2025 Steelers 7-Round Mock Draft: Dreams vs. Reality

Rumors continue to swirl as we approach Night 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and much intrigue surrounds what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do at Pick 21. Will they take a quarterback? Will it be Shedeur Sanders? Will they consider trading back? In this final Steelers mock draft for 2025, I will try to decipher truth from fiction.

This mock draft is one I do every year for the Steelers, and it is simply comparing what I want to happen with what I think will happen. We will begin with my dream, which is my perfect scenario for the Steelers. We will end with a dose of reality, which is my final seven-round projection for the Steelers.

As a reminder, be sure to check out my full 7-round mock draft on FFSN/SCN Thursday morning.

Without further adieu, here is my dream draft for the Steelers.

Dream Mock Draft

TRADE

• Steelers get Pick 30 and a 2026 2nd Round Pick
• Bills get Pick 21

Round 1, Pick 30- Kenneth Grant | DT | Michigan
If Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron somehow fell to Pick 21, I would be ecstatic, but if we are going a little more realistic for a trade-back scenario, I’ve gotta take Grant. He will provide what the Steelers have lacked along the Steelers defensive line since Casey Hampton.

TRADE

• Steelers get Picks 96, 134, and 161
• Eagles get Pick 83

Round 3, Pick 96- Cameron Williams | OT | Texas
Offensive line is not a popular pick this high, but Cameron Williams is still very young and has a ton of upside. If he can improve his hand usage and land better punches, he could also move inside to guard. A right side of the offensive line that includes Troy Fautanu and Cameron Williams would do wonders for the Steelers ground attack.

Round 4, Pick 123- Xavier Restrepo | WR | Miami
Restrepo, if not for a horrible pro day showing, would probably a Day 2 pick hands down. Now, things are getting interesting. He could easily be available in Round 4, and the Steelers would be wise to consider the value here. Here are a few key traits about his game:

• One of the best route-runners in the class
• Smart, tough, and fights for the football
• Likely limited to the slot in the NFL
• Would be a surefire Day 2 pick if not for a fluke 40 time at his pro day

Round 4, Pick 134- DJ Giddens | RB | Kansas State
Giddens is still my RB4 in this draft class, but it appears as if he could still be available in Round 4. If he isn’t, another quality running back will be.

Round 5, Pick 156- Kyle McCord | QB | Syracuse
I would love Jalen Milroe on Day 2, but with no second round pick, I couldn’t fit it into my dream. Thus, I will have to settle for McCord, who made huge strides as a passer in 2024. He could develop into a Kirk Cousins-level quarterback.

Round 5, Pick 161- Jordan Hancock | CB | Ohio State
This is an upside pick, but the corner position is not incredibly deep this year. Hancock has the tools to develop into a starter, and he is schematically versatile.

Round 6, Pick 185- Rylie Mills | DL | Notre Dame
Mills only brings average length to the table, but he has a relentless motor and made major strides as a pass rusher in 2024. He could be groomed as a potential Cameron Heyward replacement.

Round 7, Pick 229- Dont’e Thornton, Jr. | WR | Tennessee
The Steelers haven’t had a true Martavis Bryant since Martavis Bryant. It’s time to add that long, wiry field-stretcher to the receiver room.

Now that you’ve seen my heart’s desire, it is time to reveal my final predictions for the Steelers in my “reality” mock draft.

Reality Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 30- Darrick Harmon | DT | Oregon

If the Steelers trade down, keep an eye on Darius Alexander, but after some last minute changes to my mock draft, I now believe it is feasible for Harmon to fall to 21.

Also Considered: Kenneth Grant, Darius Alexander, Jalen Milroe, TreVeyon Henderson

TRADE

• Steelers receive Pick 69
• Patriots receive WR George Pickens

Round 2, Pick 69- Kaleb Johnson | RB | Iowa

Johnson is not a home run hitter at running back, but he is a consistent runner in between the tackles, and he possesses natural hands as a receiver. While he wouldn’t be my top choice at running back, he fits Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy running scheme to a tee. If he somehow falls this far, I expect the Steelers to be interested.

Also Considered: Ty Robinson (DT — Nebraska), Jalen Milroe (QB — Alabama), Jayden Higgins (WR — Iowa State, Jaylin Noel (WR — Iowa State), Savion Williams (WR — TCU)

Round 3, Pick 83- Savion Williams | WR | TCU

Also Considered: Dylan Sampson (RB — Tennessee), D.J. Giddens (RB — Kansas State), Joshua Farmer (DT — Florida State)

Round 4, Pick 109- Will Howard | QB | Ohio State

Also Considered: Kyle McCord (QB — Syracuse), Tory Horton (WR — Colorado State), Xavier Restrepo (WR — Miami), Jaylin Lane (WR — Virginia Tech), JJ Pegues (DT — Ole Miss), Bhayshul Tuten (RB — Virginia Tech)

Round 5, Pick 156- Justin Walley | CB | Minnesota

Also Considered: Jamaree Caldwell (DT — Oregon), Mac McWilliams (CB — UCF), Vernon Broughton (DT — Texas)

Round 6, Pick 185- Jared Harrison-Hunte | DL | SMU

Also Considered: Elijah Roberts (DL — SMU), Traeshon Holden (WR — Oregon), Phil Mafah (RB — Clemson)

Round 7, Pick 229- Beaux Collins | WR | Notre Dame

Also Considered: Donovan McMillon (S — Pittsburgh), Yahya Black (DT — Iowa), Dino Tomlin (WR — Boston College)

Which mock draft outcome do you like better? How realistic do you think the “reality” mock draft will be? Be sure to share your thoughts on this in the comment section below!