With ͏the 2͏025 ͏NFL Draft rapidly approaching, speculation continues to swirl around potential first-round trades.
One team in the spotlight is the ͏Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently ͏hold the No͏. ͏21 pick.͏ Despite persistent rumors suggesting they may attempt͏ to ͏move up for a quarterback, ͏N͏FL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes ͏that͏ scenario is unlikely͏.
During ͏a pre͏-draft͏ conference ͏call, Jeremiah ͏explained why the Steelers’ ͏draft situation and roster͏ needs make a trad͏e up ͏in ͏Round 1 an improbable outcome.
Why a Steelers Trade Up in Round 1 Isn’t Likely
The biggest obstacle facing the Steelers is their lack of early-round draft capital. Without a second-round pick, they are in a difficult position to make a significant jump up the board without sacrificing future value. Jeremiah addressed this point directly, saying, “I think it limits their ability to move up. It could be very costly for them to move up with next year’s draft, so that’s one side of it.”
On a conference call with NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, I asked how the Steelers not having a second round pick impacts how they approach the draft & who they're likely to target in round 3.
Jeremiah said the lack of a 2nd round pick makes it harder for them to move up…
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey)
Trading 2026 assets is a possibility, but it’s a high-risk approach, especially for a team that has several roster holes to fill. Even though Pittsburgh is projected to receive four compensatory picks next year, betting on that return while also mortgaging future selections is a strategy that may not align with the team’s typical front-office philosophy.
Draft Capital Limitations and Team Philosophy Guide Pittsburgh’s Strategy
Historically, the Steelers have not been an aggressive team when it comes to trading up in the first round. Jeremiah noted, “They might be out of luck because of the lack of a second-round pick.”
He further added that if the Steelers aren’t completely sold on a quarterback, they’re more likely to trade back, something they also rarely do but could consider in this weaker draft class.
Even if the Steelers are targeting a quarterback like Jaxson Dart or hoping for a slide from Shedeur Sanders, the cost of moving up could outweigh the potential benefits. And with pressing needs at defensive line and running back, both which are considered deep position groups in this year’s draft, the smarter move may be to stay put.
“I think they can just take the highest-rated player, and they will still have options in the third round,” said Jeremiah, highlighting the value Pittsburgh could still find without trading.
In conclusion, while quarterback remains a need, the Steelers’ limited capital, combined with the depth in other key areas, makes it unlikely they will trade up in the first round. Instead, expect Pittsburgh to let the board fall to them and capitalize on Day 2 value.
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