Two-Round Mock Draft Has Steelers Landing Playmaker and Run-Stuffer
Joseph Acosta of SB Nation has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Missouri standout wide receiver Luther Burden III at 21st overall in his latest mock draft. Burden would add some speed and explosiveness to the Steelers’ offense, which is desperately needed. The Steelers had one of the worst wide receiver corps in the league last year. Outside of George Pickens, the offense was extremely limited when it came to receiving threats.
“The Steelers need a receiver they can trust, and someone with some explosive playmaking capabilities,” Acosta wrote. “I think Burden is more of a slot than true outside receiver, but in Arthur Smith’s offense he can be the jet sweep, screen and YAC guy that they’ve desperately needed.”
Burden was the third wide receiver draft in SB Nation’s mock, behind only Tetairoa McMillan at No. 9 overall to the New Orleans Saints and Emeka Egbuka at No. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys. Texas speedster Matthew Golden was still available, but Acosta went with Burden instead.
Burden is a junior who played all three seasons of his collegiate career at Missouri. The 5-foot-11, 208-pound wide receiver had his most productive season in 2023 when he recorded 86 catches for 1,212 and nine touchdowns.
However, he still proved to be a difference-maker with the ball in his hands in 2024 as he registered 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns while drawing comparisons to San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
In the second round, Acosta has the Steelers landing Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander. With Cam Heyward turning 36 this offseason, the Steelers need to start preparing for a replacement at defensive tackle, and Alexander could be an ideal successor. His age is a concern, though.
Alexander, 25, is one of the older prospects in the draft class. The old man of the draft class has plenty of dad strength to go around, however, as Alexander showed at the 2025 Senior Bowl. He weighed in at 304 pounds, an unexceptional size for an interior defensive line prospect, but showed significant power in his movements.
Already noted as an above-average run defender, Alexander showed off his power rush moves in Mobile, and thinks he can get better against the run, as well.
“I really want to be a playmaker, always being cognizant of what the QB is doing and where the ball is out on the field,” Alexander said at the Senior Bowl. “So for sure, I always love get my hands up when I know I can’t get there and get home. So I’m always trying to stay active and find a way to make a play.
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Alan Saunders provided reporting for this story.