2025 Steelers Draft Curiosity Scores: Vast Receivers

For a number of years now, I’ve stored a private operating spreadsheet in the course of the draft course of. The purpose was to be taught concerning the gamers by way of data gathering. I’ll share a visible and a few takeaways from the info factors I create every year, merely referred to as curiosity and athletic scores, with explanations to comply with.

As Dave Bryan and Alex Kozora focus on usually, the Steelers have a kind of participant they search for, and what the scores try to attain is seeing who checks lots of these packing containers, or vice versa. You’ll discover most of the inspirations for these scores come from their research of Pittsburgh’s draft developments through the years, and has fared properly in who Pittsburgh has finally drafted.

Whereas there is no such thing as a excellent method to predict the 2025 Steelers choices, I really feel nice about what the info factors measure and, after all, would love to listen to suggestions. Additionally, there’s solely a lot time within the day and extra issues I’d wish to measure, so I concentrate on the essential and/or sensible decisions.

Now for extra rationalization to how the scores come collectively. The most important level I wish to make is this isn’t an enormous board or spherical projection view, quite attempting to pinpoint names the Steelers might choose no matter when they’re drafted. After I get a wholesome pool of names that I hear about or analysis, I start the scoring.

Curiosity Rating: Right here I configured a factors system for the next necessary components. School efficiency, physique kind, expertise, age, place, competitors stage, professional day attendance, pre-draft assembly(s), and Senior/Shrine Bowl invites/participation.

Athletic Rating: Merely 11 Mix metrics, excluding wingspan and whether or not or not they have been inside a threshold in every metric of any participant drafted at their place by the Steelers since 2013. Professional day numbers are solely included if the participant didn’t do the drill on the mix.

Clear as mud? Listed below are the huge receivers (WR) that have been mix invitations:

NOTE: When you don’t see a reputation, please ask. I’ve many extra non-combine gamers compiled however excluded them for a cleaner chart.

The highest curiosity rating by far is Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka (11.3), tying for third finest in all the draft class. Extremely attended professional day with HC Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Kahn, and OC Arthur Smith. Dinner and Mix assembly. Expertise, age (22), efficiency, and physique kind examine the curiosity packing containers properly. Eight athletic rating (out of 11) with three DNPs (bench, broad, three cone). Primarily slot snaps in 2024 and a preferred early choice for Pittsburgh.

For context, the Steelers chosen WR Roman Wilson in 2024, with a ten.6 athletic rating that was finest on the place final season. George Pickens had a 9.2 curiosity rating and eight athletic rating in 2022.

Second on this class is Tre Harris of Ole Miss (9.8). Professional day attendance (Assistant GM Andy Weidl, WR coach Zach Azzanni). Mix assembly, Shrine Bowl participant, and faculty efficiency are positives, with age (23) a weaker mark. Eight athletic rating (no bench, shuttle, or three cone), checking all packing containers he participated in. Largely outdoors snaps, and certain would require a choose by Day Two.

Third is Matthew Golden of Texas (9.0). A number of conferences (mix, pre-draft go to). Different excessive scores have been age (21) and efficiency, with fewer years of expertise and missing professional day attendance comparatively. Six athletic rating, checking all packing containers he did (measurements/40-time). Largely out huge alignment, and one other early-round candidate.

Subsequent is Georgia’s Arian Smith (9.0). Fundamental cause is a extremely attended professional day (Tomlin, Smith), however deserves an asterisk with a slew of high quality prospects Pittsburgh is probably going eying tougher. Senior Bowl participant and expertise are higher marks, with faculty efficiency and age (23) on the decrease facet of the scores. Ten athletic rating (no bench). Primarily outdoors snaps, and a late/undrafted projection.

Fellow Bulldog Dominic Lovett (8.7), after all, had the professional day attendance, with plus age (22). Shrine Bowl, too, however faculty efficiency and lack of conferences have been negatives. 9 athletic rating (no bench or three-cone). Largely slot snaps is optimistic for what Pittsburgh wants, and is a late to undrafted risk.

Jordan Watkins of Ole Miss (8.7) had the professional day attendance and an off-the-cuff mix assembly. School efficiency and expertise are different plus marks, with age (23) and lack of all-star sport have been low scores. Seven athletic rating (missed in arm size and three DNPs). Extra outdoors snaps, and seemingly a Day Three prospect.

Pittsburgh’s Konata Mumpfield (8.7) additionally had heavy professional day attendance (notably Weidl and Azzanni). Shrine Bowl, age (22), and expertise are positives, whereas faculty efficiency and lack of conferences have been decrease marks. Eight athletic rating (missed in arm size and hand measurement, no bench). Extra outdoors, however an excellent quantity of slot snaps, too. Late/undrafted projection.

Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins (8.4) checked all of the packing containers in Kozora’s What The Steelers Look For Research, together with a pre-draft assembly. School efficiency, expertise, and Senior Bowl participation have been sturdy scores, with age (23) and lack of professional day attendance on the low facet of issues. Ten athletic rating (no bench). Largely outdoors, offering notable slot reps as properly. Day Two risk.

Antwane Wells Jr. of Ole Miss (8.3) is the third Insurgent on the place. Makes the listing with the professional day attendance. Shrine Bowl and has expertise, however age (24), faculty efficiency, and lack of conferences have been on the poor facet. Eight athletic rating (three DNPs), primarily outdoors snaps, and projected Day Three prospect.

TCU’s Savion Williams (8.2) was on the Large 12 professional day, which Azzanni attended, and likewise had a pre-draft go to. Good faculty efficiency and expertise. No all-star sport and age (23) decrease as compared. Six athletic rating (DNPs), checking the dimensions and 40-time packing containers. Vast snaps primarily and certain a Day Two candidate.

Isaac Teslaa of Arkansas (8.1) was the second WR to make Kozora’s listing, together with the one excellent 11 athletic rating to this point. The Senior Bowl participant had decrease curiosity marks general: faculty efficiency, age (23), and lack of conferences. Largely slot snaps are a optimistic, and initiatives on Day Three.

Notre Dame’s Beaux Collins is the ultimate participant with a plus-eight curiosity rating (8.1). Extremely attended professional day (Tomlin, GM Omar Khan, and Smith), expertise, and age (22) are his finest scores. No all-star sport, faculty efficiency, and lack of conferences have been worse scores. Ten athletic rating (no bench), huge alignment primarily, and seemingly an undrafted prospect.

Twelve receivers land within the seven tier of curiosity scores:

Tennessee’s Don’t’e Thornton Jr. (7.9 curiosity, eight athletic scores), Miami’s Xavier Restrepo (7.9, six), Tennessee’s Bru McCoy III (7.9, 4), Utah State’s Jalen Royals (7.8, 11), Colorado’s Jimmy Horn Jr. (7.7, 9), Andrew Armstrong of Arkansas (7.6, 11), Oregon’s Traeshon Holden (7.6, eight), Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor (7.5, 9), Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel (7.4, ten), Virginia Tech’s Da’Quan Felton (7.3, 11), Florida’s Chimere Dike (7.3, 9), and Missouri’s Luther Burden III (7.0, 5).

Of this group, Pittsburgh met with Restrepo, Armstrong, Holden, Ayomanor, and Noel in varied capacities. Armstrong additionally had an ideal 11 athletic rating, together with Royals and Felton, the three gamers within the tier to additionally make Kozora’s listing.

TCU’s Jack Bech (6.9 curiosity rating, 9 athletic) had an off-the-cuff assembly, as did UNLV’s Ricky White III (5.8, eight). Colorado State’s Tory Horton (5.9, eight athletic) was the ultimate mix WR that met with Pittsburgh (formally).

Different mix invitations with excellent athletic scores have been Virginia Tech’s Jaylin Lane (6.8 curiosity), Texas Tech’s Josh Kelly (6.7), Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson (6.3), and UCF’s Kobe Hudson (5.3). Hudson’s curiosity rating ranked final amongst Mix WRs. Kelly and Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester have been additionally on the Large 12 Professional Day that Azzanni attended.

Pittsburgh’s splash addition of WR DK Metcalf in free company has lessened the necessity to deal with the place within the draft. Clear curiosity stays, although, and will probably be fascinating to observe it unfold. One factor’s for certain: I can’t wait to see the way it pans out.

Do you suppose Pittsburgh will draft one of many names listed above? Who’re a few of your favorites? Thanks for studying, and let me know your ideas within the feedback.