Why is pinpointing Pittsburgh’s top draft pick so difficult this year?

If you’ve paid any attention to the litany of tweets, articles, and mock drafts that have surfaced recently, you’ve undoubtedly seen a number of prospects pegged to the Steelers in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft.

Here are some of the names I’ve seen:

Kenneth Grant. Derrick Harmon. Walter Nolen. Jaxson Dart. Jalen Milroe. A trade for Shedeur Sanders.  Emeka Egbuka. Matthew Golden. Luther Burden III. Ashton Jeanty. Omarion Hampton. Jahdae Barron.

It’s not unusual to see a large number of names floated as possibilities, especially for a team drafting further down in the round, as the Steelers are at #21. What is unusual is the lack of consensus on a position group.

Look at the list again. The first three players are defensive tackles. The next three are quarterbacks. The three after them are wide receivers. Followed by two running backs. And finally, a corner.

That’s five different position groups. When was the last time the Steelers went into a draft with that many positions in play for their top pick? It’s been awhile.

The previous two years, their interest in offensive linemen has been clear. Prior to 2023, Pittsburgh hadn’t spent a first or second round pick on an offensive lineman since 2012. The line needed to be rebuilt, and new assistant general manager Andy Weidl had a history of drafting linemen in previous stops in Philadelphia and Baltimore. So, in both 2023 and 2024, that’s what the Steelers did, spending their top picks on Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu.

In 2022, the team desperately needed a quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger had retired, and Mitchell Trubisky had been signed as a bridge to a more permanent replacement. There was still a need at other positions in that draft, particularly along the lines and at defensive back, but the Steelers made their interest in quarterbacks clear throughout the draft process. Their selection of Kenny Pickett at #20 overall was surprising to some. But it shouldn’t have been.

In 2021, running back was all the rage. James Conner had left in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals. His backups were Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland, neither of whom were considered starter material. It wasn’t a question of if the Steelers would draft a running back in the first round that year, merely which one. Pittsburgh considered Najee Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams, before ultimately selecting Harris.

The Steelers didn’t have a 1st Round pick in 2020 — they’d traded it to Miami for Minkah Fitzpatrick — but in 2019 the clear need was at linebacker. They’d lost Ryan Shazier two seasons prior, and had muddled through 2018 with Jon Bostic opposite Vince Williams. An upgrade seemed inevitable. The Steelers were so determined to land a linebacker in the 1st Round that year that they traded up to select Michigan’s Devin Bush after the other highly-ranked backer in that class — Devin White — went off the board early.

You probably have to go back to 2018, when the Steelers had a loaded roster and were mostly drafting for depth, to find the last time their top choice was as uncertain as it is this year. That draft netted Terrell Edmunds, whose career in Pittsburgh was decent, but fell short of the expectations of Round One pick.

The problem in trying to identify Pittsburgh’s first selection this year is that no one seems to know what area the team is prioritizing. Quarterback is the most obvious and compelling need. But a deal with Aaron Rodgers would all but eliminate quarterback from Round One consideration. No deal with Rodgers could put someone like Dart in play. The Steelers may know what Rodgers intends to do, but the public does not. And so, speculation simmers.

Running back is another area you could see them go in Round One. With the departure of Harris, and the emphasis Arthur Smith puts on running the football, it seems unlikely they’ll roll with Jaylen Warren — who has never had more than 150 carries in a season — as their lone feature back. If Jeanty falls into the teens, the Steelers may be willing to trade up for him. If he’s there at 21, they’ll probably run to the podium with his name. They could also trade back in the round to acquire extra picks and target North Carolina’s Hampton, whom the team is said to be high on.

What about wide receiver? Yes, DK Metcalf is in the house. And yes, the pairing of Metcalf and George Pickens gives Pittsburgh two talented starters. But with Pickens entering the final year of his rookie contract, it’s possible the Steelers could move him to acquire draft capital, then use their top pick on Egbuka or Golden to pair with Metcalf.

But what if Barron, the All-America from Texas, is on the board at 21? The Steelers have starters at corner in Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay. But Slay is 34 years old and on a one-year deal. He’ll almost surely be one-and-done. The team needs help at slot corner, too. Beanie Bishop played admirably there last season, but he struggled against the run, and also with communication in coverage. Barron is a physical corner who can play both inside and outside. It’s not hard to see a scenario where Pittsburgh takes him in Round One, works him primarily in the slot as a rookie, then slides him into Slay’s spot a year from now.

Finally, there’s defensive tackle. Given how thin Pittsburgh is up front, this remains the group most likely to be targeted. Michigan’s Grant is a favorite of the fan base, but recent mocks have shown a lot of love to Harmon and Nolen as well. Grant may be the best fit, but a case could be made for the others.

On this week’s “Here We Go” show, Bryan Anthony Davis and I discussed Pittsburgh’s needs on defense, including which DL prospect among Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon and Walter Nolan would be the best fit.

Full episode is ⬇️https://t.co/CHKKVFX5lu pic.twitter.com/XUHKIrsR03

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) March 31, 2025

If the Steelers stand pat and select at 21, I’d put my money on Grant as their choice. But with so many variables entering the equation, it’s impossible to say with certainty. This makes 2025 different from any recent draft season.

For more of my work, follow me on X @KTSmithFFSN, and check out my “Call Sheet Daily” podcast which airs every Monday-Friday at 10 AM on all major platforms.