I have a far better notion of what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do this season than I had when I returned from Mobile, Alabama, and the Senior Bowl. I decided to do my first mock draft of the 2025 offseason at this time.
These can be challenging prior to free agency, particularly as the Steelers’ future course is likely unknown to them directly.
Here is my initial draft, though:
Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan, Round 1, Pick 21
The defensive line is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ #1 priority, as evidenced by their comments and actions thus far. Derrick Henry’s two strong performances against them, which cost them the division and a spot in the Wild Card Round, most definitely contributed to that.
Kenneth Grant is a big, strong man. He weighs 340 pounds, but he has a powerful motor and much more pass-rush potential than most men his size. There is a lot of D.J. Reader in this guy’s game when you watch him on tape.
Like most defensive tackles in this category, he still has raw edges to his game, but he can play out to a three-technique and make an early impact for the Steelers.
I believe he makes a lot of sense, and he is the type of player the Steelers are looking for.
Pick 52 in Round 2: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Jack Bech, a third-round pick going into the Senior Bowl, may have just vaulted up another round. When you consider how clear his game is on tape, it makes sense. He has played in the slot machine or outdoors and blocks with a fierce motor. This wide receiver is a McVay-disciple’s fantasy.
He still has great hands and contested catch abilities, and he can run routes high enough to create separation on the outside. The shoe fits, and Bech will receive a lot of Puka Nacua comps. Bech is a perfect match for the role of outside receiver that the Steelers need.
Round 3, Pick 85: Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, CB
Although Burke is somewhat of a gambler and a scheme-versatile player, the Steelers place a high priority on ball production. Burke’s scheme adaptability makes him a lot of fun, and I enjoy his aggressiveness in the run game. Burke is 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, which is about how the Steelers want their cornerbacks to be, so he should test well. The pedigree here is impeccable.
Burke offers the Steelers an upside option with length to work with in a deep cornerback draft, though he might even slide inside occasionally. There are a lot of running backs on the board right now, but I avoided them because I caught in between rounds and 85 is a little awkward.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech, Round 4, Pick 122
Tuten’s game was unfamiliar to me until the Senior Bowl, but he is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ needs. I’ve been informed that the team wants speed this year. Earlier in the class, it might have led them to some backs, but Tuten can really fly and fits right in with Arthur Smith’s zone running plan.
It wasn’t until I saw Tuten in backs-on-backers that I realized he could protect passes. With Jaylen Warren, Tuten would be the second player in the rotation, but it appears that he has three-down potential.
Pick 163 in Round 5: Jamaree Caldwell, IDL, Oregon
I don’t know why Caldwell isn’t getting much attention in this draft class, but he’s a fun guy who really sticks out when you watch Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch. Caldwell has some of the most entertaining nose tackles in this class and is a hoss of a nose tackle.
Although I believe Caldwell has a chance to improve during this process, he is a wonderful value if the Steelers want to concentrate heavily on their run defense. With his abilities, he will be in the league for a very long time.
Round 7, Pick 225: Louisville’s Tyler Shough, quarterback
The team will eventually take a quarterback risk. This might not be the case. No sooner than the third round, in my opinion. Despite being 25 years old, Tyler Shough has shown some ball placement this season and can alter his arm angles. Like other quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, his performance was mediocre at best, but Shough believes that you are getting a backup quarterback in the seventh pick. Taking at least one dart toss makes sense because the Steelers have three of these. She’s a good one.
Pick 238 in Round 7: Miami’s Jalen Rivers, OL
Jalen Rivers, who has only played eight games this season, has the ability to truly impact people. On his tape, that was the only thing that caught his attention. Although there are consistency issues where his pad level swells, Rivers can shift inside or play out to offensive tackle. He also possesses a vicious, nasty temperament. Although it’s difficult to predict where Rivers stands right now, he looked good at the Senior Bowl. The Steelers need depth at tackle and inside guard, and Rivers has a good chance of providing it.
Round 7, Pick 247: North Carolina’s Alijah Huzzie, CB
The Steelers need to restock at cornerback, just like they need to at defensive line. Despite being only five feet nine, Alijah Huzzie showed off his sticky coverage talents at the Shrine Bowl and on camera. Huzzie may have begun the Shrine Bowl with undrafted ratings, but his qualities should get him selected this season, so it makes a lot of sense to add another guy to the slot cornerback area.
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