An anemic offense was a major reason why the Steelers cratered in the second half of the regular season and didn’t stand a chance in the playoffs.
So, when ESPN’s Matt Miller put out his latest two-round NFL mock draft Monday morning, he unsurprisingly sent a pair of skill-position players to Pittsburgh.
Mike Tomlin and company are scheduled to make their first 2025 selection at No. 21 overall, and Miller believes they will use it on Ohio State wide receiver prospect Emeka Egbuka.
“Egbuka does it all as a slant-route king,” Miller wrote. “He is a heck of a punt returner and one of the best blocking wide receivers, too. He doesn’t flash elite speed or size at 6-foot and 203 pounds, but he’s a smart route runner with solid hands (a drop rate of just 2.8%) and an all-out effort on every snap. He caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season.”
Miller projected another Buckeye — running back Quinshon Judkins — to land with Pittsburgh at No. 52.
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“Najee Harris is set to hit free agency, and his return to Pittsburgh is far from guaranteed,” Miller wrote. “Judkins would be an ideal replacement. He has the downhill power of Harris but better speed to rip off the chunk plays missing from the Steelers’ offense, as evidenced by his 28 runs of 10 or more yards.”
Of course, it remains to be seen who will be under center for the Steelers next season and in turn responsible for utilizing potential new additions like Egbuka and Judkins. But regardless of Pittsburgh’s quarterback plan, the franchise could greatly benefit from bolstering its arsenal on the offensive side of the ball.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images