Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Scenario 1.0: Options remain along the defensive line

It is hard to believe, but the 2025 NFL Draft is just days away, and it is time to start breaking down scenarios. What will the Pittsburgh Steelers do if the board falls a certain way? What if there is a run on a position of need? That’s the entire point of these scenarios, and we’ll aim to do at least five of these scenarios before the start of Round 1 next Thursday night.

So, what exactly is the plan here? I used to do these all the time on our old site, and what I would do is find a quality simulator, post what happened, evaluate options, and I’d make my pick. Obviously, many will disagree, and that’s fine, it’s all part of the process.

I used the Pro Football Network mock simulator, only did a 1 Round mock, and while I saw trades, more on that below, I rejected them all considering it was just a 1 Round simulation.

If you want to run your own simulation, feel free to do so and let us know in the comments how things went for you, but here is how Round 1 broke down for me on Steelers Draft Scenario 1.0.

Round 1

1. Cameron Ward – QB Miami (FL)
2. Abdul Carter – EDGE Penn State
3. Travis Hunter – CB Colorado
4. Tetairoa McMillan – WR Arizona
5. Will Campbell – OT LSU
6. Ashton Jeanty – RB Boise State
7. Mason Graham – DT Michigan
8. Will Johnson – CB Michigan
9. Shedeur Sanders – QB Colorado
10. Armand Membou – OT Missouri
11. Shemar Stewart – EDGE Texas A&M
12. Kelvin Banks Jr. – OT Texas
13. Nick Emmanwori – S South Carolina
14. Tyler Warren – TE Penn State
15. Jalon Walker – LB Georgia
16. Mike Green – EDGE Marshall
17. Matthew Golden – WR Texas
18. Colston Loveland – TE Michigan
19. Malaki Starks – S Georgia
20. Mykel Williams – EDGE Georgia

Before breaking down what the Steelers could do in this scenario, it is worth noting there were three trade offers for the 21st pick in the draft. Here is what was offered:

Trade Offers

Cincinnati Bengals

• Pick 49
• Pick 119
• 2026 CIN 2nd
• 2026 DEN 2nd

Miami Dolphins

• Pick 48
• Pick 98
• Pick 116
• 2026 MIA 2nd
• 2026 MIA 3rd

San Francisco 49ers

• Pick 43
• Pick 52
• 2026 SF 2nd

Considering I am only doing a 1 Round scenario, I didn’t accept any of these trades, but several of these scenarios would be extremely enticing for the Steelers. Notice all of these offers had the Steelers surrendering their 1st Round pick to gain Day 2 picks, both in 2025 and 2026. In other words, it wasn’t a scenario where a team behind the Steelers wanted to swap 1st Round picks, but I would seriously consider these trades looking at the board as it fell to the team at pick No. 21.

With those trades rejected, it is time to evaluate what the Steelers could do with their 1st Round pick. When you look at positions which still have quality players, there are many.

Only two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, have been selected. Only two wide receivers, Matthew Golden and Tetairoa McMillan, have been selected. And only Mason Graham has been taken in the crop of defensive tackle players. A run on EDGE defenders provides the Steelers with plenty of options at this juncture.

It is tempting to look at wide receiver, but I go back to the same thought I had prior to the 2024 NFL Draft. The thought was simple: It’s time for the team to stop messing around and fixing the offensive line. I feel the very same about the defensive line in 2025. With that said, here are the Steelers options at this juncture, knowing Graham is off the board:

• Kenneth Grant, Michigan
• Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
• Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Those are the big names remaining for the Steelers as eligible picks in Round 1. Here is an overview of each player:

Walter Nolen

“Nolen has NFL-starting size but won’t blow you away with his physical traits. However, he gains quick advantages with his explosiveness into contact and ability to beat up blockers when singled up. He has the athletic talent to play into gaps but needs to play with better hands to keep himself clean at the point of attack. He wins as a rusher with his athleticism and play strength, and doesn’t need to be schemed for. The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman.”

Kenneth Grant

“Grant is a broad-bodied nose tackle whose tape can run hot and cold depending on the game and the types of blocks he’s facing. He struggles to anchor when hit with down blocks due to his narrow base and tall pads, but he uses his power and length to beat single blocks and split double teams when he finds the crease. He had some sack production in college, and we could see him improve in that area once he learns to create more rush space with his hands. Grant’s game will finally come together in full when he’s able to take his impressive physical attributes and impose his will on opponents.”

Derrick Harmon

“Position-versatile building block that makes moving the football a much tougher task. Harmon is wide, long and naturally powerful at the point of attack. He can create traffic jams inside as a two-gapper or stunt and power his way into the backfield. He’s unlikely to be a primary sack man, but he can be part of a swarm unit that batters the pocket. He’s high-cut and tight-hipped, which limits his agility and reactive athleticism to finish. Harmon can play up and down the line in both odd and even fronts. He will bring an instant dose of stinginess and toughness to any defense he joins.”

The more I read about these three players, Nolen and Grant both seem to have question marks surrounding their game, while Harmon provides the Steelers are more pro-ready prospect. Harmon isn’t a perfect prospect, but he absolutely is capable of filling the need the Steelers have along the defensive line.

With the 21st overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Derrick Harmon, Oregon.

What do you think of this selection? Would you have taken a different position? A different prospect? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft.