Breaking down the defensive tackles in the 2025 NFL draft for the Steelers

Thanks to the trade that landed the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, the Steelers no longer have a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. This is a small price to pay for a talent like Metcalf but it does complicate things for the Steelers when it comes to their first-round pick.

Now that the Steelers have their starting wide receiver, the most logical option for the Steelers to address in the first round is defensive tackle.

But there might be an issue. The issue is will there be a defensive tackle on the board for the Steelers worth the pick and if not, what happens next?

On paper, the best option for Pittsburgh is Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. He's got the build of a classic nose tackle but modern day athleticism and so much raw power. Having said that, if Grant is gone when the Steelers go on the clock, what happens next?

Realistically, there are three guys we can talk about. Oregon's Derrick Harmon, Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen and Toldeo defensive tackle Darius Alexander. We expect at least one of those guys to come off the board before the Steelers go on the clock. Probably Nolen. In this hypothetical, it would come down to Harmon or Alexander.

Alexander is a much better run defender while Harmon is a better all-around interior lineman. Harmon has more length and plays higher which hurts him at times defending the run but he does have the build to line up as a five-technique end or slide inside to a three-technique when the Steelers run an even front.

For Alexander, his best fit is as a run stuffer but should be able to operate in an odd or even front. Whereas Harmon's game is predicated on quickness, Alexander's game is built around strength and leverage. He dominated at the Senior Bowl and really opened eyes that he could be more than a two-down nose tackle and his game mirrors Grant quite a bit.

Ok, so everything is fine, right? Maybe. The problem is if the Steelers aren't swayed by Harmon or Alexnder, they then have to wait until the third round (unless they trade up) and this is when things get a little more complicated. But at the same time, really simple.

If the Steelers don't look at a defensive tackle until the third, there will still be options but it will be more about one or the other type of player. Personally, we are fine with that as we want the Steelers to draft a stocky run stuffer to line up next to Keeanu Benton. Think of guys like Indiana's CJ West, Oregon's Jamaree Caldwell, Ole Miss' JJ Pegues and Maryland's Jordan Phillips. These are more pure nose tackles and our favorite options for the Steelers to target in the third if they pass on a nose tackle in the first.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Looking at the Steelers options at DT