Bell: Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Mock Draft 2.0
It’s been too long since I wrote up a Steelers mock draft and a quite a bit has changed since the first iteration of this series dropped in late February. The NFL Combine and most Pro Days have came and went. Pittsburgh was able to make a splash trade, acquiring and subsequently extending speedster DK Metcalf and also reeled in longtime veteran Darius Slay during free agency to be their CB2 on the boundary. However, the franchise still doesn’t have a starting quarterback currently on the roster as they continue to await Aaron Rodgers decision, one figures to drag on for a little while longer.
With all that being said, it feels like we now have a much better sense of their needs, both for the immediate and long-term future of the roster. That means that this mock will take an even more predictive approach, focusing more on what I think the team will do rather than what I would necessarily do if I were the shot caller in the building. The degree of difficulty is bumped up, seeing as the Steelers only hold six selections in the 2025 NFL Draft as of right now. But that’s still enough resources to improve the roster.
Without further ado, here we go with version 2.0 of my 2025 Steelers mock draft.
DERRICK BELL’S STEELERS 2025 MOCK DRAFT 2.0
Round 1, Pick 21: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Taking a nose tackle in the first round may cause some people to roll their eyes but Kenneth Grant comes with enough upside to warrant pulling the trigger here considering the alternatives in a weaker draft class. He’s shockingly nimble for his size, allowing him to swim over or cross the face of offensive lineman to penetrate into the backfield. It’s difficult to block him 1v1 because his hands are destructive, plus his raw strength gives him the ability to torque blockers out of the way. Grant is still a work in progress as a rusher but does have some moves already incorporated into his repertoire such as the bull-rip and club-swim. A decades old signature of Steelers defensive lineman, he plays with infectious effort and will chase plays down from behind with impressive range for his build.
What I like the most about Grant is that most of his deficiencies right now are technical things that I see as coachable rather than death knells. His pad level is very inconsistent, which saps his ability to consistently anchor versus the run and compress the pocket with his bull rush. He’s often late off the ball and mentally, things are still moving a bit quickly for him. No team invests more on the defensive side of the ball than the Steelers and I don’t think seeing the Ravens run rampant over them in the postseason sat well within the building. Pittsburgh met with him formally at the NFL Combine, sent defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to his pro day and he could still make a top-30 visit in the coming weeks. If Grant’s ascension continues in the pros, he could become a premium player for this positional archetype and would allow Keeanu Benton to kick out to a spot he’s more well-suited to excel in.
Round 3, Pick 83: QB Will Howard, Ohio State
As the weeks continue to roll on, it feels like the signs are pointing to the Steelers selecting a quarterback come April and even if this range is a bit rich for my blood, Will Howard just seems like their type. He’s experienced and comes equipped with outstanding size, standing 6-foot-4, 236 pounds and played in an offense that asked him to execute concepts that are installed within every NFL offense. On tape, you see a player with good pocket habits, an understanding of how to layer throws to the intermediate area of the field and he caught fire throwing the deep ball late down the stretch last season. While he won’t be a a true dual threat in the league, Howard ran for 26 touchdowns in college and checks the quarterback mobility box that Mike Tomlin talks about so much.
The lack of arm talent is the biggest cause of concern as it relates to his upside as a long-term starter in the league. Howard hangs deep shots at times and while he flashes anticipation as a thrower, he’ll need to ramp that up even more in the league to compensate for his lack of drive velocity. When he’s pressured in the pocket, he looks like a completely different quarterback and doesn’t have the natural feel for being a creator when times require it. Regardless of what happens with the Aaron Rodgers saga, Pittsburgh has done their homework on quarterbacks in this class, including sending the house to Ohio State’s pro day. Until the Steelers are able to solve this gigantic need, it’s going to be their number one priority and you can’t fault them for continuing to take swings. Howard is one of the few in this class that wouldn’t be completely overwhelmed if he was forced into action in 2024 but his evaluation gives off high-end backup vibes in the long-term.
Round 4, Pick 123: RB Jaydon Blue, Texas
Just by reading between the tea leaves this offseason, a mid-round running back investment seems like a good possibility and it feels like they’re searching for explosive playmaking out of the backfield. Texas’ Jaydon Blue certainly fits the billing in this regard. Every time the ball gets put in his hands, he’s a threat to take it the house with blistering sub-4.3 speed that allows him to erase angles from second and third level defenders. Blue puts the fear of god into opponents when he gets in the open field with impressive wiggle, helping him force 37 missed tackles on less than 200 touches in 2024. There’s rare upside as a receiver because you can flex him out as a route runner to hunt matchups while also obtaining value in the screen game.
Right now, Blue is more of a track star in pads rather than an actual running back, so they’ll need to use him in moderation early on but in order to do that, he’ll need to earn the trust of the coaching staff. Just last year alone, he coughed the ball up five times and dropped five more passes in addition to that. Arthur Smith’s rushing philosophy put the backs on the perimeter a lot last season and Blue does have sufficient wide-zone experience. It’s been reported than he’s got an upcoming visit to the facility scheduled and if last years class is any indication, that likely puts him high on their radar. There’s a real boom/bust element to his projection but with the cyclical nature of the NFL pointing us back in the direction of the running game, creating explosives on the ground is going to be even more coveted across the league.
Round 5, Pick 156: OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&T
Pittsburgh has invested a ton of resources in the trenches lately and I’m willing to bet that they’re not done making deposits up front, even if it’s a bit lower on their priority list this year. Any competent offensive line should be banging the table for the chance to develop a guy like Carson Vinson based on measureables alone (6-foot-7, 313 pounds, 34.5-inch arms and a 9.44 relative athletic score). Granted it’s often against lower level competition, he physically overwhelms his opponents but he also moves very well in space, both at the second level and on screens. In pass protection, he flashes independent hand usage but he must learn to do a better job of sitting down in his stance and eliminating the tendency to allow rushers into his chest. Vinson showed he belonged at the senior bowl and has the tools you search for but he needs to continue to get stronger in order to transform himself into a viable option in the pros.
Round 6, Pick 185: DB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
Quietly, the Steelers have been sniffing around the safeties in this class but they also have an underrated need at slot corner. At this point in the draft, Caleb Ransaw’s versatility makes a lot of sense. The transfer from Troy is one of the best wrap-up tacklers in this class with excellent technique that led to an extraordinarily low 5.4% missed tackle rate during his collegiate career, per PFF. His ability to play the run and patrol the flats are key prerequisites for the nickel position in the pros but his technique in press needs to be overhauled from the ground up. He’s got the top end gear to cap vertical routes and may be better suited to transition to safety where his instincts in zone coverage can shine a bit more, while still reaping the benefits of his reliability as a tackler at the last level. I could see the Steelers falling in love with his demeanor and just figuring out where he fits best as the process rolls along.
Round 7, Pick 229: WR Arian Smith, Georgia
Truthfully, this receiver class lacks depth and finding role players on day three will be difficult but Arian Smith has one endearing trump card that will translate to the next level: blurry speed. There were plenty of reps of him beating press coverage, displaying refined hand usage to keep guys off his frame before stacking them vertically. In addition to that, there’s minimal wasted movement at the break point and he explodes out of his cuts. For as tantalizing as that stuff can be at times, his work at the catch point is equally disastrous because his hands are just not reliable whatsoever. In a perfect world, the Steelers would find a way to acquire another day two selection to select a receiver earlier than this. But Smith’s speed alone could pay big dividends here if he develops a obsession with the jugs machine.