Steelers Load Up On Offense In New Seven-Spherical Mock Draft
With the NFL Mix underway, it’s totally NFL Draft season. With draft season comes mock drafts the place analysts, media members, and followers predict what every workforce goes to do to assist construct its roster in hopes of competing for the Lombardi Trophy. Right now, Jacob Infante of Professional Soccer Community launched a seven-round mock draft, one through which he has the Pittsburgh Steelers loading up on offense.
With the Steelers’ first decide, Infante has them choosing Missouri WR Luther Burden III.
“Luther Burden III’s manufacturing dropped in 2024 in comparison with his All-American 2023 season, however the instruments are all nonetheless there,” Infante wrote. “He’s elite after the catch with the ball-carrier imaginative and prescient, contact steadiness, and lateral quickness wanted to make him a home-run hitter on any given play. If he continues to develop as a route runner, the sky’s the restrict for the Missouri product.”
Burden’s numbers dropped final season, catching solely 61 passes for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns in comparison with 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2023. However Burden continues to be able to being an elite receiver as proven by his 2023 numbers. Even with this drop in manufacturing, Burden continues to be the second or third broad receiver off the board relying on the way you classify Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter.
Burden is 6000, 206 kilos, giving him a strong measurement at receiver If the Steelers choose him, he received’t have to step in a WR1 straight away as a result of they nonetheless have WR George Pickens. Burden can develop behind Pickens whereas he, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson all compete for the WR2 spot. That competitors ought to deliver out the most effective in all of them.
Within the second spherical Infante as soon as once more has the Steelers addressing the offense by choosing Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins.
“Najee Harris is slated to hit free company this offseason, and with greater wants on the Steelers’ roster, they could be higher off saving the cash and drafting his alternative at working again as an alternative,” Infante wrote. “Quinshon Judkins can be a robust addition to the Steelers’ backfield, as he has the ball-carrier imaginative and prescient and big-play velocity to make him a risk nearly any time he touches the ball.”
Judkins stands 5115 and weighs 221 kilos. He break up carries with TreVeyon Henderson final season whereas serving to the Buckeyes win the School Soccer Playoff. Regardless of sharing time, Judkins ran for 1,064 yards on 194 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and scored 14 dashing touchdowns. He additionally pitched in 22 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his capacity within the passing sport.
Judkins can be an awesome choice if Steelers RB Najee Harris does stroll, however that isn’t for sure. Nonetheless, if Harris leaves in free company the Steelers can be sensible to pair Jaylen Warren with one other working again. Warren has impressed since becoming a member of Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2022, however has been in a time share with Harris. As well as, Warren has gotten harm a number of occasions and if he goes down Pittsburgh will need to have a succesful working again to show to on condition that it needs to be a run-heavy offense. If Harris indicators elsewhere, Judkins and Warren can be an awesome one-two punch if the Steelers have the possibility to draft Judkins.
In Spherical 3 Infante has the Steelers lastly addressing their protection with Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish.
“It’s totally doable Jacob Parrish goes greater than this in actual life,” Infante wrote. “A latest riser up boards who’s nonetheless flying considerably beneath the radar, he’s a smaller but sticky protection cornerback with a excessive soccer IQ and an aggressive mentality attacking the ball.”
Parrish is a three-year collegiate participant who had a formidable junior 12 months, recording 50 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, and eight cross breakups. He stands 5096 and weighs 191 kilos, which is on the small aspect and will pigeonhole him to the slot.
Pittsburgh desperately wants assist in the slot after the failed experiment with CB Cameron Sutton after he returned from suspension and an up-and-down season from undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. Parrish could be very proficient and will fill a gap that has been begging to be stuffed since CB Mike Hilton left in free company after the 2020 season. Steelers Depot’s personal Jim Hester wrote the scouting report on Parrish and gave him a second-round grade.
Within the fourth spherical, Infante has the Steelers choosing Ohio State QB Will Howard. Howard had an awesome 12 months for the Buckeyes, throwing for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and solely 10 interceptions as he led the Buckeyes to a nationwide championship. Howard had an awesome sport in Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame within the nationwide title sport, finishing 17 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns en path to profitable the CFP MVP.
At 6042 and 236 kilos, Howard’s measurement stands out on this quarterback class. Although he’s not seen as a celebrity prospect, I don’t know if he would final to the Steelers within the fourth spherical. He performed rather well with NFL weapons at Ohio State and proved to be a gamer via his School Soccer Playoff performances. Nonetheless, the Steelers ought to keep away from drafting a quarterback earlier than the fifth spherical this 12 months. The Steelers have loads of holes, and drafting a quarterback that late often means they’re going to be a backup. I’d a lot quite Pittsburgh tackle beefing up their defensive position or including depth to their offensive line with their first 4 picks quite than take a threat on a quarterback.
Within the fifth spherical, Infante lastly has the Steelers going offensive line, choosing Alabama A&M G Carson Vinson. He stands 6060 and weighs 314 kilos. He performed at Alabama A&M for 5 seasons the place he began 48 video games and was named to the American Soccer Coaches Affiliation (AFCA) FCS Coaches All-America second workforce final season. Vinson was additionally chosen because the Phil Steele 2024 SWAC offensive lineman of the 12 months.
Taking Vinson within the fifth spherical can be a very good transfer. Pittsburgh’s guard depth is skinny, assuming OG James Daniels leaves in free company. Vinson has confirmed to be a very good collegiate participant and will develop behind Isaac Seumalo. Relying on how he seems in coaching camp he may additionally doubtlessly push RG Mason McCormick for a beginning spot.
Pittsburgh addresses the defensive position with its first decide within the seventh spherical, choosing Iowa DT Yahya Black. Black is a big man, standing 6056 and weighing 336 kilos, however wasn’t overly productive in school. He performed 5 collegiate seasons and solely recorded 117 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 15 tackles for a loss.
On the Senior Bowl Black informed Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle that he needs he had extra pass-rush manufacturing. That lack of manufacturing possible precipitated him to drop to Pittsburgh in Infante’s mock draft. Given Black’s measurables (which incorporates 35-inch arms) the Steelers ought to take a flyer on him within the seventh spherical. He’s an enormous man who may assist plug the run, and if his pass-production improves he might be an enormous plus.
With the Steelers’ second seventh-round choice, Infante has them taking Japanese Washington WR Efton Chism III. Chism had a formidable senior season, catching 120 passes for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns. With these stats he’s actually value a glance within the seventh spherical.
Chisam stands 5101 and weighs 195 kilos. He was not invited to the NFL Mix however attended the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl the place Steelers Depot’s Joe Clark listed him as a “winner” of the sport for his four-catch, 43-yard efficiency.
Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney interviewed Chism on the East-West Shrine Bowl.
With Pittsburgh’s remaining number of the 2025 NFL Draft, Infante has the Steelers choice Oregon State OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan. He spent his first three seasons at Colorado earlier than transferring to Oregon State for his redshirt senior season. At Oregon State, Christian-Lichtenhan gave up solely two sacks and was penalized simply as soon as. Standing i6082 and weighing 328 kilos, he might be a very good addition as depth for beginning OTs Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones.
Total, I believe Infante went just a little too offensive-heavy on this draft. The Steelers want to handle defensive position sooner than the seventh spherical. Pittsburgh acquired run throughout by the Baltimore Ravens down the stretch and proper now after DT Cameron Heyward, there’s a whole lot of uncertainty. That must be mounted and it could actually’t wait till the tip of the draft.
As a recap, listed here are the prospects mocked to the Steelers in Infante’s seven-round mock draft.
#21 Luther Burden III/WR Missouri
#52 Quinshon Judkins/RB Ohio State
#83 Jacob Parrish/CB Kansas State
#122 Will Howard/QB Ohio State
#163 Carson Vinson/G Alabama A&M
#225 Yahya Black/DT Iowa
#231 Efton Chism III/WR Japanese Washington
#247 Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan/OT Oregon State
