Steelers Now
MOBILE, Ala. — When the dust settled at the end of the 2024 season, we sat down and identified where the Pittsburgh Steelers had offseason needs in their roster for 2025. After exit interviews with head coach Mike Tomlin and president Art Rooney II and a week at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, we have a pretty good idea of how the Steelers plan to address most of those needs.
The Steelers made no secret about their priorities in Mobile, with head coach Mike Tomlin practically drooling over what is a very deep defensive line group, and Omar Khan, Teryl Austin and Andy Weidl also showed specific interest in that group during the week of practice.
On the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver seemed to be the spot to garner the most interest. Both are position with strong groups in Mobile, and strong players likely to be available with each of the Steelers first two draft picks.
At this point, it would be a surprise if the Steelers’ first-round pick wasn’t among the group of wide receivers, including Emeka Ebguka of Ohio State and Matthew Golden of Texas and the defensive tackles like Kenneth Grant of Michigan, Derrick Harmon of Oregon, Walter Nolen of Ole Miss and Tyleik Williams of Ohio State.
The need at wide receiver has been obvious since the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last spring and was only exacerbated by a season that did not answer many questions about whether the Steelers should be willing to give top wide receiver George Pickens a major contract extension.
They currently have one player at the position under contract beyond 2025: last year’s third round pick Roman Wilson, who does not have a NFL catch. Whether the Steelers decide to keep Pickens or not, they absolutely must add to the receivers group, especially with players that figure to stick as X or Z players on the outside. Wilson and Calvin Austin III could be long-term options on the inside, but at 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-11, they’re probably confined to slot or tight-split work at this level.
That’s what makes the pairing of Golden and Egubka so attractive to the Steeles, and also so important. There are few sure things like that in this draft class. Jayden Higgins of Iowa State had a nice week at the Senior Bowl and appears to have solidified himself as at least a second round pick. Reports out of Dallas said that Tre Harris of Ole Miss did not do the same. TCU’s Savion Williams backed out of participating in Mobile. Tai Felton of Maryland and Jack Bech of TCU probably moved up draft boards this week, but most of the rest of the early-round receivers in this class are too similar to what the Steelers already have.
But if you gave Omar Khan some truth serum (plenty of that to be found around the Mobile bar scene), he’d probably tell you that he’d prefer to draft a defensive...
