Behind the Steel Curtain
Scouting one of draft season’s top wide receiver risers.
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
With all the focus on defensive line, wide receiver is another big draft need for the Steelers that can’t be ignored this offseason. However, if the team waits until Day 2 to address the position, TCU’s Jack Bech will be one of the top names to watch.
Bech was the story of the 2025 Senior Bowl. Just a month after his brother was tragically killed in the January attack in New Orleans, Bech was named the game’s MVP following a six-catch, 68-yard performance that ended with an emotional game-winning touchdown (H-back, wearing his brother’s No. 7 in the clip below).
Bech has been soaring up draft boards ever since that performance in Mobile, emerging as a popular Day 2 option for teams.
Turning on the tape, there’s a lot to like. Bech is a big receiver with solid movement skills for his size. What stands out the most is how tough he is to bring down after the catch. He’s one of the top RAC receivers in this class. Bech routinely fights for every last yard, but he also has some athleticism to make defenders miss (slot on the bottom of the screen — No. 18 in the rest of the clips).
Still, more often than not, he’ll be bowling cornerbacks over for a few extra yards after every play (top of the screen).
Bech’s calling card isn’t his speed, but I was consistently impressed by his athleticism. There’s no wasted movement in his game, and he showed the ability to separate on vertical routes. I’m not sure if that’ll translate to the NFL level, but his natural feel for getting open will; he can surprise with his quickness (top of the screen).
Against zone, he consistently adjusted to find the open spot; he’s always presenting an easy target to the quarterback (slot on the bottom of the screen).
Everything I’ve read about Bech raved about his ball skills, and there was a lot to support that. He wins contested catches and shows the toughness to make grabs over the middle (middle of the trips formation).
(Top of the screen in the clip below).
Still, while Bech is the definition of a reliable possession receiver, he’s not an acrobatic catcher a la George Pickens, and he didn’t face the most physical coverage in 2024. There are still some question marks as to how his game transfers to the pros. I see Bech’s ceiling as a solid WR2. While...
