2025 NFL Draft Steelers Commentary
Saunders: Steelers Almost Can’t Miss with 2025 First-Round Draft Pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a very solid position when it comes to their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, now just four days away.
The Steelers have been doing a ton of work on the defensive tackle position since the very start of the pre-draft process, and there are three quality options at that position for the team to target at No. 21 in the first round.
It’s overwhelmingly likely that one of Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon or Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen will be available for the Steelers at No. 21 overall. It’s possible that all three might be.
There’s also a chance that quarterback could jump to the front of the line if Shedeur Sanders happens to fall to No. 21. The Colorado quarterback has been routinely mocked in the top five for much of the pre-draft process, but now it seems possible, if still somewhat unlikely, that he’ll make it to the Steelers at No. 21.
If that happens, the Steelers could neatly change course to a quarterback they had zero expectations of being available to them when the process started and who would represent outstanding value for pick No. 21. There are plenty of quality defensive tackles in the draft class, with Florida State’s Joshua Farmer, Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner among the attractive options in the third round.
The Steelers could also seriously look at trading down in the first round. Not only do they have multiple potential options at defensive tackle at No. 21, a move to the later part of the round would add Toledo’s Darius Alexander and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams to the mix.
There are plenty of attractive options in the late part of the first round at cornerback, safety and wide receiver, as well. Running back, deep throughout the 2025 NFL Draft class, could also be a fit.
If the Steelers don’t have Sanders available to them at No. 21, they could trade toward the back of the first round and target Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
Trading back is, of course, dependent on someone willing to come up, but is very attractive to a Steelers team without a second-round pick and just two selections in the top 100.
The Steelers have a number of options for their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and most of them look like good ones.
The only real danger appears to be, what if Sanders is not there, and no one wants to trade up to take No. 21? Can the Steelers wait until No. 83 at the earliest to take a quarterback, and roll with their original plan at defensive tackle? That’s the one place it feels possible that this well thought-out process could be tripped up.
