The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. The annual event represents a crucial opportunity for all 32 teams, including the Steelers, to strategically enhance their rosters by selecting talented athletes who have the potential to become long-term contributors to the franchise, and in some cases, even grow to the status of team legends. As the Steelers evaluate their needs and assess the available talent pool, there are multiple strategic options that lie before them, leading to widespread speculation and lots of interest among fans and analysts alike regarding which specific positions the Steelers' front office will ultimately prioritize in their draft selections.
CBS Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers on the clock during the NFL Draft.
The Steelers possess interesting draft positions in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, a factor that will significantly influence their overall draft strategy and decision-making process. Ray Fittipaldo, a writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently offered his analysis and projections regarding the Steelers' current draft capital.
"The Steelers do not currently have a second-round pick, but they have brought in several players for visits this spring who are projected to go in the second or third round, fueling speculation they will try to trade back into the second-round," Fittipaldo shared.
Although the second-round of the upcoming NFL Draft currently stands as the only round in which the Steelers do not have a pick, its significance within the overall draft landscape remains significant. The first-round of the NFL Draft is typically filled with highly talented prospects; however, the unpredictable nature of the draft process often leads to unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, there is a strong likelihood that several players who were widely considered potential first-round picks, possessing significant talent, could unexpectedly fall to the second-round. This potential availability of near-first-round caliber players in the second round emphasizes the importance for teams to be well-positioned to capitalize on such opportunities.
The absence of a second-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft for the Steelers can be directly attributed to the acquisition of veteran wide receiver DK Metcalf. While the addition of a player of Metcalf's caliber undeniably provides a significant boost and a strong presence to the Steelers' wide receiver corps, the absence of a second-round draft pick still represents a notable loss for the organization's overall draft capital.
Associated Press
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf speaks while getting introduced to the Pittsburgh media.
As Fittipaldo said, the Steelers' front office has been actively engaging in meetings and evaluations of prospective players who are widely projected to be selected within the second-round of the upcoming NFL Draft. This focus on potential second-round talent is particularly intriguing, as it could mean multiple considerations for the Steelers' draft strategy. One possibility is that the Steelers' front office is identifying players they highly value and would be comfortable selecting earlier than their typical second-round range, potentially utilizing their first-round pick to secure one of these prospects. Alternatively, these meetings could simply be part of their thorough due diligence process, ensuring they have a comprehensive understanding of the talent pool across all rounds, without any specific intention of drafting these individuals in the first-round.
Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, this heightened interest in second-round caliber players could strongly suggest that the Steelers are actively exploring avenues and potential trade scenarios to maneuver their way back into the second-round, recognizing the significant value that can often be found at that stage of the draft. While everyone likely holds a different opinion on the best course of action for the Steelers in the draft, a common opinion among many is the desire for the team to re-acquire a second-round pick.
The Steelers Have The Capital To Get Back Into The Second-Round
The Steelers' current draft capital in 2025 includes a first-round selection (21st overall), a third-round pick (83rd overall), a fourth-round pick (123rd overall), a fifth-round pick (156th overall), a sixth-round selection (185th overall, acquired from the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Metcalf trade), and a seventh-round pick (229th overall). Should the team want to acquire a second-round selection, all of that draft capital is on the table to make a move.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
This array of picks across various rounds provides the Steelers' front office with multiple potential trade packages they could assemble to entice another team to part with a coveted second-round selection. They could choose to package multiple mid-to-late round picks, or potentially even leverage their early third-round pick in combination with a later selection to move up the draft board. No one will really know what the Steelers plan to do until the draft happens and we see their picks and any trades they make. Until then, it's anyone's guess.
Do you think the Steelers should make a move to get back into the second-round of the 2025 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments below!
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