The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises in the first half of the 2024 season. Riding a three-game win streak into their Week 9 bye, the Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North with a 6-2 record and will look to pick up from where they left off against the Washington Commanders next week.
Even though the Steelers are exceeding expectations, not everything has been perfect. The offense hasn't been the most consistent and part of that has to do with an aerial attack that only averages 190.0 passing yards per game (25th).
While some of the blame can be placed on the quarterbacks, it's become increasingly clear that the Steelers lack game-changing wide receivers. Outside of George Pickens (548) and Calvin Austin (III), there aren't any other Pittsburgh receivers who've hit the 200-yard mark this season.
If the Steelers want to continue establishing themselves as a force in the league, more reliable receivers are needed. Fortunately, one NFL analyst has general manager Omar Khan solving this issue at the 2025 NFL draft.
In his latest NFL mock draft, Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema has the Steelers drafting Texas WR Isaiah Bond with the 25th overall pick next April.
"The Steelers' passing offense, outside of George Pickens, has left a lot to be desired this season," Sikkema wrote. "Bond's elite speed could make for a much more diverse passing attack, no matter who their quarterback is in 2025."
MOCK DRAFT MONDAY https://t.co/UtQcKnVIi3
— PFF (@PFF) October 28, 2024
Adding Bond to the Steelers' offense would give opponents another credible receiver to worry about. He's one of the fastest players in college football at the moment and his game-altering speed should draw plenty of attention at next year's draft.
"Bond has shown game-breaking speed, an ability to track the deep ball and a knack for creating yardage," ESPN's Matt Miller wrote about the Texas speedster in September. Miller went on to add that one source compared Bond to Kansas City Chiefs 2024 second-round pick Xavier Worthy, who posted a 4.21-second 40-yard dash at this year's NFL combine.
After two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Bond transferred to Texas ahead of the 2024 NCAA season. While transfers don't always work out, that isn't the case for the 5-foot-11, 180-pound playmaker.
Bond is already on track to have the best performance of his collegiate career as he's turned 23 catches into 380 receiving yards while matching his career-high of four touchdown grabs. He also has 51 rushing yards and another score on two carries, showing that he might be able to handle a versatile role at the NFL level.
Bond's best performance came against the UTSA Roadrunners on Sept. 14 as he racked up 103 yards and a pair of TDs on five receptions. One of those scores was a 50-yard effort that saw the Texas prospect hit a top speed of 22.1 MPH.
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 16, 2024
As it stands, Pickens, Austin, Roman Wilson and Scott Miller are the only Steelers receivers under contract for the 2025 season. That's far from the most intimidating group, which is why targeting Bond next year is in the team's best interest.
With the right coaching, Bond is the type of receiver who can become a mainstay in Pittsburgh's offense for years to come. Not only does his speed set him apart from the competition, but he's also a solid route runner who isn't afraid to contribute as a blocker.
He's the type of player head coach Mike Tomlin would love to have in his arsenal - regardless of who's under center next season.
If Bond continues to have a strong season with the Longhorns, his draft stock will surely increase. Time will tell if the Steelers are in a position to select him at the 2025 NFL draft, which takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26, 2025.
