NFL.com’s Chad Reuter undertook the difficult task of going five rounds deep for a mock draft with all 32 teams. It appears that he built this on top of the “ideal” top two rounds he published earlier in the week in which he had the Steelers going offense with RB Omarion Hampton and QB Kyle McCord with their first- and third-round picks.
Without further ado, here is how Reuter sees things shaking out for the Steelers via NFL.com.
Round One – Pick 21: RB Omarion Hampton, UNC
The best way to set up a young quarterback for success is by giving him a strong offensive line and a running game. The Steelers already have some solid receiving options, and their offensive line should hopefully take a step forward over the next year or two, but the future of the running game is up in the air. Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren are playing on one-year deals, and neither has ever been a full-time NFL starter. Hampton could be just what the Steelers need.
“Hampton is a tone-setter,” Reuter wrote. “No matter who the Steelers’ starting quarterback is come Week 1, the team will want to run the ball effectively. Hampton’s powerful style and ability to make things happen in the open field will be a great addition.”
I don’t know how in favor I am of a running back in the first round with how deep this draft class is at the position, but I like the player and his fit in their system.
Omarion Hampton Scouting Report
Round Three – Pick 83: QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse
I would hope that if the Steelers draft a quarterback in the third round we are talking about Will Howard, Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe. The third round feels a bit pricey for McCord. That being said, he was a productive player at Syracuse and has a nice arm. Our Josh Carney had plenty of good things to say about him coming out of the East-West Shrine Bowl week.
McCord or a developmental QB would make more sense to me in the fourth or fifth round. Especially if the Steelers grab a running back in the first, they will need this third-round pick to tap into the talented defensive line group.
It’s also worth noting that McCord has received little to no interest from the Steelers throughout this pre-draft process to this point.
Round Four – Pick 123: EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
The Steelers released Preston Smith, but they did bring back Jeremiah Moon on a one-year contract. Still, they could stand to add some competition to the room after the top three of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.
Gillotte was more productive in 2023 with 11 sacks but tested pretty well at the NFL Scouting Combine with 23 reps on the bench press, a 36.5-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad jump and a 6025, 264-pound frame. Director of college scouting Dan Colbert was at Louisville Pro Day, for what it’s worth.
Ashton Gillotte Scouting Report
Round Five – Pick 156: OT Logan Brown, Kansas
Mike Tomlin said that the starting offensive line isn’t necessarily set in stone for 2025. With several young pieces and recent high investments in the group, that seems like more a kick in the butt to guys like Broderick Jones than a legitimate possibility. Regardless, the Steelers need to bring in at least one more player capable of playing tackle to compete in that room.
Brown was at Wisconsin for three seasons before playing his last two in Kansas. He has a nice, long frame at 6063, 311 pounds with 33 7/8-inch arms. The Steelers haven’t shown a ton of interest in offensive linemen throughout the process, but it also wouldn’t shock me to see one taken in this range.
