For several years, I have been keeping my personal running spreadsheets during the draft process. The goal was to learn about the players through information gathering. Share visuals and some takeaways from data points created each year. This is simply called interest and athletic score and requires explanation.
As Dave Brian and Alex Kozola discuss regularly, the Steelers have the type of player they are looking for, and what they are trying to achieve is who checks many of those boxes or vice versa. You will notice that much of the inspiration for these scores comes from years of research into Pittsburgh’s draft trends. Pittsburgh was eventually drafted.
There’s no perfect way to predict a selection of 2025 Steelers, but I feel it’s great about what data points measure. Of course, I would like to hear feedback. Also, I focus on important and/or practical choices as I only have that much time on the day and only the additional things I want to measure.
Now, more information on how the scores are combined. The biggest point I want to do is that this is not a big board or round projection view, but rather try to identify names that the Steelers can choose no matter when they’re drafted. After getting a pool of healthy names that I listen to and investigate, I start scoring.
Interest score: Here, we have configured the Point System for the following important factors: University performance, body type, experience, age, position, competition level, professional day attendance, pre-draft meetings, senior/shinto bowl invitation/participation.
Athletic Score: Simply combine 11 metrics, excluding Wingspan and whether Steelers since 2013 are within the threshold for each metric for players drafted in position. Pro Day numbers are included only if the player does not drill on the combine.
Clear like mud? The wide receiver (WR) with a combination of invitations is as follows:
Note: If your name is not displayed, ask. I’m compiling more non-Kobe players, but I’ve ruled them out because of cleaner charts.
The top interest score is far more Ohio’s Emekae Gubuka (11.3), third best in the overall draft class. He joined the pro alongside HC Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Kahn and OC Arthur Smith. Combine dinner and meetings. Please check the interest box carefully for experience, age (22), performance, and body type. 8 athletic scores (out of 11) on three DNPs (bench, broad, three cones). Slots snapped mainly in 2024, making it a popular early option in Pittsburgh.
For context, the Steelers chose WR Roman Wilson in 2024, earning a top 10.6 athletic score in position last season. George Pickens received an interest score of 9.2 and eight athletic scores in 2022.
The second in this class is Ole Miss Treharis (9.8). Attendance for Pro Day (assistant GM Andy WR coach Zach Azanni). Combining meetings, shrine bowl participants and university performances, the mark is weak (23). 8 athletic scores (bench, shuttle, or three cones), check all boxes he participated in. Mostly outside the snap, and you’ll probably need a pick by the second day.
The third is Matthew Golden (9.0) from Texas. Multiple meetings (combine, pre-draft visits). Other high scores were age (21) and performance, with less experience and relatively few pro day attendance. 6 athletic scores, check all the boxes he’s done (measured/40 times). Mainly broad consistency and another initial candidate.
Next up is Ariane Smith (9.0) from Georgia. The main reason is the highly-entered Pro Day (Tomlin, Smith), but it deserves asterisks of quality prospects that Pittsburgh is likely to be more violently wrong. Senior Bowl participants and experience are better marks with university performance and age (23) below the score. 10 Athletic Score (no bench). Mostly outside the snap, and slow/undrafted projections.
Of course, Bulldog Dominique Lovett (8.7) was a Pro Day attendee and had a plus age (22). The Shrine Bowl was also negative about the lack of university performances and meetings. 9 athletic scores (no bench or 3 cones). Most slot snaps are a positive for what Pittsburgh needs and are behind the possibility of being undrafted.
Ole Miss Jordan Watkins (8.7) had an informal combination meeting with a Pro Day attendance. College performance and experience were other plus marks, with age (23) and lack of an All-Star game scored low. 7 athletic scores (missed at arm length, 3 DNPs). More external snaps, and apparently prospects on the third day.
Pittsburgh’s Konata Manpfield (8.7) also had a higher professional sun attendance (particularly Wydl and Azanni). Shrine bowl, age (22), and experience were positive, with university performance and lack of meetings on a lower mark. 8 athletic scores (arm length and hand size missed, no bench). There’s more on the outside, but there are plenty of slot snaps too. Late/undrafted projections.
Jaden Higgins (8.4) of Iowa checked all the boxes the Cozola Steelers were looking for for research along with pre-draft meetings. College performance, experience and participation in the Senior Bowl was a strong score along with age (23) and lack of professional day attendance on the lower side of things. 10 Athletic Score (no bench). It also provides prominent slot personnel, mainly outside. Possibility of the second day.
Antoiné Wells Jr. of Ole Miss (8.3) is the third rebel in that position. Create a list with Pro Day attendees. Although he has experience with shrine bowls and his age (24), university performance and lack of meetings were on the poor side. 8 athletic scores (3 DNPs), mainly outside the snap, expected day 3 prospects.
TCU’s Savion Williams (8.2) also made a pre-draft visit at Big 12 Pro Day, attended by Azanni. Good university performance and experience. The All-Star Game and age (23) are not lower than the average. Check the 6 Athletic Scores (DNPs), size and 40 boxes. Wide Snap is mostly a candidate for the second day.
Arkansas Isaac Teslaa (8.1) was the second WR to create the list of Cozolas and was the only perfect 11 athletic score to date. Senior Bowl participants had overall low interest marks, including university performance, age (23) and lack of meetings. Most slot snaps are positive and are projects on the third day.
Notre Dame’s Beau Collins is the final player with a plus-8 interest score (8.1). Highly participating Pro Day (Tomlin, GM Omar Khan, Smith), Experience, and age (22) are his best scores. The all-star game, college performance and lack of meetings did not exacerbate the score. It seems like 10 athletic scores (no bench), mainly wide alignment, and undrafted prospects.
Twelve receivers land on the seventh floor of interest.
Don’t Thornton Jr. of Tennessee (7.9 interest, 8 athletic scores), Xavier Rectrepo of Miami (7.9, 6), Bull McCoy III of Tennessee (7.9, 4), Jalen Royals of Utah (7.8, 11), Jimmy Horn Jr. of Colorado (7.7, 9), Traeshn Holden of Oregon (7.6, 8), Eric Ayomer of Stanford (7.5, 9), Jaylyn Noel of Iowa (7.4, 10), Daquan Felton of Virginia Tech (7.3, 11), Chimea Dyke of Florida (7.3, 9), Luther Burden III of Missouri (7.0, 5).
Of this group, Pittsburgh met Restrepo, Armstrong, Holden, Ayomanor and Noel in a variety of abilities. Armstrong also had a perfect 11 athletic scores, along with the three Tia players, Royals and Felton, to create a list for Cozora.
TCU’s Jack Bech (interest score of 6.9, athletics of nine) held an informal meeting, similar to UNLV’s Ricky White III (5.8, 8). Colorado’s Tory Horton (5.9, 8 Athletic) was the final combination WR that I met with Pittsburgh (officially).
Other combine invitations and perfect athletic scores were Jaylin Lane of Virginia Tech (interest of 6.8), Josh Kelly of Texas Tech (6.7), Daniel Jackson of Minnesota (6.3), and Cove Hudson of UCF (5.3). Hudson’s interest score was last ranked in Combine WR. Kelly and Colorado’s Rajon Tay Wester were also on Big 12 Pro Day, where Azanni attended.
Splashing WR DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh’s free agency reduced the need to address draft positions. However, there remains a clear interest and it is fascinating to see it unfold. One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to see how it pans out.
Do you think Pittsburgh will draft one of the names above? Who is your favorite? Thank you for reading and let me know what you think in the comments.
