- The Steelers ought to keep watch over a possible Shedeur Sanders fall: Pittsburgh’s splendid first spherical includes the Colorado quarterback falling to them at No. 21 general.
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Every NFL draft choose is a roll of the cube. Sometimes, a crew grabs a cornerstone participant for the subsequent decade. And different occasions, the participant fails to stay as much as expectations and falls out of the league.
Therefore, it’s advantageous for groups to have many premium draft picks in order that they have extra possibilities to hit on these gambles. The following 4 franchises have solely two alternatives on Days 1 and a pair of of this yr’s draft. Even with out many prime picks, they will considerably enhance their groups in the event that they nail these alternatives.
Here are the right situations for every of these franchises on the primary two days, excluding buying and selling again for additional capital.
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, Pick No. 15: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The Falcons desperately want so as to add juice to their defensive position. In every of the previous 4 seasons, they’ve owned a bottom-six-ranked crew PFF pass-rush grade within the NFL. Pearce would supply an on the spot enhance after main all FBS edge defenders since 2023 with a 22.4% stress charge.
Round 2, Pick No. 46: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Atlanta may proceed to enhance its go protection by including Morrison within the second spherical. He was restricted to simply six video games this previous season attributable to a torn labrum in his hip however had first-round tape within the two years prior.
Morrison’s 9 interceptions throughout his first two seasons led all Power Four cornerbacks, whereas his 40.3 passer ranking allowed ranked sixth amongst all cornerbacks in school soccer. As lengthy as his medicals try, he could possibly be a large steal within the second spherical for the Falcons.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1, Pick No. 21: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
This is admittedly a stretch, because the Steelers would possible should commerce as much as purchase Sanders. However, this text’s objective is for example the right situations for particular groups, and there’s a likelihood Sanders will fall this far on draft evening, albeit a small one.
His 1.3% turnover-worthy play charge over the previous two years ranks second to solely Bo Nix amongst FBS quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s ceiling as a franchise has been capped for almost a decade as a result of it hasn’t had a franchise quarterback, however the power of the roster/glorious teaching has stored the crew from being dangerous sufficient to acquire a prime prospect within the draft. Sanders falling to No. 21 can be a dream situation for the Steelers, as he can study behind Aaron Rodgers, who will presumably signal with Pittsburgh quickly.
Round 3, Pick No. 83: DI Deone Walker, Kentucky
While Cameron Heyward was the second-highest-graded inside defender this previous season, he’s 36 years previous. Pittsburgh can be sensible to put money into the way forward for the place. The Steelers additionally may enhance on the different defensive finish spot, missing a confirmed starter there.
Walker is a perfect match for Pittsburgh’s protection as a 5-technique defensive finish within the crew’s 3-4 protection. While his junior season wasn’t almost as dominant as his sophomore yr, his 73 pressures since 2023 had been the fourth most amongst all defensive tackles in school soccer.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick No. 24: DI Kenneth Grant, Michigan
The Vikings shored up their want for 5-techniques sufficient by signing each Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in free company. However, they might nonetheless enhance at nostril sort out since Harrison Phillips is coming off back-to-back sub-60.0 season-long PFF grades.
Grant is the most effective nostril sort out within the class and has uncommon quickness for a 340-pounder. He was one among eight FBS inside defenders since 2023 with 80.0-plus PFF grades as each a go rusher and a run defender.
Round 3, Pick No. 97: S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Minnesota may additional enhance its protection by nabbing Winston, the most effective safeties within the class. {A partially} torn ACL restricted him to simply two video games this previous season, however he displayed first-round manufacturing and athleticism as a sophomore in 2023. Winston was the one security that yr who earned 85.0-plus PFF grades each in protection and run protection. He additionally scored above the 99th percentile in PFF’s Game Athleticism Score metric.
With Harrison Smith not too long ago turning 36 years previous and Josh Metellus being extra of a strong starter than a real star, Winston could possibly be one of many largest steals of the draft whereas filling a large want for the Vikings.
Washington Commanders
Round 1, Pick No. 29: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
None of Washington’s edge rushers ranked even among the many prime 50 in PFF general grade final season, making that the Commanders’ prime want heading into the draft. Scourton wasn’t as dominant at Texas A&M as at Purdue, however that may largely be defined by his position with the Aggies. At Purdue, he was allowed to pin his ears again and get after the quarterback, whereas Texas A&M required him to learn and react way more.
Even with that in thoughts, Scourton’s 90.8 PFF pass-rush grade since 2023 nonetheless tied for eighth amongst all Power Four edge defenders. He is price a first-round choice within the 2025 NFL Draft and needs to be a participant Washington is concentrating on at No. 29 general.
Round 2, Pick No. 61: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
The Commanders’ prime precedence needs to be to bolster their protection in all methods. Washington had the second-lowest-graded protection within the NFL in 2024 regardless of the crew’s unimaginable yr, which included the lowest-graded group of cornerbacks. Marshon Lattimore is coming off the lowest-graded season of his profession (56.8), and whereas Mike Sainristil had a strong rookie yr, he too usually performed out of place on the surface when he needs to be a nickel defender.
Selecting Porter within the second spherical would permit Sainristil to maneuver again inside whereas giving the Commanders probably the most athletically gifted cornerbacks within the 2025 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.3-second 40-yard sprint at 6-foot-3 and led all FBS cornerbacks with an absurd 4.7 passer ranking allowed when focused this previous season.