Mock Draft Monday: The Steelers add a blazing wide receiver with their top pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 2025 offseason. With free agency as the next big event to shape next season’s roster, it will be followed by the NFL draft in April. The Steelers will have a number of decisions with players who were on the 2024 roster and will have the opportunity to add some free agent acquisitions before making their first draft selection. With the NFL combine behind us, player pro days will also shape the team’s big boards before the draft.

When talking about mock drafts or NFL free agency, one first has to first identify the team’s main needs for the offseason. Before any gains or losses in free agency, there are some who would like to see the Steelers go with either cornerback or defensive line with their first-round pick. Others feel wide receiver or even quarterback could be on top of the list. With plenty of chances for the Steelers to shape their roster prior to April, their goal is usually to get into position to draft the best player available rather than target a specific position. When it comes to what position the team will select with their first pick, it is certainly up for debate.

In a somewhat recent one-round mock draft by CBSSports.com, they have the Steelers addressing the wide reciver position this season before anything else. With the Steelers needing to add more to this position group, selecting a wide receiver in the first round is not a bad idea if the right player is there and depending what the Steelers do in free agency. Since the Steelers could go in any number of directions with their first selection, it is important to look at all the possibilities presented by various mock draft outlets.

Check out the Steelers 21st pick:

21. Pittsburgh Steelers | Matthew Golden | WR | Texas | JR |

Being early in the draft process, there may be some players most fans are not familiar with. If this is the case, here is a breakdown of Matthew Golden according to bleacherreport.com (from December of 2024):

Matthew Golden

• HEIGHT: 6’0″
• WEIGHT: 195

POSITIVES

— Great long speed and burst off the ball to create explosive plays down the field.

— Separation creator due to sharp and crisp route running ability.

— Speed modulation to keep defensive backs on their heels.

— Catch point competitiveness with good hand-eye coordination and body control.

NEGATIVES

— Consistency with use of hands in contact window to combat long-limbed physical corners.

— Has battled injuries over the past few seasons, five missed games prior to 2024.

— Cleaning up concentration drops, accounted for 13 over the least three seasons.

— Play strength concerns contribute to struggles sustaining run blocks, after initital contact.

NOTES

— Born Aug. 1, 2003

— 4-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 30 collegiate starts between Houston & Texas

— 2023: All-Big 12 Football Second Team (KR/PR)

OVERALL

Matthew Golden is an explosive and dynamic receiver with positional flexibility.

Golden makes plays from multiple wide receiver positions, X, slot, & Z. He separates from coverage well with his innate ability to decelerate and accelerate in and out of his breaks. He sells go-routes on the vertical plane well to push the cornerback upfield creating space for him to break downhill and back towards the quarterback. He modulates speeds to Golden is a crisp route runner who separators well at the top of his route. He is a quick mover with sharp plants to pivot in the right direction. Golden can suddenly change directions and lose his man coverage defender. He works the inside leverage well before cutting between the hashes into the middle of the field.

Golden’s speed and acceleration will take the top off the defense; generating explosive plays through the air to back safeties off and create lighter defensive fronts against the run. He will take the primary corner and deep safety vertical; essentially freeing up underneath routes for his teammates. His acceleration is outstanding and on display after the catch. Golden can explode past defenders after catching an underneath target in space. He shifts gears quickly in space and can eat up grass for maximum YAC.

In contested catch situations, Golden displays good body control as he elevates in the air to make a play. He is competitive at the catch point and can reel in difficult grabs. Golden’s ability to contort his body and maintain control to stay in bounds is impressive.

As a run blocker, Golden leaves a lot to be desired. He struggles to sustain leverage or the block. He lacks the play strength and physicality to operate as a play-side crackback blocker. He is easily shed by defenders and displaced. If aligned in the slot, effective run blocking is important to have in your wheelhouse. Golden’s wingspan is functional, but NFL cornerbacks with athleticism and a good wingspan will challenge him at the LOS. His use of hands against press alignment needs work. To maximize his skill set and potential, he must develop more counters against physical corners.

In all, Matthew Golden projects as a WR 2/3 to assume the role of a movement Z receiver. With his speed and explosiveness Golden will be a nice complement to a traditional X-receiver. He will be the quick separator in the offense.

GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — Late 1st – Early 2nd)

OVERALL RANK: 18

POSITION RANK: WR2

PRO COMPARISON: Santana Moss

For all you who are preparing yourself for the draft, what do you think of the selection? Would you be on board with the Steelers taking Golden with their first pick? Or do you feel there is a better player at this position, a different one who may still be available, or that Golden will not make it to the 21st pick? Personally, I think the Steelers will draft a wide receiver this year, but how high will depend on how much they address the position in free agency. This mock draft was done before Golden posted the fastest 40 time at the combine, so that could boost his stock in the draft. But before the combine, I saw some places that said Golden might not be the best receiver on the board for the Steelers to take at 21 but would be the best fit for what they need. Frankly, I’m ready for free agency so draft issues become much more clear in the next couple weeks.