Thinking man’s guide to the Steelers draft
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 5:27 am
It’s amusing to see a lot of latecomers finally seeing the light about the wisdom of trading away the Steelers “stars” for draft capital
Welcome aboard
Sadly far too late to really make a franchise changing event happen fast but better late than never
Now that many of you are coming around I will let you debate/hash out trades for additional draft capital and I will focus on the best moves for the current picks
Some thoughts:
- This is a bad team from top to bottom. The only player currently worth a damn is Pickens and there is zero chance he is staying here unless the Steelers make him the highest paid WR in NFL history and that is not happening
- I’d listen to arguments saying there might be 5 or so other young guys on the team worth staying with but even those haven’t been in any way great heretofore
- The Steelers have 3 7ths. If at least one of those isn’t a QB you intend to showcase and trade later for better value the Steelers are even dumber than usual
- How should a bad team draft ?? Well first and foremost admit you’re bad and double up draft picks on at least 2 or 3 units. There isn’t any unit of strength on the team. There are plenty of available roster spots. This team historically drafts very poorly. The GM is an idiot. The owner is an idiot. The HC is an idiot. At the very least doubling up gives you a much better chance to get SOMETHING right with an outside chance of actually building a mismatch unit somewhere on the roster with some amount of alacrity
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft picks
Round 1, Pick 21
Omarion Hampton RB NC State
- This one should be easy. A perfect fit for what the Steelers want to do on offense and fills a huge need
Round 2, Pick 52
Alfred Collins DL Texas
- Big and strong enough to be a 3-4 force vs the run and offers some pass rush
Round 3, Pick 83
Rocket Sanders RB Arkansas
- I could be happy with several RBs later as long as they get Hampton early. The Steelers want to run most of the time. Might as well get the talent to be a force doing it.
Round 4, Pick 122
Trade down 5th 7th
KeAndre Lambert Smith WR Auburn
- Top end speed to stretch D. Will compete in all phases of the game
Round 5, Pick 157 (from LAR)
Nazir Stackhouse NT Georgia
- When Capehart returned to Clemson Stackhouse became my guy later in this draft. A dominant player vs the run with some ability beyond that as well. Very solid pick in the 5th
Round 7, Pick 223 (from NO)
Bru McCoy WR Tennessee
- Steelers type WR with potential to be more. Great pick in the 7th
Round 7, Pick 229 (from ATL)
DJ Uiagalelei Florida State
- A huge arm you don’t pass on late with multiple 7ths. Powerfully built with enough mobility that defenses must make some account for. A polarizing pick to some but again you don’t ignore that arm in the 7th. With a little luck the Steelers net a 5th and perhaps more with some decent showings
Round 7, Pick 242 (from WAS)
Tommy Mellott QB Montana State
- Less athletic Fields with more brains and football IQ. Solid journeyman backup and maybe a little more. Could easily see him bringing a 4th/5th if the Steelers play their cards right
7 from 4 trade down
Malik Carr TE Houston
- Well built TE who can do some blocking and threaten in the pass game. Floor is probably Friermuth with a 7th round pick
Where does that draft leave the Steelers ?
- Two 7ths that could easily become 6ths or better
- A cheap big bodied WR that checks almost every Steelers box and a speed guy to open things up underneath
- A RB unit that contends for the best in the NFL
- Two DL that could start immediately and play well
- A nice late round TE prospect
Welcome aboard
Sadly far too late to really make a franchise changing event happen fast but better late than never
Now that many of you are coming around I will let you debate/hash out trades for additional draft capital and I will focus on the best moves for the current picks
Some thoughts:
- This is a bad team from top to bottom. The only player currently worth a damn is Pickens and there is zero chance he is staying here unless the Steelers make him the highest paid WR in NFL history and that is not happening
- I’d listen to arguments saying there might be 5 or so other young guys on the team worth staying with but even those haven’t been in any way great heretofore
- The Steelers have 3 7ths. If at least one of those isn’t a QB you intend to showcase and trade later for better value the Steelers are even dumber than usual
- How should a bad team draft ?? Well first and foremost admit you’re bad and double up draft picks on at least 2 or 3 units. There isn’t any unit of strength on the team. There are plenty of available roster spots. This team historically drafts very poorly. The GM is an idiot. The owner is an idiot. The HC is an idiot. At the very least doubling up gives you a much better chance to get SOMETHING right with an outside chance of actually building a mismatch unit somewhere on the roster with some amount of alacrity
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft picks
Round 1, Pick 21
Omarion Hampton RB NC State
- This one should be easy. A perfect fit for what the Steelers want to do on offense and fills a huge need
Round 2, Pick 52
Alfred Collins DL Texas
- Big and strong enough to be a 3-4 force vs the run and offers some pass rush
Round 3, Pick 83
Rocket Sanders RB Arkansas
- I could be happy with several RBs later as long as they get Hampton early. The Steelers want to run most of the time. Might as well get the talent to be a force doing it.
Round 4, Pick 122
Trade down 5th 7th
KeAndre Lambert Smith WR Auburn
- Top end speed to stretch D. Will compete in all phases of the game
Round 5, Pick 157 (from LAR)
Nazir Stackhouse NT Georgia
- When Capehart returned to Clemson Stackhouse became my guy later in this draft. A dominant player vs the run with some ability beyond that as well. Very solid pick in the 5th
Round 7, Pick 223 (from NO)
Bru McCoy WR Tennessee
- Steelers type WR with potential to be more. Great pick in the 7th
Round 7, Pick 229 (from ATL)
DJ Uiagalelei Florida State
- A huge arm you don’t pass on late with multiple 7ths. Powerfully built with enough mobility that defenses must make some account for. A polarizing pick to some but again you don’t ignore that arm in the 7th. With a little luck the Steelers net a 5th and perhaps more with some decent showings
Round 7, Pick 242 (from WAS)
Tommy Mellott QB Montana State
- Less athletic Fields with more brains and football IQ. Solid journeyman backup and maybe a little more. Could easily see him bringing a 4th/5th if the Steelers play their cards right
7 from 4 trade down
Malik Carr TE Houston
- Well built TE who can do some blocking and threaten in the pass game. Floor is probably Friermuth with a 7th round pick
Where does that draft leave the Steelers ?
- Two 7ths that could easily become 6ths or better
- A cheap big bodied WR that checks almost every Steelers box and a speed guy to open things up underneath
- A RB unit that contends for the best in the NFL
- Two DL that could start immediately and play well
- A nice late round TE prospect