Steelers host projected 1st-round safety Nick Emmanwori, plus WR, DT
Share this post:
In addition to quarterback Jaxson Dart, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted three other draft prospects Friday. Among them was projected first-round safety Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina.
Also visiting UPMC Rooney Sports Complex were Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel and Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell.
Emmanwori is considered among the most athletic defensive backs available, standing 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and running the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. A three-year starter, he was freshman all-America in 2022 and AP first-team all-America this past season when he had a team-high 88 tackles along with four interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns.
South Carolina Safety Nick Emmanwori is having a top 30 visit with the #Steelers today.
A surprising position but Steelers have been looking at safety a lot this pre draft season.
⚫️ 57 solo tackles
???? 4 Ints
⚫️ 2 Pass Deflections pic.twitter.com/HtoCTVHCTp— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) April 4, 2025
A productive three-year starter at Iowa State, Noel (5-10, 194) tested well at the combine, running the 40 in 4.39 seconds. He had 245 catches for 2,855 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns in his career, including 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores as a senior. Noel also often handled punt and kick return duties over the past four years for the Cyclones.
The mock-draft compilation website nflmockdraftdatabase.com reports Noel is a consensus Day 2 draft pick.
I like Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel more every time I watch him
— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) March 26, 2025
Caldwell (6-2, 332) is regarded as a fifth-round pick. After two years at Houston — earning all-Big 12 as a junior in 2023 — Caldwell was honorable mention all-Big Ten this past season after starting all 14 games.
The Steelers are in need of bodies on the defensive line, and it would not be surprising if they spent as many as two draft choices at the position.
Each team is allotted 30 official prospect visits (not including exemptions for local players) in the lead-up to the April 24-26 draft.