What I’m hearing about the Pittsburgh Steelers on NFL Draft Day | Farabaugh (2025)

PITTSBURGH -- Welcome to NFL Draft Day. It’s one of my favorite days on the NFL calendar, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to make a first-round pick tonight, sitting at No. 21 overall.

With so many rumors swirling around, what is the latest on the team’s thoughts for their pick tonight and other scenarios that could happen throughout the weekend?

Here is what I’m hearing just a few hours ahead of the NFL Draft.

First Round Pick Notes

As I have said for a week now, and as I mentioned in my final mock draft, everything I’ve heard indicates that this is one of three players. Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

Who will it actually end up being is the question, so let’s run down a few notes on each player.

First, the Steelers seem more than okay with Harmon’s medicals. He was flagged for a shoulder issue, and a few teams have removed him completely from their board. The Steelers are not one of those teams. If they go defensive line, I’d say Harmon is probably the likeliest route.

When it comes to Grant, the team has him extremely high on their board. One member of the organization told PennLive they believe Grant is better than his teammate, Mason Graham. Others in the organization are worried he might be too specific as a two-down player, but he has some real fans in the building.

Sanders is where everything gets complicated. Sources told PennLive that the Steelers never saw this Sanders plummet coming around the time of the NFL Combine, but once it became apparent it could happen, they scheduled the pre-draft visit with him.

A few NFL sources have said Sanders did not interview well with many teams, but from what I’ve heard, I have no reason to believe the Steelers are among those teams. Their one interaction with Sanders went quite well.

Sanders has many fans in the organization. However, there is still significant scar tissue from the team’s failed attempt in 2022, when they drafted Kenny Pickett.

“We won’t just take a quarterback to take one,” a source in the organization said to PennLive last week. “We’re not going to reach for a quarterback. If we take one, we believe in that guy.”

From my understanding, Sanders is in a different tier within the organization compared to Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough. Pittsburgh likes Sanders the most. They are unlikely to make a trade-up for the Colorado quarterback, however.

I don’t think the Steelers will take a quarterback other than Sanders in the first round. On top of that, I fully expect him to be there at No. 21. It just depends on how much conviction they have for the Colorado quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have kept the phones open to a trade-back scenario, too. There are at least three teams open to moving up, including the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.

Either way, I would be surprised if the first-round pick is not one of these three players. For now, I’m slightly leaning towards Harmon.

George Pickens trade rumors

The other major topic that has emerged over the last 24 hours is speculation about George Pickens. From what I’ve heard, the Steelers have received multiple inquiries about Pickens.

They have not been shopping for him, however. Sources have reiterated since the NFL Combine that the Steelers, idealy, do not plan to trade Pickens this year, and the plan was to pair him with DK Metcalf, not replace him. Pittsburgh also does not plan to extend Pickens this offseason, however, which could cause complications.

If Pickens were traded, the Steelers would have to be blown away by an offer. My understanding is that it would have to be at least an early third-round pick if not a second-round pick.

Pickens is likely available for a steep price. However, with one year left on his deal, there is a real question about whether they would get that price.

Other Notes

- One late-round name to watch at quarterback for the Steelers is North Dakota State’s Cam Miller. The Steelers like his moxie, and he will be their late-day three options if they decide to punt on the early and mid-round value in this crop.

- Despite the Steelers publicly stating they like this class, their internal thoughts are that it is a thin group. Sources told PennLive the team only likes ‘three or four’ quarterbacks, and that includes Miami’s Cam Ward, who will be the first overall pick.

- Expect their 30-visit interest to translate into picks. Running back and defensive line are heavy priorities for the team, and I would not rule out a double dip at the defensive line.

- If the Steelers do trade down, which position should be watched? Cornerback. The Steelers are big fans of Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, and if they move into the late first round, he very well could be their pick. Another candidate in that scenario is Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson. Harmon could also be available due to his medicals.

- Some basic draft notes that do not pertain to the Steelers.

• I would be surprised if Tyler Warren is not the Jets’ pick at No. 7
• There will likely be three first-round running backs. A lot of people do not have Henderson in there, but I fully believe he sneaks into the back of the first round.
• Michigan CB Will Johnson has rough medicals on his knee. There is a serious chance he falls all the way out of the first round.