During the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Parish debuted his list of “Bargain” NFL prospects the Steelers could target at positions of need. Of the 31 players highlighted, 29 players played NFL snaps in 2024, and one prospect — Roman Wilson — was actually drafted by the Steelers. Now, Ryan’s series is back — with some slight rebranding — to once again highlight some of the lesser-known players in this year’s class. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather highlight some players Ryan thinks would fit with the team and should be available in Rounds 2-7. For this series, Ryan will avoid highlighting players frequently listed in the top 50-75 range on big boards.
Following the 2024 season, if you polled your typical Yinzer, they’d have told you the non-quarterback position that needed the most attention this offseason was wide receiver. So naturally, that’s where I began my work for this year’s Draft Gems series. Since then, the Steelers have traded for DK Metcalf, making the need a little less dire. Still, George Pickens is in the last year of his rookie deal and the depth behind him could use more bolstering.
Much like last year, the ability to play in the slot or in the Z-receiver role was heavily favored. With Metcalf and Pickens both able to play the X-reciever role, there is less priority for those types of receivers in 2025. Solid X-receivers are hard to come by anyway, as any prospect showing promise in that role tends to climb up draft boards. Still, this year’s list will have a little bit of everything for receiver aficionados.
As a reminder, this series isn’t looking to highlight the same names you’ll hear on every mainstream television show or radio hit. This series is for the sickos, the NFL Draft obsessives. A good rule of thumb: If a player is being mocked in the first round consistently or has a BTSC player profile written about them, the most likely won’t appear on this list! So with apologies to Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Jack Bech, Tre Harris and Elic Ayomanor— let’s dive in!
Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Age: 22/23? April birthday, but haven’t found his birth year
Height/weight: 5’11, 193 pounds
Arm Length: 30 3/4”
RAS: N/A, incomplete testing
Pro Comparison:
We’ll start things off with one of my favorite route runners in the class.
After playing sparingly during the shortened 2020 season, Daniel Jackson became an integral part of Minnesota’s offense for four seasons. A former high school quarterback, Jackson finished his career third all-time in school history for receptions (208), fourth in yards (2,685), and sixth in touchdowns (18), despite playing in one of the most anemic passing attacks in the country. Minnesota has struggled to recruit quarterbacks and in 2022 and 2023 the Gophers failed to have a quarterback exceed 1,850 passing yards.
For most of his collegiate career, Jackson was Minnesota’s main — and sometimes only — weapon in their passing attack. In multiple seasons led the team in receptions (‘23, ‘24), receiving yards (‘22, ‘23, ‘24), and receiving touchdowns (‘22, ‘23) and never finishing lower than second on the team in any of those key statistics. In 2023, Jackson accounted for 35.9% of the Gophers’ receptions, 44.5% of their receiving yards, and 27.5% of their offensive touchdowns.
Sticking to the Big 10 is one of my favorite WRs in this class. A player who has been severely slept on in my estimation.
I'm speaking of Minnesota's Daniel Jackson who absolutely ethered this poor Purdue defender on this double movehttps://t.co/jEyurQntNW
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Jackson’s two best qualities are his quick feet and his superior tracking skills when the ball is in the air. Minnesota needed Jackson to wear a lot of hats for their offense, which both gained him experience at the X, Z, and slot positions while also depressing his yards-per-reception to a deceptively low 11.5 in 2024. But make no mistake, Jackson is a threat vertically.
The clip above, from a 2023 game against Purdue, is what first put Jackson on my radar. In this play, Jackson displays his craftiness and efficiency as a route runner, while also putting his tracking ability and toughness on film. In four steps, Jackson sells the defensive back on a 5-yard slant. Playing off-man coverage with inside leverage, the defender breaks on the slant only for Jackson to plant and drive off his fifth step, flipping his hips to break his route back vertically and create nearly five yards of separation.
However, his job isn’t finished. Having created separation he now needs to find the ball. His quarterback is late on the throw and floats it in there. Jackson has to slow his route to match the trajectory of the pass, but he also has to prepare for a big hit from the safety who was able to sprint from the deep center of the field to the sideline during the arc of the pass and deliver a hit to Jackson at full speed at the ball arrives. Jackson holds on.
Jackson is an intriguing vertical threat who excels tracking the ball in the air, and possesses the body awareness and control to give him the best chance at reeling those throws in. pic.twitter.com/lBeJHx1KjK
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Watching Jackson on film, it’s notable how smooth his routes are. He runs with tempo and pacing ahead of most prospects coming out of college that I’ve watched for this exercise. Against off-man or zone coverage, he displays a knack for using patience early in his route to lull the defensive back into a sense of security before speeding up his feet to make sudden, sharp cuts to create separation. He’ll need to keep developing his release package against press coverage as a pro. He didn’t have to face it often, but at his size, press corners were able to give him more difficulty, like in the first play in the clip below. It could lead to him being primarily a slot receiver in the NFL, but I wouldn’t pigeonhole him in that regard.
But Jackson's route running, timing and instincts aren't limited to just vertical routes. Smart, savvy, tough player that finds success at every level and area of the field pic.twitter.com/Af226NMfHV
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Overall,Jackson is a fun player. I’m a little baffled about why he has received relatively little buzz thus far.
He was invited to the NFL Combine but only participated in the agility drills: the 3-Cone Drill and the 20-Yard Shuttle. His 6.78 second (79th percentile) 3-Cone matches the score of Hall of Fame returner Devin Hester, and his 4.07 second (87th percentile) 20-Yard Shuttle time matches marks previously posted by Calvin Austin III, Tyler Lockett and D.J. Moore. And while his full Pro Day results have proven difficult to find, Minnesota posted on social media that Jackson jumped a 10’5 broad jump, which would match numbers posted by Terry McLaurin, Nico Collins and George Pickens just to name a few. I’m confident that he possesses NFL athleticism.
In the era of the transfer portal, Jackson stuck with Minnesota for all five seasons despite the middling quarterback play.
Perhaps the lack of buzz can play into the Steelers’ favor. They are expected to still draft a wideout at some point in the draft, but could do so later in the draft following the trade for Metcalf. If Jackson is there in Round 5 or later, I think the Steelers would be wise to consider him.
Jalen Royals, Utah State
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Age: 22
Height/weight: 6’0, 205 pounds
Arm Length: 30 1/8”
RAS: 9.24u
Every year, there are one or two prospects I become a fan of who falls under a certain archetype of player: the wide receiver built like a running back. You know these guys. They max out at a height of 6’, and they typically weigh between 205-215 pounds. They’re stocky, they’re quick, they break tackles, and move like a halfback once the ball is in their hands. My all-time favorite Steeler, Hines Ward, was one of these cats. Maybe it’s why I like this style of player so much.
Jalen Royals is that dude for 2025.
Kicking things off with the winner of our DJ Moore/Deebo Samuel Memorial WR Who Is Built and plays like RB award: Utah St. wideout Jalen Royals
As is tradition, here is a screen pass reel pic.twitter.com/iJuDtUNKkb
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Royals, who is projected to go on Day 2 of the draft, has had a unique journey to the NFL. In 2022 he didn’t record a single stat, playing mostly on special teams for Utah State. The year before that, he attended a small junior college, Georgia Military College.
He finally broke onto the scene in 2023 with 71 receptions, for 1,080 yards at 15.2 YPR and 15 touchdowns, seven of which were 50 yards or more, most in the country. But before that, Royals was fairly anonymous. After his breakout season, Royals reportedly had NIL offers that would have paid him millions but chose to stay loyal to the coaching staff that gave him an opportunity. I’m not a person who views transferring as a negative character trait, but I will point out that finding that kind of loyalty is rare in a collegiate climate that incentivizes players to maximize their personal value. For a team like the Steelers that has had its fair share of headlines surrounding effort and commitment from receivers in recent years, that has to be an appealing character trait.
One of the thing that stands out on Royals tape is his toughness and grit. He's not afraid of contact and will fight through it to reach the sticks or to secure a downfield catch pic.twitter.com/7MWn9fvtPg
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
A foot injury shut down Royals' 2024 season early, an unfortunate turn of events as he was poised to blow his previous season out of the water. Through seven games, Royals had totaled 55 receptions, for 834 yards, six touchdowns and once again 15.2 YPR.
Royals isn’t the most precise route runner — he at times can round his route at the top of his break — but he has a good feel for space, quick feet and rapid acceleration with a knack for plucking the ball while already in stride.
We also know the Arthur Smith offense will feature plenty of vertical shots. I don't think Royals is a traditional X at the next level, but with the Steelers he wouldn't need to be thanks to Metcalf and Pickens.
Royals tracks the ball well and competes on contested balls. pic.twitter.com/veZull9pai
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Royals also performs better than you’d expect on contested targets for a receiver with his proportions. In 2023, of receivers with at least 10 contested catch opportunities, Royals had the second-most receptions (17), and the fourth-best conversion rate (73.9%), trailing only top-10 pick Rome Odunze, 2026 draft-eligible Elijah Sarratt, and Cornelius Johnson, who was featured in this series last year.
Royals recovered enough from his foot injury to participate in the NFL Combine. He only ran the 40-Yard Dash (4.42), but added a vertical jump (36”) and broad jump (10’1) at Utah State’s Pro Day.
Royals isn't the twitchiest athlete, but he consistently finds those “hidden yards” after a catch, uses his body to shield defenders from the ball, and if he does shake loose he's got enough juice with 4.42 speed to take it to the house pic.twitter.com/aTn1ImtQEc
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Tory Horton, Colorado State
Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Age: Turns 23 in November
Height/weight: 6’2 1/2, 196 pounds
Arm Length: 30 5/8”
RAS: 9.79
Another prospect whose draft stock may be impacted by injury is Colorado State’s Tory Horton. Coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, Horton’s decision to return to school for a fifth year ultimately backfired when he injured his knee, only playing in six games in 2024. It was a disappointing result for another player who gets a character green flag for choosing to return for one more year due to his relationship with his coaches and belief in the program when he could have easily gone pro.
Horton’s misfortune could end up being a boon for whichever team is able to draft him in the middle rounds. When watching Horton’s tape, I can’t help but be reminded of George Pickens.
We'll head to the Moutain West for our final two prospects. We'll be using 2023 tape for Colorado State's Tory Horton after a knee injury made him miss most of 2024.
He was healthy enough to participate in the Combine. 6'2 1/2 w 4.41 speed and 37.5″ vert pic.twitter.com/RPVubgANuy
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Horton provides a combination of size, speed, strong hands, and loose, fluid movement. He primarily played the X in college, but I wonder if he’d be most comfortable as a Z-receiver. Physical corners can give him trouble and mess with his timing.
In 51 career games, Horton accumulated 265 receptions for 3,615 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s frequently shown his ability to catch the ball away from his frame and he’s got enough wiggle to create after the catch.
If there’s one area I’d critique Horton’s game, it’s that he’s not as consistent with contested catches as you’d like to see with his size. He went 19-for-38 in such opportunities during three seasons at Colorado State. That flaw is counterattacked though by Horton’s natural feel for space and route timing, plus a level of body control that leads to highlight reel catches.
Should the Steelers be questioning their future with Pickens, Horton could provide depth as a rookie and then eventually slide into a bigger role in his second year.
And heck, if the Steelers continue to struggle at quarterback this year, Horton can contribute in a pinch.
Kyle Williams, Washington State
Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
Age: Turns 23 in November
Height/weight: 5’11, 190 pounds
Arm Length: 30 1/8”
RAS: 6.24u
If you’re plugged into the online NFL Draft community, you might be aware of Kyle Williams. Williams — another fifth-year senior who took advantage of an extra year of eligibility thanks to the 2020 season — has gained a reputation for being your favorite analyst’s favorite prospect. And it’s not hard to see why. Earlier I said Jackson is one of my favorite route runners in the class. Williams might actually be the best.
Williams’ tempo and feel for space make him one of the most enjoyable watches. In the first play in the clip above, Williams recognizes his quarterback is stuck and runs to open space to give him an option.
Williams began his collegiate career at UNLV, where he spent three seasons totaling 117 receptions, 1,568 and 9 touchdowns. Williams then transferred to Washington State where his production exploded. In just two seasons with the Cougars, Williams had 131 receptions, for 2,041 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Like Jackson earlier, Williams might be forced to a primary slot role in the NFL due to his size. That shouldn’t prohibit an NFL team from taking advantage of his versatility though. Possessing 4.40-speed, Williams can provide a spark inside and out. He’s particularly dangerous in space.
And last, but not least. We have to include a draft nerds' favorite – Washington State's Kyle Williams
Here's a reel of WSU getting Williams some designed touches in space pic.twitter.com/i0eEJ8rIoU
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
For an offense that has struggled as much as the Steelers have in recent years, finding skill players who can create after the catch should be a priority. If the Steelers are truly planning to bring in Aaron Rodgers, they will need players who can win quickly underneath. Rodgers has always operated a game heavily reliant on quick-timing concepts with vertical shots sprinkled in. For the Steelers, it will be crucial to find players who are just as good at finding an extra yard or two on every play as they are at winning vertically. Fortunately, Williams can do both.
Tai Felton, Maryland
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Age: 22
Height/weight: 6’1, 183 pounds
Arm Length: 30”
RAS: 9.61
Another player whose tape I would recommend as a fun watch was Maryland’s Tai Felton. Last year I joked that Ricky Pearsall would be my nomination for an “All-Juice Team” among receiver prospects for his combination of electric speed and moxy. This year he passes that baton to Felton.
We're going to take a tour through Big 10 country next. We know Coach Tomlin has an affinity for Terps and guys from Virginia, so let's check out Tai Felton.
Felton is ⚡️ in a bottle who also gets some extra credit for his passion. Felton's a bit of a yapper & energizes his team pic.twitter.com/xwZok2bYvu
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
I swear I wasn’t looking for this when I was scouting prospects, but Felton is another player who showed loyalty sticking with Maryland for all four years of college. He’s easy to root for, as you can see his passion for the game in several of these clips. He’s the type of guy who brings energy to the huddle. Looking into his background, Felton played blocking tight end in his high school’s Wishbone offense, which explains why he plays like a much larger person than he is.
At 6'1 and 183 pounds, Felton has a sleight frame and I'd like to see him get into the 190s. However, he doesn't shy away from contact and fights for extra yards. If he sheds a tackle, his quick burst makes him a threat to defenses. pic.twitter.com/Yfno7FHqV1
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Felton’s production increased each year, primarily starting out as a special teams player and steadily gaining more involvement in the offense. After a 723-yard, 6-touchdown junior campaign, Felton broke out his senior year, finishing fourth in the nation in receptions (96), 15th in receiving yards (1,124), and 20th in touchdowns (9).
Felton’s had one of the better Combine performances this year. His 4.37-speed (90th percentile), 10-yard split (81st percentile), 39 1/2” vertical (89th percentile) and 10’10 broad jump (91st percentile) all indicate a player with top-level speed and a sudden get off.
While Felton’s speed is tantalizing, he isn’t without his flaws. Felton’s size makes him another player who will have to prove he can be more than a slot player at the next level. If he’s going to hang in the NFL, he’ll either have to prove that he can beat physical corners on the outside or that he can provide run blocking from the slot. If not, he could find himself in a much narrower role.
Chimere Dike, Florida
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Age: Turns 23 in December
Height/weight: 6’1, 196 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/8”
RAS: 9.69
The last player we’ll highlight is Chimere Dike (pronounced CHIM-ray Dee-Kay). Dike spent four years at Wisconsin before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. When looking at his production, Dike doesn’t have a production profile that will get anyone excited. But when I threw on the tape, I saw an athletic player with tools that could be molded into a useful role player.
With Calvin Austin entering the final year of his rookie contract, I would view Dike as competition for Roman Wilson to take over that role. He possesses similar speed (4.34 40-time) and is much more active blocking downfield than the diminutive Austin.
Dike’s route tree still could use further development, but he’s already highly effective on the types of crossing routes the Steelers often deploy for Austin. In 2024, 44% of Dike’s targets came on these types of routes which he paid off with 18.6 yards per catch.
Next, we can't get through this exercise without an SEC prospect. Florida transfer WR Chimere Dike (pronounced D-K) started out at Wisconsin. If you're looking for a guy that crushes on crossing routes, Dike is your guy. pic.twitter.com/ySsShI44fM
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
When I watch Dike’s tape, I see an imperfect player, but one whose role would be immediately obvious early in his career. He can round his routes — which might be why Florida had him run so many crossers — and he struggles against more physical corners who are able to jam him early or force him to fight through contact at the catch point.
But he has enough flashes on his tape that a late-round pick is a worthy gamble if a staff can refine his game further. I looked at Calvin Austin’s career thus far as the production floor for Dike. If he can develop further, a vertical slot role like Christian Kirk’s could be his ceiling.
That isn't to say Dike doesn't have other tools in his bag. Dike wasn't a high volume target, but I think there is a role for him in the NFL as a WR 3 who could develop into a WR2 a team. pic.twitter.com/Mg41MjcUhJ
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) March 21, 2025
Outside Looking In: Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor was one of the Combine’s freakiest size-speed prospects (6’4, 218 pounds, 34 3/8” arms with 4.40 speed and an 11’1 broad jump) but his tape didn’t match his testing. He’ll turn 24 in June which makes me less inclined to take him on as a developmental project… Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton Jr. is another height-speed freak (4.30 40-time at 6’5) but at 205 pounds he’s incredibly slender and I believe is more likely to serve in a Marquez Valdez-Scantling vertical decoy style role than he is to be the next Martavis Bryant … Virgina Tech’s Jaylin Lane is another interesting slot player to keep an eye on. However, I preferred Jackson and Williams, leaving little room for Lane on this list… Miami’s Xavier Restrepo (5’9, 209 pounds) is a good ball player, but with Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson already on the team, I’m not sure the Steelers could afford to roster another receiver that size.
