Mock Draft Monday: The Steelers add another edge rusher with their top pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving through the 2025 offseason. With free agency continuing to shape next season’s roster, it will be followed by the NFL draft in April. The Steelers still 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. As the Steelers navigate 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, running back, or even quarterback could still be on top of the list. With plenty of chances for the Steelers to continue 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 recent one-round mock draft by CBSSports.com, they have the Steelers addressing the outside linebacker position this season before anything else. With the Steelers seeming set at the position for at least the next season, this pick looks to be more about a player being too good to pass up more than looking at current team needs. 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 | Jalon Walker | LB | Georgia | 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 Jalon Walker according to bleacherreport.com (from January of 2025):

Jalon Walker

• HEIGHT: 6’1″
• WEIGHT: 243
• HAND: 10¼”
• ARM: 32″
• WINGSPAN: 79⅞”

POSITIVES

– Good size and frame for an NFL linebacker with impressive movement skills as well.

– Versatile defender who has been used on the edge and as an off-ball linebacker.

– Has the speed and athleticism to be effective in man coverage against running backs and tight ends.

– In zone coverage, he shows decent eye discipline for someone new to playing off-ball linebacker and uses his hands to get reroutes.

– Against the run, he takes on blocks with his hands, good knee bend and a sturdy base.

– Shows decent strength at the point of attack to hold his ground and avoid getting pushed around by offensive linemen in the running game.

– When playing on the edge, he has good acceleration to win with speed and impressive bend to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush.

– Has flashed solid hand-swipe and long-arm moves he can win with as a pass-rusher.

NEGATIVES

– Inexperienced overall, didn’t make his first college start until this past season and was primarily used as third-down edge-rusher his first two years at Georgia.

– Lack of experience playing off-ball linebacker shows up in his instincts against the run. He’s often late to key and diagnose run plays and looks like he might be thinking too much.

– Takes on blocks from offensive linemen square instead of getting on an edge which leads to him getting stuck on blocks.

– Will be late to pick up his man when pattern matching in coverage.

NOTES

– 4-star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

– Injuries: 2023 (Offseason shoulder surgery labrum, missed spring practices)

OVERALL

Jalon Walker is one of the most interesting draft prospects in this year’s class, primarily because he played a few different positions in college, and his best spot at the next level is a bit of a question.

As an off-ball linebacker, Walker’s speed and athleticism give him plenty of potential to be good in coverage. He has the change of direction to stay in phase against tight ends and running backs on choice routes in man coverage. When playing zone, he shows decent eye discipline for someone new to the position that an NFL coaching staff can work with.

As a pass-rusher, the Georiga product is explosive off the ball to win with speed around the edge and has good bend to turn at a tight corner at the top of the rush. He’s also shown flashes of winning with hand-swipe and long-arm moves, but he relies more on winning with his natural gifts than being a technician with several moves in his arsenal.

Against the run, Walker takes on blocks with his hands and shows good strength at the point of attack to hold his ground against most offensive linemen. That helps him set the edge or stay in his gap when playing as an off-ball linebacker.

However, he does have a habit of taking on blocks square instead of half the man which can cause him issues when trying to escape.

Walker’s biggest issues are tied to his instincts, which stem from his lack of experience and playing several different positions. He often looks like he’s thinking too much and can take a second to process information. However, he has started to show growth in the mental part of the game and can be a very good defender when he becomes more instinctual.

With that, the Bulldog is a high-ceiling but low-floor type of player. His potential is enormous, as he could be a versatile defender who impacts the game in several ways, but he also runs the risk of struggling to find a true position in the NFL. Whatever team drafts Walker, he will need to have a plan for his development and will be taking a gamble, but the payoff could be high.

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

OVERALL RANK: 14

POSITION RANK: LB1

PRO COMPARISON: Kyle Van Noy

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 Jalon Walker 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 Walker will not make it to the 21st pick? Personally, this is a position I would be shocked at the Steelers drafted in the first round. Yes, if Walker was available it would be surprising and it would be considered a value pick. But with the Steelers having T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, I would much rather them find a suitor for Walker who would be willing to trade up to that spot should he be available. I think that would be a better value play for the Steelers, especially with them not having a second round pick. It’s nothing against the player, it just doesn’t seem to be the best scenario for the Steelers.