New ESPN mock draft misses the mark for the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have very well-established and clear needs in the 2025 NFL draft.

Top among those needs are defensive tackle and quarterback.

One position we would rank near the bottom of the Steelers team's needs is edge defender.

But don't tell Mike Tannenbaum that.

In his new mock draft on ESPN, that's exactly what he did for the Steelers in his new one-round mock draft.

Tannenbaum went with Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart.

Here's what he had to say about the pick.The Steelers still haven't signed a quarterback, but Aaron Rodgers met with the team late last week and would check that box.

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.I'm typically willing to give some leeway with picks mainly because I understand how hard it is to track all the draft needs of 32 NFL teams.

But to fail to mention Nick Herbig in this conversation and to feel like upside is justification to pick a player who isn't going to start anytime soon, just doesn't cut it.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: New mock draft is a miss for the Steelers.

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