Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Scenario 2.0: Taking a dark horse position in Round 1

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.

See the past scenarios below:

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

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 2.0.

Round 1

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

Trade Offers

Minnesota Vikings

• Pick 24
• 2026 MIN 2nd

Cleveland Browns

• PIT Sends CLE Pick 21 and 83
• CLE Sends PIT Pick 33 and 2026 1st Round Pick

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. The Browns offer would be extremely enticing, moving back just over 10 spots, but gaining a 1st Round pick in 2026. Seems too far-fetched to even entrain, and all trades are rejected.

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.

In this specific scenario, only Cam Ward has been selected at pick No. 21. That leaves Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, and all the other quarterbacks as options for the Steelers, if I choose to go that route. On the defensive front only Mason Graham and Derrick Harmon have been selected, so that leaves options left. Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden are the only receivers selected, and there are a lot of ways the draft could go at this point.

The other day on a podcast I was asked what a “dark horse” position of need would be, and I think I’m going to go that direction in this scenario. I’m not going to take a quarterback at pick No. 21, nor am I going to take a running back or defensive lineman. No, I’m looking at the safeties.

Only Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina has been selected in Round 1, which leaves a lot of talent remaining at the position. Here are the options remaining, and a brief overview of the players:

• Malaki Starks, Georgia
• Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
• Jaylen Reed, Penn State

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

Malaki Starks

“Three-year starter with reams of high-leverage games on his résumé. Starks is a versatile safety with the size and athleticism to eliminate contested catches and the speed and ball skills to shine when the action travels deep. Connection to the route is inconsistent in man and he’s baited out of position by misdirection, but better discipline and anticipation should clean that up. He’s not a true force player near the line and his pursuit angles can be raggedy but he gets guys down when he’s in position. Starks has feast-or-famine moments on tape and disappointed with his short-area testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran well in Indianapolis, though, and was impressive in interviews with teams. He is a future starter as a movable back-end piece whose consistency will determine his floor/ceiling.”

Xavier Watts

“Safety with the versatility and ball skills to make plays from a variety of alignments. Watts plays with rare feel and instincts on the back-end, allowing him to range over the top in single-high or read and drive on throws as a split safety. Watts lined up over the slot at times in college, but he might not have the man-cover talent to do that as a pro. His ball skills and production are intoxicating, but his run support and tackling are quite sobering. Watts lacks pursuit discipline and fails to break down in space, leading to open-field misses and back-breaking mistakes. The tackling lowers his floor some, but I expect him to drift toward his ceiling because he’s so good on the back-end.”

Jaylen Reed

“Reed has NFL size and good overall production as a two-year starter but there are concerns on tape. He plays with natural instincts and route awareness to make plays on the ball but is too inconsistent in finding where he needs to be in coverage. He doesn’t run well enough to play over the top or handle certain targets in man coverage. He’s physical enough as a run supporter but needs to improve his approach as an open-field tackler. Reed is best suited to play as a backup safety in downhill zone coverages.”

When I look at these prospects, only Watts and Starks are viable options for me. Reed has a bright future, but is more of a project, so that moves the number of players from three to two. I looked for assistance from Jeremy Betz on who he would take between Starks and Watts, and here is what he said:

“Starks is the more versatile player, can play nickel CB, Dime backer, or even deep in zone coverage, while Watts is almost strictly a centerfield coverage safety with elite ball skills. Wouldn’t ask him to play too much man. For me, I wouldn’t take Watts in Rd. 1, so my choice would be Starks. Steelers need nickel CB help, they also need a guy more comfortable playing up in the box if they keep Minkah and don’t extend Elliott. Starks is more that guy. I think he mostly plays nickel in the NFL. He’s like if Cam Sutton were a first round talent.

“Think Brian Branch – not flashy but immediate impact player.”

As someone who loved what Brian Branch brought to the Detroit Lions, I’m on board with his decision and his sound reasoning as to why he made that choice.

With the 21st overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select safety Malaki Starks, Georgia.

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.