The Athletic’s Dan Brugler has a new seven-round mock draft out this week and first and foremost we applaud his effort. A seven-round mock draft is a daunting task. With the 2025 NFL draft just a week away, let’s break down the Pittsburgh Steelers picks and see what we would do differently.
First round – QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The one scenario in which we are OK with the Steelers picking Sanders is if he falls all the way to No. 21. Reports are that Sanders’ Top-30 visit with Pittsburgh went great, and the team is high on him. Faults with his game aside, this pick makes perfect sense.
Third round – RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
It’s good to see a running back pick for the Steelers that addresses the team’s need to get faster in the backfield. Sampson isn’t a typical Steelers-type of back and this is just what the struggling run game needs.
Fourth round – DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Another perfect fit for the Steelers. Pittsburgh needs a run stuffer in the middle of the defensive line and there are few better than Phillips.
Fifth round – Edge Elijah Roberts, SMU
Roberts is listed as an edge but he’s something of a tweener for the Steelers system. At 285 pounds, he could be viewed as a player who can bulk up and play a 3-4 defensive end or a guy they want to slim down and work more as a strongside edge similar to how the team used Bud Dupree in the past and DeMarvin Leal last season.
Sixth round – WR Chimere Dike, Florida
We just included Dike in our latest Steelers mock draft so it’s good to see him here. Similar to Sampson, Dike brings speed and acceleration to the offense and has a chance to develop more consistency behind a talented group.
Seventh round – LB Carson Bruener, Washington
We absolutely understand why Bruener is the pick here and we appreciate Brugler’s attention to detail. Bruener’s dad Mark is a Steelers legend and we understand how important family legacy is for Pittsburgh.
Analysis
Of all the big mock drafts we’ve broken down this offseason, Brugler’s is certainly the most in tune we’ve seen with the Steelers needs. There are definitely some offensive linean taken after Bruener we’d have rather seen in the seventh but this is a small thing and doesn’t change how good these picks are for Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Analyzing the Steelers picks in The Athletic’s 7-round mock draft
The Athletic’s Dan Brugler has a new seven-round mock draft out this week and first and foremost we applaud his effort. A seven-round mock draft is a daunting task. With the 2025 NFL draft just a week away, let’s break down the Pittsburgh Steelers picks and see what we would do differently.
First round – QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The one scenario in which we are OK with the Steelers picking Sanders is if he falls all the way to No. 21. Reports are that Sanders’ Top-30 visit with Pittsburgh went great, and the team is high on him. Faults with his game aside, this pick makes perfect sense.
Third round – RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
It’s good to see a running back pick for the Steelers that addresses the team’s need to get faster in the backfield. Sampson isn’t a typical Steelers-type of back and this is just what the struggling run game needs.
Fourth round – DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Another perfect fit for the Steelers. Pittsburgh needs a run stuffer in the middle of the defensive line and there are few better than Phillips.
Fifth round – Edge Elijah Roberts, SMU
Roberts is listed as an edge but he’s something of a tweener for the Steelers system. At 285 pounds, he could be viewed as a player who can bulk up and play a 3-4 defensive end or a guy they want to slim down and work more as a strongside edge similar to how the team used Bud Dupree in the past and DeMarvin Leal last season.
Sixth round – WR Chimere Dike, Florida
We just included Dike in our latest Steelers mock draft so it’s good to see him here. Similar to Sampson, Dike brings speed and acceleration to the offense and has a chance to develop more consistency behind a talented group.
Seventh round – LB Carson Bruener, Washington
We absolutely understand why Bruener is the pick here and we appreciate Brugler’s attention to detail. Bruener’s dad Mark is a Steelers legend and we understand how important family legacy is for Pittsburgh.
Analysis
Of all the big mock drafts we’ve broken down this offseason, Brugler’s is certainly the most in tune we’ve seen with the Steelers needs. There are definitely some offensive linean taken after Bruener we’d have rather seen in the seventh but this is a small thing and doesn’t change how good these picks are for Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Analyzing the Steelers picks in The Athletic’s 7-round mock draft
