Mike Tomlin Eyes Wide Receiver as Top Priority for Steelers in 2025 Draft

Pittsburgh, PA – February 22, 2025 – After another playoff disappointment in 2024-2025, bowing out to the Ravens in the wildcard round, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems laser-focused on one fix for the upcoming draft: bolstering the wide receiver corps. As a diehard fan who’s been glued to X and Reddit, I can feel the excitement brewing—this could be the move that finally gets the Steelers over the hump.

The WR group last season was a glaring weak spot. George Pickens shined with 1,025 yards, but beyond him, it was slim pickings—Calvin Austin III managed just 285 yards, and names like Van Jefferson barely registered. Fans on X summed it up: “Pickens can’t do it alone against elite defenses,” @YinzerNation tweeted post-playoff. Stats back this up—Pittsburgh ranked 27th in NFL receiving yards from WRs per Pro Football Focus. Tomlin hinted at the need in a recent presser (via Steelers Wire): “We’ve got to get more threats out wide. Depth matters in today’s game.” With the 21st pick in the 2025 draft, all signs point to a WR being the top target.

The 2025 draft class is loaded with receiver talent, and Steelers fans are buzzing about Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona. At 6’5” with 1,423 college yards and 14 TDs in 2024, he’s a towering playmaker—think Mike Evans 2.0. “McMillan and Pickens together? Defenses would quake,” @SteelersDepot posted on X. If he’s off the board early, Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) or Isaiah Bond (Texas) could fit the bill—Egbuka with silky routes, Bond with blazing speed. Tomlin’s eyeing a game-changer to pair with Pickens and ease the load on whoever’s at QB, be it Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, or a new face.

Why WR over, say, a QB or lineman? With $53 million in cap space (per OverTheCap), Pittsburgh can address other needs via free agency, making a high-impact, cost-controlled rookie WR the smarter play. Plus, in a division with stars like Ja’Marr Chase, the Steelers need firepower to keep pace. Fan hype is off the charts—mock drafts on TikTok featuring McMillan in black and gold are racking up views, and #SteelersDraft2025 is gaining steam. Sure, some argue for a QB or offensive line help, but the consensus is clear: a new weapon is priority one.

If Tomlin pulls this off, drafting a stud WR could redefine the Steelers’ offense and break their playoff curse. April can’t come soon enough—Steelers Nation is ready for a bold new chapter.