The Pittsburgh Steelers’ trade for Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf seems to have narrowed down the team’s draft board. No longer is receiver a priority – assuming receiver George Pickens sticks around – and most mock drafts have focused on reinforcing the interior defensive line or replacing running back Najee Harris.
However, the NFL Draft has a knack for head-scratching moves that make more sense in a year’s time, and drafting purely for need has proven to be a fool’s errand.
There’s plenty of room for uncertainty, and with a month until the 2025 festivities begin, it’s worth celebrating surprising perspectives this late in the cycle.
The Steelers picked polarizing defensive lineman Shemar Stewart in former general manager Mike Tannenbaum’s mock draft on ESPN.
“The Steelers still haven't signed a quarterback, but Aaron Rodgers met with the team late last week and would check that box,” Tannenbaum wrote. "If not, Russell Wilson is still a free agent and could return. So I'll shelve that and address another position.
“Pittsburgh has two great edge rushers in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and the toolsy Stewart could learn alongside them while giving the Steelers another option in the rotation. This is a classic ‘traits over production’ pick. Stewart had 1.5 sacks last season, but his traits are great. He's 6-5 and 267 pounds and runs a 4.59. He also jumped 40 inches in the vertical at the combine. I'm going with the intriguing upside and trusting coach Mike Tomlin to maximize Stewart's potential.”
On social media, the selection has been shredded for its improbability.
To an extent, that’s fair; Pittsburgh isn’t likely to take Stewart. Falling to No. 21 would be quite the surprise in itself, and the Steelers don’t just have two startinge edge rushers, Nick Herbig is excellent depth, too.
But it wouldn’t be the first time a team made a pick that set the internet ablaze, only to have the last laugh.
For one, T.J. Watt is entering his age-31 season. He’s not getting any younger, and he might not get much cheaper, either. Stewart is short-term leverage for extension talks and a long-term replacement plan should Watt fade quicker than his production would suggest.
Related: NFL Draft's Deepest Positions Help Steelers
Further, Stewart could see real playing time in Year 1. Pittsburgh needs help along the interior, and while his dreams of being a true hybrid might have been dashed by his 267-pound Combine weight, he can still moonlight inside on occasion. Stewart is a proven high-level run defender as a 4i-tech who can take snaps outside the tackle, straight up, or closer to the ball on passing downs. He’s a weapon, and one the Steelers can use in conjunction with its incumbent talent.
Lastly, Stewart is one of the most athletic edge rushers in recent memory. Plenty of high-level athletes have failed before, but banking on his traits, as Tannenbaum notes, could reap benefits down the line. This front office has the job security to watch it play out, potentially unleashing another wrecking ball on the AFC North’s star quarterbacks.
It’s not likely, and it might not be ideal. But Chaos is the NFL Draft’s middle name, and falling this far would prevent Pittsburgh with a legitimately enticing opportunity.
