The Pittsburgh Steelers maintain the twenty first total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, and this 12 months is shaping as much as be a probably definitive 12 months that would decide the crew’s success for the subsequent half-decade or longer.
We lately ran an NFL draft simulation by means of the Professional Soccer Focus simulator, and the Steelers’ picks for the primary three rounds are in. Let’s take a better look.
Steelers’ draft wants (QB, WR, DB)
PPF listed quarterback, vast receiver, and defensive again because the Steelers’ best wants. The Steelers should tackle their quarterback place. The crew thought they may fill the void at quarterback because the Ben Roethlisberger period by signing Russell Wilson, a former star with a profitable observe document, and pairing him with a former collegiate star with untapped potential in Justin Fields. Sadly for the Steelers, neither of those plans labored out in addition to the crew had hoped for, and each gamers could also be transferring on this winter.
Nonetheless, even when one or each gamers keep, the crew nonetheless wants an infusion of expertise and upside on the sport’s most necessary place. The Steelers lack expertise on the vast receiver place exterior of George Pickens, however the supremely gifted younger star may very well be carrying out his welcome within the Metal Metropolis, and he may not be carrying the Black and Gold for for much longer.
The third-most necessary place may very well be debated, however the crew’s defensive backfield might use some work. Total, PFF’s evaluation of the crew’s wants seems affordable, particularly the crew’s points at quarterback and receiver.
Spherical 1, Choose 21: Ashton Jeanty, RB
Let’s begin with the positives: Jeanty is a particularly gifted participant. He’s arguably one of the best working again on this 12 months‘s draft class, and the hole between Jeanty and the opposite prospects may be wider than most individuals assume. In reality, it may be extra of a gulf than a niche.
Jeanty is a real three-down again who can do something that his crew asks of him and he could be a particularly versatile asset to have. Jeanty is equally able to dashing between the tackles for constant three to five-yard positive factors, beating the protection to the nook for an explosive achieve, or breaking a sort out to realize further yardage.
He’s additionally a greater than enough weapon within the passing sport, each an additional blocker and one other weapon for his quarterback to focus on.
With all of this being stated, why isn’t it a slam dunk A+ grade for any crew to draft Jeanty? The reply lies within the total worth that he may be for his crew relative to different choices and the opposite gamers which might be obtainable.
My difficulty with this choose actually has nothing to do with Jeanty in any respect as a participant. It has extra to do with the worth of the working again place basically, and the truth that there are extra choices on this 12 months’s draft class who will possible be obtainable within the second spherical or maybe even later.
Ohio State has two glorious backs who’re draft eligible in TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. It’s attainable that one or each of those gamers might probably sneak into the primary spherical or the early second spherical, particularly Judkins. Nonetheless, each of those gamers might simply discover themselves going in the midst of the second spherical, and Henderson might probably even slip to the third spherical or later. On this simulation, each gamers went early within the third spherical.
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Each of those gamers would characterize glorious worth at that draft slot, they usually every convey to the desk almost as a lot as Jeanty does. Because of this, whereas Jeanty is undoubtedly an important participant and an thrilling expertise who could make magic occur anytime he touches the ball, he’s not one of the best worth for the Steelers to make use of a premium draft choose on.
Moreover Henderson and Judkins, the working again place on this 12 months’s draft class is pretty deep with a number of different gamers projected to go within the second, third, or fourth rounds. As nice of a participant as Jeanty is, he simply may not be value a prime 25 draft choose.
Spherical 2, Choose 53: Carson Schwesinger, LB
Schwesinger is an aggressive downhill run defender who will shortly turn out to be a fan favourite within the Metal Metropolis. He’s a certain tackler who can shut down an opponent’s working sport almost by himself.
If the 12 months was 2005 as an alternative of 2025, Schwesinger might simply be in competition to be a top-five draft choose. There may be questionable worth in taking a run-stopper this early given the stylistic change of contemporary NFL offenses, however I’ve no main points with this choose.
Spherical 3, Choose 85: Elijah Arroyo, TE
Arroyo isn’t one of the best blocker, which suggests he’ll wrestle to slot in culturally with a hard-nose Steelers crew that prefers to play smash-mouth soccer. Nonetheless, he does have desperately wanted upside as a receiver.
Arroyo is a superb route runner and can be an affect weapon within the passing sport from day one. This can enable him to convey some worth to a Pittsburgh passing assault that has struggled mightily and is at a extreme lack of expertise exterior of the mercurial George Pickens.
Pat Freiermuth is a superb tight finish and has proven promise within the passing sport, however he hasn’t developed fairly as shortly because the crew would really like and it’s attainable the Steelers aren’t dedicated to him long-term. Even when they’re, whereas Freiermuth is definitely participant and a helpful move catcher, he isn’t essentially a game-changer.
I personally like this choose, and I’d be thrilled if the crew went on this route and leaned into their passing sport by including a bodily risk over the center of the sphere and down the seams.