The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Derrick Harmon in the first round last year, and while it’s still early, that looks like a good decision. Harmon had a solid rookie season, and it looks like he’s only scratched the surface of his potential. However, the Steelers still have plenty of weaknesses. Analyst Ryan Wilson recently conducted an exercise in which he re-drafted the entire 2025 first round, and he opted for the Steelers to pass on Harmon and select wide receiver/corner Travis Hunter.
“The Steelers have dire needs at wide receiver and cornerback, so two for one,” Wilson said recently on CBS Sports HQ. “Come on to Pittsburgh, Travis Hunter.”
Hunter was one of the most intriguing prospects going into the 2025 draft because of his position versatility. He played receiver and corner at a high level in college, leading to him winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024. Hunter was actually selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second overall pick, so he suffered a significant drop in Wilson’s re-draft.
However, that might not have been an accident. Wilson is a Steelers fan, and during that same segment, former NFL general manager Ran Carthon poked fun at Wilson having such a talented player fall to his favorite team.
“First of all, he would not have lasted to pick 21…” Carthon said. “[Wilson] rigged this whole thing for the Steelers to be able to get one of the top two players in the entire draft… Someone would’ve traded up at some point.”
Hunter had some issues during his rookie season, struggling to play well while splitting time between receiver and corner. Injuries also hampered him, limiting him to only seven games. He had 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown, as well as three pass defenses, during his rookie year.
Despite that, Hunter’s potential likely would’ve kept him from falling to the Steelers at pick 21. However, the Steelers would’ve run to the podium to select him if he had somehow fallen to them. Even if they had him play one position, he would give them an instant upgrade.
Receiver and corner are two of the Steelers’ biggest weaknesses. DK Metcalf and Joey Porter Jr. give them solid No. 1 options at each position, but the depth behind them isn’t great. Hunter could’ve given them another solid option at one, if not both, of those positions.
However, they likely aren’t too upset at Harmon, their actual first-rounder. He didn’t have to wait much longer to hear his name called in Wilson’s re-draft, going two picks later to the Green Bay Packers at 23. Harmon played like a first-round pick, especially with his impact in the run game. Hunter playing in Pittsburgh would’ve been fun, but there’s nothing wrong with Harmon.
