Report: Steelers' Brass Being Influenced By Art Rooney II To Draft 1 Specific Player And Position In First Round

The Pittsburgh Steelers have concerning holes at the quarterback, running back and defensive line positions as the 2025 NFL Draft rapidly approaches. A lot of the conversation has been surrounding the organization potentially reaching for a signal-caller, but there has been a lack of discussion regarding the defensive interior. Most of the national media wants to talk about the flashy picks, but those who follow the team closely know that finding some help to stop the run is very critical. The franchise has been building the trenches up on the offensive line recently, and that could shift to the other side of the ball very soon.

The Steelers are very lucky to have Cameron Heyward still playing at an elite level. Unfortunately, he won't be able to step on the field and compete forever, which makes bolstering the unit now even more important, before it's too late. That decision could come in the first round with Pittsburgh's 21st overall selection, and there could be a specific prospect in mind.

Radio host Andrew Fillipponi hasn't always been correct when reporting news regarding the team, but he has been accurate at times, too. He was the first to announce that the organization was changing the naming rights of the stadium from Heinz to Acrisure. He reported on Wednesday morning that the franchise has a prospect in mind for round one, and Team President Art Rooney II is influencing the decision.

University of Oregon's Derrick Harmon is the only projected first-round defensive lineman that has taken a Top 30 visit to the Steel City. This is usually a strong hint that the Steelers' brass is interested in any given player. While a quarterback is needed, so is a run-stuffing big body for the defensive line. Harmon would provide exactly that and give Heyward a great deal of help on the interior.

Harmon is listed at 6'5" and is well over 300 pounds. He is an elusive defender that has been compared to both Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. The Steelers need to start rebuilding the area after doing it on the offensive end, and Harmon is a great place to start. Pittsburgh could even shock a lot of the fan base and select another player at the position in the third round.

While quarterback and running back need to be addressed, it is not sustainable to let up the amount of rushing yards that the Steelers did at the end of the 2024 campaign. Losing five straight games was due to many different things, but the rushing defense was a contributing factor. No one trusts that Pittsburgh's offense will find some insane jolt moving forward, so investing on the defensive end is becoming much more important.

It's hard to believe that the organization is set to have the highest-paid defense in the NFL once again in 2025 and drafting a key position in the first round is up for discussion, but that's just the reality right now with where the franchise is. It's clear that Rooney could be holding onto the core values of the Steel Curtain and hoping to bring it back once again.

Steelers Better Hope Not Having A Second-Round Pick Doesn't Come Back To Bite Them

Pittsburgh decided to trade its second selection in the 2025 NFL Draft for wide receiver DK Metcalf. This could be looked at as a steal down the line, but it also could slightly affect the draft strategy. With three key positions needing updates, only two selections on the first couple of days could make it difficult for the front office to make final decisions. That could be why Rooney is reportedly putting his foot down and directing the decision-makers where to go.

Do you think that the Steelers will draft Harmon in the first round? Let us know in the comments below!

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