Draft day is finally here, which means we can put all the rumors and speculation about what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do to bed when they're on the clock with selection No. 21 in the 2025 NFL draft.
If you've been paying attention to mock drafts throughout the process, you'd know that the most common projections for the Steelers have them taking a quarterback or a defensive lineman, which makes sense considering those two positions are at the top of the list of needs for Pittsburgh.
When it comes to the quarterback, it has mostly been Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, but we've also seen Jaxson Dart mocked to Pittsburgh. As for the defensive line pick, Oregon's Derrick Harmon has no doubt been the most common player projected to land with the Steelers.
RELATED: What time will Steelers make their first-round pick?
With just hours to go, we're taking a look at the final first-round projections for the Steelers that come from some of the top names in the NFL draft industry. Here's a look at what they're projecting Pittsburgh will do on Thursday night.
Steelers NFL mock drafts 2025
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Kiper Jr.: "Harmon is a constant headache for opponents. He had five sacks and 35 pressures as an interior pass rusher last season, and he took care of business in the run game with 11 stops and 10 tackles for loss. Keeanu Benton and Harmon would be a good pairing inside. I originally had Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart to Pittsburgh. He throws with accuracy and velocity, and he'd be a potential short- and long-term answer. We're all still waiting to see what happens with Aaron Rodgers, so I'll hold off on any quarterback moves for the Steelers until we know a little more."
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Dane Brugler, The Athletic: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Brugler: "In my post-combine mock, I had Shedeur Sanders to the Steelers here — and that is how things might play out Thursday night. But I won’t be surprised if Pittsburgh bypasses quarterback to strengthen its defensive line."
Peter Schrager, ESPN: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Schrager: "I know Sanders had a good meeting in Pittsburgh when he visited a few weeks back. I also know the Steelers still don't have a QB1 on their roster. This might be viewed as a "slip" down the board for Sanders. He could go anywhere from No. 3 to the Giants to the second round. Going to Pittsburgh here as the second quarterback in the class wouldn't be so bad."
Todd McShay, The McShay Report: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
McShay: "Shedeur Sanders is in play here—Mike Tomlin likes him. It’s also worth noting that Tomlin has a lot more power to make final personnel decisions now than he did when Kevin Colbert was general manager. Still, I don’t think Sanders will be the pick at 21. I know Pittsburgh is eager to move back and get additional draft compensation after trading a second-round pick for DK Metcalf, so be prepared for the Steelers to move off this spot. Harmon has some durability red flags that could cause him to slide, but I think he would be a great addition to Pittsburgh’s front alongside 35-year-old Cam Heyward. I also believe Pittsburgh covets Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, so whether it’s at 21 or later in a trade-back scenario, it won’t surprise me at all if he becomes a Steeler."
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Iyer: "The Steelers started to love Dart late in the pre-draft process during his rise as a big-armed, athletic, mentally- and physically-tough QB prospect. He's a great fit for Arthur Smith's offense and can correct the Kenny Pickett first-round wrong."
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Jeremiah: "I’m not convinced the Steelers will take Sanders if he’s available, but if he doesn’t go here, I’m not sure where he ends up. Mason Rudolph can provide a little bit of a bridge until Sanders is ready to go. This pick is a classic case of need meeting value."
Steelers 2025 NFL draft picks
- Round 1, Pick No. 21
- Round 3, Pick No. 83
- Round 4, Pick No. 123
- Round 5, Pick No. 156
- Round 6, Pick No. 185 (from SEA)
- Round 7: Pick No. 229 (from PHI)
What time does the 2025 NFL draft start?
- Date: Thursday, April 24
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wi.)
- Channels: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network