The 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers with the legendary Aaron Rodgers at the helm made another run at the playoffs- only to lose in the first round yet again. Who would have envisioned this happening? Apparently it had gotten so frustrating that even Mike Tomlin had enough and decided to step down after 19 seasons as the Head Coach of the Steelers. Not us here at Steel City Blitz though- we’re back for more and not going anywhere!
With another NFL Combine quickly approaching comes another opportunity to try and figure out who the Khan Artist might be eyeing with this year’s low 20’s NFL Draft pick. Which ironically is to be held in Pittsburgh. So it definitely has to be a quarterback right? Well it turns out that this wasn’t the all-time great QB class we thought it could be. So let’s take a look at who the Steelers could realistically be targeting with the 21st overall pick. As of right now I see their needs being QB, WR, CB, S, and OG. This depends on what happens with Broderick Jones and Cam Heyward and OT and DT could quickly become a bigger need as well.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Let’s go ahead and address this one first. The Steelers have no shot at Fernando Mendoza, who I believe is the only first round worthy quarterback. Ty Simpson is a great kid and a great teammate; but there are so many question marks. He has only 1 year of experience as a starter in college. Simpson struggled later in the season; was this due to Alabama’s complete lack of a running game or did Defensive Coordinators figure out his tendencies? When good teams take a shot on a developmental prospect they usually look for elite physical traits. Simpson has good arm strength but not great; he is very mobile but not an elite runner. Ball security is also a concern. The Steelers need to really do their homework and decide if Simpson is truly their guy, or just another player they feel pressured to draft because they need a QB.
Olaivavega Ioane, OG Penn State
Whether Isaac Seumalo is back or not, the Steelers will look to add an interior lineman at some point in this draft. If Seumalo leaves via free agency, this will become a bigger need. Andy Weidl’s approach has always been to build from the trenches, so I believe there may be a strong push to get the best prospect at a position of need if possible. Ioane is just that; however his strength is pass protection and he will need more refinement in run-blocking which is why the Steelers may elect to pass on him in the first round.
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Boston is a popular player mocked to Pittsburgh in the first round, as they have been searching for help at WR for awhile now. (Anyone still want Brandon Aiyuk?) However I believe that Pittsburgh needs more of a true technician at the position and they already have all of Boston’s strengths in DK Metcalf. Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate are better fits but probably will not be available at the 21st pick. If either of them were to fall some, look for the Steelers to try and trade up or wait for the 2nd round for someone like Germie Bernard from Alabama or either of the 2 Indiana wideouts.
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
There is no doubt that the Steelers secondary needs an infusion of youth. Yes Joey Porter, Jr. was a recent 2nd round pick. However the rest of the secondary seems to have been patched together over the past few seasons with aging vets. Cisse is still somewhat raw but will be only 21 years old as a rookie. He also has all the physical tools necessary to develop into a top tier corner in the NFL. Cisse is probably my favorite (realistic) pick in the first round.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Talent-wise, McCoy is considered a first-round lock and possibly could have been the first corner off the board. However he missed the entire 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL. McCoy doesn’t have the height NFL teams usually prefer at 5’11, but his speed, fluidity, and technique are elite. If McCoy’s medicals check out and he slips to the 21st pick he could end up being an absolute steal.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
If Cam Heyward finally decides to hang it up, there will be a huge hole to fill on the defensive line. As mentioned previously, Andy Weidl likes to build from the trenches. Kayden McDonald played nose tackle at Ohio State which would finally give the Steelers the option to move Keeanu Benton outside to defensive end. McDonald is a high character player and will be well liked in any NFL locker room.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
If Broderick Jones is not retained, the left tackle position will need to be addressed. In this scenario Pittsburgh goes back to Georgia and gets a big, athletic replacement. Monroe Freeling has unique athletic traits that cannot be taught especially for someone his size. He does well against speed rushers because of his ability to keep pace. He is another prospect that needs refining in the run game but if his potential can be maximized, he will be an elite blind side protector in the league.
Final Thoughts
There are quite a few players the Steelers would love to have at the top of the draft, and they put themselves in a position to be able to trade up in this draft. Initially it was thought that this would be for a quarterback but this class didn’t pan out as originally thought. There will be some workout warriors for sure at the combine that will open some eyes and drastically change their draft stock. Keep an eye on Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren for example. The players outlined above are those that I believe will be available in the Steelers’ range that they should have interest in. After the combine this will be revisited, and of course the fellas will discuss in length on the podcast up until the draft in April. We will also release our SCB First Round Mock Draft at some point so tune in!
