Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Scenario 4.0: Addressing the nickel

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

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

Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Scenario 3.0: Finally fixing a problem

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 4.0.

Round 1

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

Trade Offers

Chicago Bears

• Pick 39
• Pick 41

Miami Dolphins

PIT

• Pick 21
• Pick 229

MIA

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

Seattle Seahawks

• Pick 50
• Pick 52
• 2026 SEA 3rd

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 Dolphins offer would be extremely enticing, but the Steelers would be surrendering their 1st Round pick in 2025 to gain two Top 100 picks and two Day 2 picks in 2026. Nonetheless, it seems too far-fetched to even entertain, 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.

If I’m being honest, in this scenario I was looking to hopefully grab an offensive player, mainly a wide receiver; however, the two who I feel are truly 1st Round talents were gone before the Steelers picked at No. 21. As for quarterbacks, the Seahawks drafting Shedeur Sanders at No. 21 meant there weren’t any quarterbacks who even garnered my attention with a 1st Round selection.

On the defensive side of the football there were some options. The Steelers could have any number of the following players who could turn out to be solid players for the team for years to come. I chose to focus on the defensive backs, mainly nickel cornerbacks, in this mock draft simulation:

• Jahdae Barron, Texas CB
• Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky CB
• Jacob Parrish, Kansas State CB

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

Jahdae Barron

“Big nickelback was in the right place at the right time throughout his impressive 2024 season. Barron played smothering coverage underneath, fueled by route recognition, footwork and play strength. His instincts allow him to pounce on catch points or tackle pass catchers immediately from zone. However, he lacks recovery speed deep and can be a little too grabby at the top of the route in man. Tackle technique in run support is a shade inconsistent but looks easily correctable. The size and tape work in his favor as a physical nickel who can be an early contributor and future starter, with the potential to cross-train as a safety.”

Maxwell Hairston

“Slender outside cornerback with long arms and impressive ball production. Hairston is capable of playing all forms of zone and man coverage. He anticipates well with his eyes forward and has the burst to take the ball away, posting six interceptions (three returned for TDs) over his last 20 games. He stays connected in man coverage with good agility and fluidity but needs to do a better job of locating the football downfield. He will struggle to contest big wideouts and his run support will turn off some teams. Hairston has the athleticism and on-ball talent to become a starter, but he needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors and physicality of the NFL game.”

Jacob Parrish

“Two-year starter with ball skills and athleticism for inside/outside versatility. Parrish glides around the field powered by quick feet and smooth hips. He can stay tight to underneath routes from press man and plays with poise and timing when the throw goes deep. He has adequate long speed and twitchy short-area burst to challenge throws from off-man and zone but struggles to gather and redirect quickly to match comebacks and double-breakers. He played with better coverage physicality in 2024 but is still lacking as a run defender and open-field tackler. He needs more seasoning but has the athletic tools and ball skills to compete for a role as a CB2/3.”

When I look at these prospects, I have to ask myself how they would fit into the 2025 roster immediately. Of these three cornerbacks, a position many Steelers fans would consider a dark horse position of need, Jahdae Barron is the player who stands out as the best player for what the Steelers want to do defensively.

Investment into the secondary is never a bad thing, and Barron should be able to contribute early as a sub package specialist.

With the 21st overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select nickel cornerback Jahdae Baron, Texas.

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.