The Pittsburgh Steelers must look in the mirror after a stagnant 2024 season. Another year of stumbling into the playoffs and getting blown out in the Wild Card Round shows just how far away the Steelers are from competing for a Super Bowl.
Big changes are needed, but without a traditional route to a franchise quarterback, it's hard to find much optimism in an AFC loaded with talent under center. Pittsburgh must continue to replenish its core while getting creative at quarterback until it finally hits.
As such, the Steelers make major additions to the passing game in our three-round mock draft.
The following mock draft was made using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator.
Round 1, Pick 20: Georgia Safety Malaki Starks
Pittsburgh spent the second half of the season scrambling on the back end, with seemingly every play having one cog in the defensive machine go awry. If the team is content to run it back with its current cast of stars, adding Starks to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick makes a lot of sense.
Both are versatile pieces with the athleticism to capitalize on elite instincts and a knack for making plays on the ball. Having two star coverage safeties eases the burden on a below-average cornerback room and better prepares the Steelers for the elite passing offenses on the schedule.
At No. 20, Starks would be a strong value and the type of blue-chip talent that seems to always find its way to Western Pennsylvania.
Round 2, Pick 52: Texas Receiver Matthew Golden
The Pittsburgh faithful spent the summer pining over big-name receivers, most notably San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk. In Round 2, the Steelers landed their consolation prize.
Golden is a strong candidate to complement George Pickens on the perimeter. He, too, can stretch the field, but he's a better natural separator, can make plays after the catch, and gives the offense more to rely on than play-action deep shots.
There are some physical limitations in his profile, but the nuance in his separation skills and body control make him an enticing starter with legitimate upside. A functioning NFL offense cannot rely on Van Jefferson and Mike Williams on the boundary – whoever's quarterbacking next year's team would be grateful.
Round 3, Pick 83: Ohio State Quarterback Will Howard
It's not pretty, but no part of Pittsburgh's situation under center is going to win any awards. Bringing back one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields and pairing them with a rookie passer allows the Steelers to balance the mediocre play from 2024 with some semblance of upside in the unknown.
Howard has an NFL arm, toughness in and outside of the pocket, and enough mobility to be used in a team's rushing attack. His profile doesn't scream dynamic starter, but simply running it back at quarterback would be untenable.
There's no guarantee Howard works out, but for a non-premium pick, his skill set is acceptable. Perhaps he'll move the needle in the National Championship Game on Monday.
