The Pittsburgh Steelers have some work to do this offseason. It was abundantly clear during the five-game losing streak that ended the season that Pittsburgh wasn’t capable of competing with the league’s best teams.
That can largely be attributed to the quarterback position. Neither Justin Fields nor Russell Wilson was going to bring a championship back to Pittsburgh in 2024.
The offseason’s quarterback carousel doesn’t add much optimism to 2025, either. But the Steelers were better than the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns in 2024, and if they just do enough to stay ahead of their rivals, they can punch their ticket to the dance.
Without a path to a franchise quarterback, it will be imperative to maximize the surrounding cast to put next year’s passer in a position to exceed expectations.
For Pittsburgh, that likely starts at receiver, where the current group consists of standout George Pickens and a cast of role players.
Subsequently, the Steelers pick a Pickens complement in this AFC North mock draft.
The following mock draft was made using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator.
Round 1, Pick 2, Cleveland Browns: Penn State Edge Rusher Abdul Carter
It’s a really good year to need an edge rusher, and Cleveland gets its pick of the litter with Carter. He’ll draw comparisons to former Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, and while it’s a lofty projection, it’s emblematic of the upside his profile generates.
He’s explosive, bendy, refined, and productive, emerging as the class’ safest bet to produce double-digit sacks. Tasked with filling Garrett’s (unfillable) shoes, Browns fans can take solace in knowing they aren’t for a position of need – he’s worthy of being the top pick in the draft.
Round 1, Pick 17, Cincinnati Bengals: Texas A&M Edge Rusher Shemar Stewart
Stewart is one of the most polarizing players in the class, but it isn’t his physical tools that cause concern. He’s one of the best athletes in the class, blending size, speed, and strength into a wrecking ball on the edge. That alone might get him drafted in Round 1, even with little college production to his name.
Cincinnati badly needs help on defense, and pairing edge rusher Trey Hendrickson with this kind of potential is exciting. While some worry about his floor as a pass rusher, his ability to play the run from multiple alignments helps him add value, even if the sacks lag behind. Stewart can moonlight as a defensive tackle on passing downs, too, and take advantage of interior linemen.
Round 1, Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers: Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka
Pittsburgh has long been looking for the right sidekick for Pickens. Diontae Johnson ran himself out of town, a trade proved to be too difficult to find last offseason, and the 2024 receiving corps remained inconsistent.
Egbuka, starring in the slot, is a quarterback-friendly target who’s at his best separating underneath and moving the chains. His targets might be less valuable than Pickens’, but he’s a supercharged security blanket that can create explosives without the risk of his hypothetical co-star’s downfield looks.
Round 1, Pick 27, Baltimore Ravens: Alabama Linebacker Jihaad Campbell
It seems like the best teams find quality talent every year, regardless of draft capital. The Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl off of that ability, and the Ravens are trying to do the same. Adding Campbell to the league’s best linebacker-developing infrastructure could unleash a tornado on opposing offenses.
Campbell has the twitchiness and long speed to cover running backs, tight ends, and the occasional slot receiver. He has the pass rushing chops to moonlight as an edge rusher, too. And armed with linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton, Campbell’s upside could take Baltimore over the top.
