Who Could Steelers Have Drafted with DK Metcalf Pick?
The Pittsburgh Steelers would have had interesting options in the second round if they didn't trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf.
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded their second-round pick (No. 52) in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver DK Metcalf this offseason. So who could they have drafted with that selection?
There were several interesting options still on the board when the Seahawks were put on the clock at the No. 52 overall pick.
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who was selected one pick later by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos, who went to the Washington Commanders at pick No. 61, would have likely been options for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh already has its starting cornerbacks set for the 2025 season in Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay, but Slay is 34 and playing on a one-year deal. Morrison or Amos could have proven to be the long-term answer at the position.
Morrison has recorded 84 tackles (61 solo), nine interceptions, 18 passes defensed and one touchdown over the past three seasons while Amos had a breakout year in 2024 with a career-high 50 tackles (39 solo), one forced fumble, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed.
The Steelers would have also likely considered wide receivers Tre Harris of Mississippi, who went to the Los Angeles Chargers at pick No. 55, and Jack Bech of TCU, who went off the board at pick No. 58 to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Like Metcalf, Harris is a big-bodied receiver who was highly productive at Ole Miss. Over the past two years, he’s recorded 114 catches for 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Bech, on the other hand, had a career-high 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
Pittsburgh has heavily addressed its offensive line throughout the past two drafts, but veteran guard Isaac Seumalo is entering the final year of his contract. That is why Georgia guard Tate Ratledge, who went to the Detroit Lions at pick No. 57, could have been in consideration as well.
The 6-foot-6 1/2, 308-pound guard would have provided competition for second-year guard Mason McCormick in 2025 and been Seumalo’s replacement in 2026.
Lastly, after showing a ton of interest in safeties during the pre-draft process, the Steelers may have been interested in Andrew Mukuba of Texas, who was the last pick of the second round (No. 64) to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mukuba is an uber-athletic safety, who ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine following a breakout season, during which he had a career-high 69 tackles (41 solo), one forced fumble, five interceptions and six passes defesned.
However, while all are interesting options, Pittsburgh is very happy with its decision to acquire Metcalf, who has never had less than 900 receiving yards and five touchdowns in each of his six professional seasons.
“We gave up a second for DK, and I’m so excited that we did that,” general manager Omar Khan said. “Having him here is great.”