Steelers Could Land Steal Of 2025 NFL Draft By Selecting Specific Defensive Lineman In 3rd Round

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the fan base guessing when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft. The lack of a second-round pick is making it tough to believe that the team will pass on selecting a defensive lineman with the 21st overall pick in the first-round. However, quarterbacks, running backs and even wide receivers have been connected to the organization. It's very possible that the front office goes in a different direction than many are anticipating. If that does happen, General Manager Omar Khan has to hope that he can find a steal in the middle rounds in regards to the defensive line.

There also is a scenario that has the Steelers drafting two defensive linemen with the franchise's first two picks. This would be neglecting some other needs, but Cameron Heyward isn't going to play forever and the unit around him is not necessarily elite. Khan and co. have done their due diligence on the position this offseason, which is why many believe it will be a focal point come draft weekend.

If Pittsburgh sees a prospect that it simply can't pass up in the first-round at a different position of need, the defensive interior will need to be upgraded in the third-round or later, barring a trade up into the second-round. The Steelers lost a selection in a trade that acquired DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. An interesting prospect to keep an eye on was originally projected to be a first-rounder prior to the 2024 collegiate season.

Deone Walker coming from the University of Kentucky is a name that could be called to the Steelers in the third-round if he happens to slip out of the second. As noted by Ian Rapoport, the massive 6'7", 340-pound defender went through some injury troubles in 2024, which has potentially hurt his draft stock. If he is in play for Pittsburgh come the third-round, Khan may have an easy decision to make.

Tankathon currently has Walker projected to be taken late in the third-round by the Green Bay Packers with the 87th overall pick. The Steelers have the 83rd, so it will be interesting to see if the defender's market is right around those selections. Pittsburgh could hypothetically take a different position in round one, most likely an offensive play-maker, and then look to address the defensive line later on.

Walker had a solid career at Kentucky, totaling 10 sacks over his three years with the Wildcats. He added 23 tackles for loss, six passed deflected as well as one forced fumble and recovery each. Despite the injury that Rapoport mentioned, Walker still played in 11 games in his final collegiate season. Some organizations may be a little scared off due to the nature of the injury, but the Steelers certainly need to keep an eye on his name as the draft weekend plays out.

Steelers Likely Won't Check Off Crucial Box For Walker

Pittsburgh's Top 30 visits are often very reliable when it comes to the team's early-round selections. The organization has hosted several defensive tackles, but Walker is not one of them. With the big weekend a little less than two weeks away, the franchise has run out of almost all of those important visits. It would be rather surprising to see the Steelers draft Walker after showing interest in so many others, but if he falls down the board, he would absolutely be worth a look.

Do you think Walker could be a steal for the Steelers in the third-round of the 2025 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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