OT: Steelers Draft 2025

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

Seems like every year there is a player or two in the draft that seem destined to be Steelers: Najee, Pickett, Benton, JPJ, Frazier.

This year it seems like Azareyeh Thomas is the guy. If they can nab him in the 2nd or 3rd that would be sweet. His one knock is his speed so it’ll be interesting to see how he runs in Indy. If he beats expectations he probably doesn’t fall that far.

I’m guessing Egbuka or Burden is their pick at 21 if either is still on the board. Wouldn’t be surprised if they double dip at WR.

DL is the strength of this draft class, so maybe they can wait there. But I think Philly proved the wisdom of investing in the DL and I still think PGH leans that way at 21, unless one of those WRs falls. I’ve seen “experts” predicting Nolan from Ole Miss. Harmon from Oregon is another kid that seems like a fit and could slot there.

 

[PittPharm2002]

Kahn is talking about extending Pickens .
Heads exploding

 

[HailToPitt725]

WR has been the trendy pick at 21, but I’d rather them look at another position and pursue an offseason acquisition (Kupp, Samuel) to pair with Pickens, who I’m still not sold on.

You raise an interesting point re: DL. That’s my preferred choice in round one, but you could still get a quality prospect on day two.

 

[wbrpanther]

Seems like every year there is a player or two in the draft that seem destined to be Steelers: Najee, Pickett, Benton, JPJ, Frazier.

This year it seems like Azareyeh Thomas is the guy. If they can nab him in the 2nd or 3rd that would be sweet. His one knock is his speed so it’ll be interesting to see how he runs in Indy. If he beats expectations he probably doesn’t fall that far.

I’m guessing Egbuka or Burden is their pick at 21 if either is still on the board. Wouldn’t be surprised if they double dip at WR.

DL is the strength of this draft class, so maybe they can wait there. But I think Philly proved the wisdom of investing in the DL and I still think PGH leans that way at 21, unless one of those WRs falls. I’ve seen “experts” predicting Nolan from Ole Miss. Harmon from Oregon is another kid that seems like a fit and could slot there.

I would go DL in the first round and another in the 4th or 5th. Sign a WR in free agency and again in the second round. And sign Pickens if doable.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

Kahn is talking about extending Pickens .
Heads exploding

Do you agree with that?

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

I would go DL in the first round and another in the 4th or 5th. Sign a WR in free agency and again in the second round. And sign Pickens if doable.

I’m all about BPA and they need help on the DL. But you have to think Cam, Benton, and a 1st rounder would be starting. They also have Leal and Adams still under contract, although either could be expendable if the right player slides. Still I’m not sure drafting two D lineman, when one would be your 4th guy at best, isn’t a luxury when they have so many other needs.

 

[HailtoPitt]

None of it will matter until they have a QB.

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

None of it will matter until they have a QB.

So don’t bother drafting anyone, trade away all your picks, and max out your draft capital to take a QB at the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh?

Interesting idea.

 

[PittPharm2002]

Do you agree with that?

I’d wait to mid season
We don’t have a single qb and only Warren at RB

 

[joeydavid]

Kahn is talking about extending Pickens .
Heads exploding

Khan sounded like he's in over his head at the combine. He also talked about bringing Harris back. I don't believe any of it.

 

[joeydavid]

I’m all about BPA and they need help on the DL. But you have to think Cam, Benton, and a 1st rounder would be starting. They also have Leal and Adams still under contract, although either could be expendable if the right player slides. Still I’m not sure drafting two D lineman, when one would be your 4th guy at best, isn’t a luxury when they have so many other needs.

Bring Javon Hargrave back. Draft WRs and CBs. Then go .500 because they botched the QB position.

 

[pittmeister]

None of it will matter until they have a QB.

Right.... In the meantime, let the rest of the team go to hell... It's not like the Steelers need help at other positions... Sheesh!

 

[HailtoPitt]

Right.... In the meantime, let the rest of the team go to hell... It's not like the Steelers need help at other positions... Sheesh!

Just the truth of the NFL. Need a QB and an offense that can score. We have neither.

Maybe Fields has a chance to become that, but not with the offense. Doubtful anyway.

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

Khan sounded like he's in over his head at the combine. He also talked about bringing Harris back. I don't believe any of it.

I saw he said “all options are on the table” when asked about Harris. That’s probably true. They are open to having him back, but aren’t going to get into a bidding war.

 

[PittPharm2002]

Fields isn’t signed and I hope he’s not

Steelers have so many needs

 

[pittbb80]

Kahn is talking about extending Pickens .
Heads exploding

Could care less. But why wouldn’t he? If he says anything else he diminishes his ability to negotiate a trade. Be smarter

 

[pittbb80]

None of it will matter until they have a QB.

They could have Mahomes and it wouldn’t. Matter with the roster they have Until they solidify the OL and get legit talent at the skill positions there’s not a qb who would make a huge difference Running for your life with no one open is not a recipe for success for a qb

 

[pittbb80]

IMO. We’ll find out just how good or bad Kahn is this offseason. How he deals with the Qb position, Watt, Fitz, and the cancer Pickens as well as the draft will go a long way to determining how good or bad he is

I suspect he’ll stick with the status quo and play it safe just like Mediocre Mike does. The organization is stale and needs a complete overhaul. But the issue is Art Jr lives in his fears and won’t make any changes Hell stick with the mediocre performance until it collapses under its own weight

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

I’d wait to mid season
We don’t have a single qb and only Warren at RB

But the Steelers have that moronic and archaic rule of not negotiating a contract during the season. I mean this organization seems to continue to go backwards every day with Arthur J Rooney II.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

They could have Mahomes and it wouldn’t. Matter with the roster they have Until they solidify the OL and get legit talent at the skill positions there’s not a qb who would make a huge difference Running for your life with no one open is not a recipe for success for a qb

Well they certainly spent enough draft capital on the OL the past few seasons. We can only hope it is young and will mature into something.

 

[joeydavid]

Right.... In the meantime, let the rest of the team go to hell... It's not like the Steelers need help at other positions... Sheesh!

Letting the rest of the team "go to hell" is a better strategy than being 17th best team every year.

I saw he said “all options are on the table” when asked about Harris. That’s probably true. They are open to having him back, but aren’t going to get into a bidding war.

Think about how stupid that sounds. They could have picked up his rookie contract for $6.9 mil. Khan is either a buffoon or a liar.

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

Think about how stupid that sounds. They could have picked up his rookie contract for $6.9 mil. Khan is either a buffoon or a liar.

I won’t argue with you on that. It wasn’t a value pick taking him in the first place, and then they doubled down by not taking the fifth year. Now they either have to hope the market depresses his value where they don’t get killed on a contract that likely takes him to age 30. Or they have to use draft capital to find a replacement.

 

[pittbb80]

Well they certainly spent enough draft capital on the OL the past few seasons. We can only hope it is young and will mature into something.

Not with the current OL coach

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Kahn is talking about extending Pickens .
Heads exploding

our boy Richie Walsh was on the fan last night, apparently he interviewed khan. the Pickens topic came up. He said that they had a long talk (Pickens and Khan) about expectations. blah blah.

But that he suspects they will handle it like Najee, meaning not extending him before hte season but letting it play out and having him "earn it" with his play next season..


Soo many issues with this if true. First off, if they arent going to extend him before the season, he will 99% go into free agency to see what else is out there. So best case, he proves himself, keeps his attitude in check, has good season and the steelers make an offer. problem is, his agent will say "we'll see how FA goes," I mean why wouldnt they? His value will be sky high on the open market.


if you dont sign him and have him going into a lame duck year, Then you have a player with attitude issues going into a season unsigned for '26. That could be adding fuel to the fire with locker room issues..


I know you and i disagree on pickens and that's fine but i think the steelers either have to make a move one way or the other with him. Extend him now and roll the dice or let him go. I know he's on a rookie contract and you believe we should play it out but if you arent going to extend him, trade him now and figure out your WR room and try to get value for him..


just my two cents..

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I’d wait to mid season
We don’t have a single qb and only Warren at RB

i believe Jaylen is a FA too, so we dont even have him. Restricted i think

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Khan sounded like he's in over his head at the combine. He also talked about bringing Harris back. I don't believe any of it.

yeah, that would be silly. If you liked him, you should have picked up his 5th year. not picking up his 5th year but declining it and then extending him is probably the worst thing you could do, money wise.. It's like selling your used car for 10k and then realizing 6 months later how much you like it and buying it back for 25k.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

But the Steelers have that moronic and archaic rule of not negotiating a contract during the season. I mean this organization seems to continue to go backwards every day with Arthur J Rooney II.

agree, they need to change that. it truly hamstrings the organization. LIke with Pickens, he comes on strong first few weeks putting up big numbers, you do your best to make an offer. the player and agent probably says "go take a hike" but you still have to try and extend a good player before they go test the waters in Free agency..

Maybe my example of pickens is a bad one though but you get my point.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Please get rid of Pickens. When do guys like that ever magically turn it around? I mean Moss was more sane in New England, but we don't exactly have the greatest coach/QB combination in the history of football to keep him in check.

The Steelers can keep trying to be competitive in the short-term and be mediocre for a long time, or they can play for 2-3 years down the road and try to build up the important positions before eventually adding the QB of the future (they've already been doing that in the last two drafts - I get it). And the better they do at building up the rest of the roster, the less of a hero that QB has to be.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

i feel like you go either WR / DL with first and second round or vice versa. Wouldnt hate a CB in the second round either but i have no clue how deep the CB pool is this year..

im calling Will howard in the 3rd. no clue why i like him but i do. and yes, i know the history of ohio state qbs success in the nfl but i still think it could be a good pick.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

What's depressing, however, is that the best players on the roster don't really fit a timeline of 3 years down the road. If I asked you to tell me who looks like a nearly sure thing to be playing at a high level for the Steelers in 2028, who could you possibly list as an example?

Zach Frazier - absolutely
Broderick Jones... huge question mark
Fautanu - question mark
JPJ - question mark
Friermuth - mid
Highsmith - potentially, but he's aging
Benton - sadly, also a question mark right now

Maybe McCormick, Payton Wilson, etc. develop into something. But I mean you have to have really good players to win in this league. I can't point to many young guys and say they'll probably be really good.

Lately, the Steelers have been good at drafting guys who are pretty mediocre for 3+ years and then blow up just enough to price themselves out of here at the end. Bud Dupree, probably Najee, Sutton, Edmunds, etc. The drafting has honestly SUCKED.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

This is such a poorly run, poorly coached, dysfunctional franchise now. We have become the Browns.

 

[pittdan77]

DL heavy draft? The super geniuses will wait until the 3rd round to grab a mediocre one and tell us they got a value pick.

Also, someone mentioned that the GM talking to the rogue WR about expectations. Isn't that the coaches job?

They're not going to do much of anything in free agency if they don't have a QB because nobody worth having is coming to a club that doesn't have some level of certainty. They need to announce their deal with Fields sooner rather than later.

 

[pittbb80]

Well they certainly spent enough draft capital on the OL the past few seasons. We can only hope it is young and will mature into something.

Not with the current

Please get rid of Pickens. When do guys like that ever magically turn it around? I mean Moss was more sane in New England, but we don't exactly have the greatest coach/QB combination in the history of football to keep him in check.

The Steelers can keep trying to be competitive in the short-term and be mediocre for a long time, or they can play for 2-3 years down the road and try to build up the important positions before eventually adding the QB of the future (they've already been doing that in the last two drafts - I get it). And the better they do at building up the rest of the roster, the less of a hero that QB has to be.

as the old saying goes you can’t change the stripes on a zebra. He’s had red flags about his attitude way back at Georgia and is the reason teams passed on him.

There’s not going to be some moment of divine intervention where he suddenly gets it

 

[OH Pete]

Do you agree with that?

I think it depends on the terms of the contract. We have to remember that this is a business. Decisions have to be made through that lens. If George agrees to less guarantee and more incentive, resigning him could be a solid decision from a risk/reward proposition. For the most part, people mature as they age. Most of us at 23 vs me at 27 and beyond was a world of difference, both personally and professionally.

 

[pittbb80]

DL heavy draft? The super geniuses will wait until the 3rd round to grab a mediocre one and tell us they got a value pick.

Also, someone mentioned that the GM talking to the rogue WR about expectations. Isn't that the coaches job?

They're not going to do much of anything in free agency if they don't have a QB because nobody worth having is coming to a club that doesn't have some level of certainty. They need to announce their deal with Fields sooner rather than later.

Conversely what qb worth his weight is going to want to play in this offense

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

DL heavy draft? The super geniuses will wait until the 3rd round to grab a mediocre one and tell us they got a value pick.

Also, someone mentioned that the GM talking to the rogue WR about expectations. Isn't that the coaches job?

They're not going to do much of anything in free agency if they don't have a QB because nobody worth having is coming to a club that doesn't have some level of certainty. They need to announce their deal with Fields sooner rather than later.

What they can't do is not go hellbent into the draft looking for one position.
They need:
QB (there is no one worthy of a 1st or 2nd rd pick this year)
RB. Deep draft likely they can get a good one in rd 3 or even 4 so no go in Rd 1
WR Not as deep as usual years only a couple worthy of rd 1, so again don't reach if they aren't there
OL Can't pick another 1st rd OL
DL Loaded draft. Could get a good one in rd 1 or 2 or maybe even 3. Prudent to pick at least one.
LB. Blah.
Edge Rusher. If they wouldn't extend Watt, which I wouldn't. that could be a 1st rd pick
CB. Need, but not a deep CB draft, at least in rd 1
S. Same as CB.

 

[pittdan77]

What they can't do is not go hellbent into the draft looking for one position.
They need:
QB (there is no one worthy of a 1st or 2nd rd pick this year)
RB. Deep draft likely they can get a good one in rd 3 or even 4 so no go in Rd 1
WR Not as deep as usual years only a couple worthy of rd 1, so again don't reach if they aren't there
OL Can't pick another 1st rd OL
DL Loaded draft. Could get a good one in rd 1 or 2 or maybe even 3. Prudent to pick at least one.
LB. Blah.
Edge Rusher. If they wouldn't extend Watt, which I wouldn't. that could be a 1st rd pick
CB. Need, but not a deep CB draft, at least in rd 1
S. Same as CB.

Right, but that's how they've been doing things so there isn't a legit reason to expect that will change.

 

[pittdan77]

Conversely what qb worth his weight is going to want to play in this offense

Fields is the QB they're going to sign. Just a question of how much they overpay for him.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

What they can't do is not go hellbent into the draft looking for one position.
They need:
QB (there is no one worthy of a 1st or 2nd rd pick this year)
RB. Deep draft likely they can get a good one in rd 3 or even 4 so no go in Rd 1
WR Not as deep as usual years only a couple worthy of rd 1, so again don't reach if they aren't there
OL Can't pick another 1st rd OL
DL Loaded draft. Could get a good one in rd 1 or 2 or maybe even 3. Prudent to pick at least one.
LB. Blah.
Edge Rusher. If they wouldn't extend Watt, which I wouldn't. that could be a 1st rd pick
CB. Need, but not a deep CB draft, at least in rd 1
S. Same as CB.

I almost hope they take Hampton (RB from UNC) in the first round so I can be done with them. Just about done with Pitt football and basketball, so if the Steelers make another colossally stupid move I can just cancel my cable subscription and spend my down time foraging mushrooms or something.

 

[pittdan77]

I almost hope they take Hampton (RB from UNC) in the first round so I can be done with them. Just about done with Pitt football and basketball, so if the Steelers make another colossally stupid move I can just cancel my cable subscription and spend my down time foraging mushrooms or something.

I understand that May is a good time to do that so the timing works in your favor.