Let’s rewind to 2017 for a sec. T. J. Watt wasn’t cracking jokes or bonding with Mike Tomlin over steak the night before his pro day. He was annoyed. And Tomlin loved it. “He didn’t want to chit-chat… he just wanted to get to work,” the coach recalled on The Rich Eisen Show last year. And since that night in Madison, Watt has been everything the Steelers could’ve hoped for—and more.

But here’s the twist: in 2025, with Watt quietly teasing fans through cryptic Instagram peace signs and contract talks stuck in neutral, Pittsburgh’s priorities at the draft table seem to be shifting.

Now, the thing is, T. J. Watt wants to stay. The Steelers want to keep him. But the pass rusher market got blown to bits after deals for Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby. Watt’s due for a payday, but after an 11.5-sack season that didn’t exactly scream “reset the market.” Insiders like Gerry Dulac are hinting the Steelers aren’t backing up the Brinks truck—at least not yet. A $38 million-per-year extension? That’s the whisper. Not $40M. Not record-setting. Something more… team-friendly. If Watt’s staying, he’ll need to compromise.

If not? The team may already be preparing for a world where he’s not in black and gold forever. That’s why we believe that we might see a little flip from Pittsburgh in this draft. Six picks. No second-rounder. But a golden chance to shape the roster. Everyone’s been yelling QB at No. 21 like it’s gospel. But what if Tomlin has other plans? What if the first move isn’t about replacing Kenny Pickett or betting on Shedeur Sanders, but about finding Watt’s future replacement at pick No. 21? Stick with me.

1st Round: Shemar Stewart (Edge/Texas)

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo tossed out Shemar Stewart as a sleeper pick. “If I had to pick a sleeper, it would be one of those two [Emmanwori and Shemar].” But we say, he might be a logical Rd. 1 pick. Stewart posted 65 tackles in three years at Texas and crushed the 2025 NFL Combine—10’11” broad jump (best among edge rushers), 40″ vertical (second-best), and a 4.59 40-yard dash. Those are wild numbers. And with T. J. Watt turning 31 this October and his future in Pittsburgh still out in the air, Stewart might be the heir apparent.

3rd Round: Quinn Ewers – (QB/Texas)

If they had the 2nd round pick, we would have pushed for Jaxson Dart getting past round 1 to Pittsburgh. Or maybe even Jalen Milroe. But we wouldn’t be expecting them to be available for a round 3 pick. That’s why Quinn Ewers. He has visited Steel City, TWICE, mind you! The numbers? 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, even while managing injuries. If Pittsburgh is eyeing a long-term option without the Round 1 hype, Ewers could be the value of play they’re quietly lining up.

4th Round: Kaleb Johnson – (RB/Iowa)

Kaleb Johnson might not be a household name—yet—but he checks every box for what Pittsburgh needs in this draft. At 6’1”, 224 pounds, he’s built for cold-weather football and short-yard grit. His 2024 tape screams consistency: 1,537 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight 100-yard games, including a 206-yard demolition job against Minnesota. With Najee Harris out, the Steelers need a true downhill punisher to complement Jaylen Warren’s burst. Johnson fits that role like a glove.

5th Round: Ty Hamilton – (DT/Ohio)

Doubling up on defensive tackles makes perfect sense for Pittsburgh. Ty Hamilton is a stout, no-nonsense run-stopper with a low center of gravity and high motor. At 6’1″, 315 lbs, he holds his ground against double teams and clogs gaps. Paired with Shemar Stewart’s. Oh, we are already sold! It just gives the Steelers a perfect rotational hammer inside.

6th Round: Lathan Ransom – (S/Ohio)

Lathan Ransom in Round 6 could be the kind of pick that surprises everyone. He’s got the physicality and instincts that could instantly add some grit to the Steelers’ secondary. Last season, he racked up 76 tackles, including 25 run stops, and forced 3 fumbles. He’s not the guy you want covering a burner downfield, but in the box? He’s a wrecking ball. He can read plays, stuff the run, and be a menace to the line of scrimmage. We won’t go hard on selling Ransom, but he can do the job if need be.

7th Round: John Marshall – (CB/Florida)

John Marshall Jr. isn’t some hidden gem waiting to be “unlocked”—he’s a gritty corner with the tools to earn his spot the hard way. At 6’0”, 194, with a 4.49 forty and 37.5″ vert, the athleticism is real. He doesn’t flinch in, doesn’t chase ghosts on double moves, and plays with controlled aggression. The tackling? Yeah, that needs work. But if you’re in Pittsburgh, looking for a no-nonsense depth piece who can actually stick on special teams, this is your guy in Round 7. And then call it your draft 2025. Done. Then, on to the workouts.