2025 NFL Draft Steelers Analysis
Way Too Early 2025 Steelers Mock Draft
Who could the Pittsburgh Steelers land in a way too early 2025 mock draft? Steelers Now's Derrick Bell breaks it down.
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan received rave reviews for his haul in the 2024 NFL Draft, headlined by offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. We’ll have to wait and see if this years group can replicate the early success of the 2023 rookies but it’s never too early to start looking forward. Draft season never really ends here at Steelers Now and with that in mind, here’s a way too early look at a Steelers themed 2025 Mock Draft.
Something worth noting is that next years quarterback class is unproven and unspectacular at this point but Pittsburgh will continue to be linked to the position until Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, both pending unrestricted free agents, prove enough to be considered the guy moving forward. While this iteration operates under the assumption that one of those guys pans out, it’s entirely possible that the franchise is in the same boat next off-season. This mock draft should give a glimpse into what the roster is currently missing, as well as some potential names to get familiar with prior to college football rolling around in the fall. Here we go.
(Draft order set by reverse Super Bowl odds)
Round 1, Pick 14: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
With other positional needs taking precedence in 2024, the cornerback position went largely unaddressed. Donte Jackson is a fine short-term option as a stop gap but ideally, Pittsburgh needs to find a long-term partner for Joey Porter Jr. Luckily for them, next years crop of cornerbacks, headlined by Michigan’s Will Johnson and Colorado’s Travis Hunter, looks excellent on the surface. Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison has the tape and traits to be right in that discussion when it comes to the first players off the board at the position.
As a former four-star recruit, Morrison burst into the scene as a freshman by picking off six passes and continued his ascension last season as one of the games top cover specialists. He’s got the long speed to carry threats vertically, the twitchiness to match route breaks and has shown capable of rising the occasion against top competition as evidenced by his matchup with Marvin Harrison Jr. who went fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s fair to expect him to continue growing technically but his lean frame could be an area that causes some hesitation, particularly in run support. But the man coverage chops, playmaking skills and NFL bloodlines check several boxes that would make the Steelers quite interested. That lands him here in this Steelers mock draft.
Also considered: CB Denzel Burke (Ohio State), IDL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
Round 2, Pick 46: IDL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin gets all three of his starters back on the defensive line but this looks it’ll be the last dance for this trio. Cam Heyward is entering the final year of his contract, turning 35 years old in May and Larry Ogunjobi has been pretty inconsistent during his Steelers tenure so far. Defensive line is a position group that is generating a ton of buzz as it relates to the 2025 draft class thus far. Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams isn’t quite in that upper echelon of candidates thus far but he absolutely has the talent to morph into a top-50 selection.
Similar to the aforementioned Morrison, Williams also exploded on to the scene by standing out in a crowded defensive line group as a freshman, amassing five sacks in 2021. After a relatively down year as a sophomore, he bounced back with 10 tackles for loss and 3 sacks last season before returning for his senior campaign in Columbus. There are times where Williams play strength and athletic ability take over, such as the Notre Dame game from 2023, where he wrecked shop by notching four stops while looking like one of the best players on the field. He’s listed at 327 pounds and slimming down a touch could be beneficial in the long run but he does play hard despite some conditioning questions. Having said that, Williams is a good overall athlete with some pass-rush upside and the talent level of a quality NFL starter provided he can put it together on a more consistent basis. And that is why the Steelers are interested in this mock draft.
Also considered: CB Ephesians Prysock (Washington), WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma)
Round 3, Pick 78: WR Will Sheppard, Colorado
Every other day, the Steelers are linked to another veteran wide receiver on the trade market but until that happens, the need for another playmaker is still fairly obvious. Pittsburgh did nab Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft but he’s likely a better fit in the slot, particularly early on in his career. While not nearly on the level of last years class, the wide receiver position looks really solid with plenty of intriguing options over the first couple rounds. A name to keep an eye on is Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt transfer that’s totaled over 1,450 receiving yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns over the past two years combined.
In the fall, Sheppard will join a loaded receiver room at Colorado and will get the opportunity to play with a potential first-round quarterback in Shedeur Sanders. While playing in the SEC, he proved that he could beat press coverage and was a monster in the red zone, specifically on slants and back-shoulder fades where his 6-foot-3 frame comes in handy. Sheppard doesn’t have that elite top-end gear at his disposal which could certainly cap his ceiling at the next level. What makes this such a good pairing is he offers the size and route running ability that the Steelers need right now, while also offering some alignment versatility down the road.
Also considered: WR Elic Ayomanor (Stanford), CB Cobee Bryant (Kansas)
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