Meet The Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Class: Defenders galore, a quarterback on day three, and the future of the RB position
The Pittsburgh Steelers have closed the door on the 2025 NFL Draft. After three days and seven selections, the newest class of rookies are headed to Pittsburgh. Here is every pick… 1st round, 21st overall: Oregon DT Derrick Harmon A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board Rank: 25thDerrick Harmon has everything you want from […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have closed the door on the 2025 NFL Draft.
After three days and seven selections, the newest class of rookies are headed to Pittsburgh.
Here is every pick…
1st round, 21st overall: Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board Rank: 25th
Derrick Harmon has everything you want from a modern defensive tackle. Sure, he shows the ability to play up and down the defensive line, but his combination of size and strength lends his services best utilized near the center. He's stiffer than you would like, and he may not play in wider defensive line alignments on an every-down basis. Instead, you plug him squarely over the ball and dare teams to try and move him in the run game. It takes an army. And it won't be easy for any center-guard combo to wall him off. Should he develop his pass rush plan a bit and drop some weight to become more agile, then he could be utilized similarly to his time in college as a versatile lineman. For now, though, he's a day one starter at the defensive tackle position with immediate impact in the run game.
3rd round, 83rd overall: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson
A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board Rank: 54th
Kaleb Johnson doesn't do anything spectacular, which is why he was available toward the latter portion of round three. He didn't run an elite 40-yard dash, and he doesn't have a ton of elusiveness. But he has a lot of Steelers lead back to him. At over 6-1 and 220 pounds, coming from a run-heavy scheme and with excellent tape and stats, he's a player you hammer defenses with before Jaylen Warren comes in to change the pace.
4th round, 123rd overall: Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer
A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board Rank: 58
Some questioned this pick since it was an EDGE rusher and not a WR, CB, or QB. But Jack Sawyer was the best player available on the Steelers board, evidenced by his position in our average draft rankings. Going strength on strength is never a bad idea, and the Steelers may now have the best pass rush rotation in the NFL.
5th Round, 164th Overall: Iowa DT Yahya Black
Black is as old school as they come. A traditional, two down nose tackle who will be used exclusively on run downs as a plugger and run stuffer. A solid depth piece on the defensive line.
6th Round, 185th overall: Ohio State QB Will Howard
A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board Rank: 96
Will Howard has "10-year NFL career" written all over him, but it's more likely to be as a backup than a starter. There are things you watch and appreciate about his game, including obvious high football intelligence, dual-threat ability, and textbook fundamentals. He's also incredibly tough both mentally and physically. He can lead a locker room. And he has championship pedigree now after transferring into OSU, getting buy-in from his teammates, and leading them to a national championship victory in just 12 months. However, he has very little to offer in terms of arm talent, and he played with the best offensive surroundings in the nation–not to mention with a former NFL head coach at offensive coordinator and Ryan Day as the head man. He's a good player that I have no doubts will be a great guy to have in the quarterback room, but the starter upside may not be there with Will Howard.
7th Round, 226th overall: Washington LB Carson Bruener
The son of Steelers scout and former tight end Mark Bruener, Carson will add to a deep inside LB corps with Patrick Queen, Cole Holcomb and Payton Wilson. But Bruener is more than just a legacy pick. He has NFL instincts which likely flow from his bloodline and he was a tackling machine in college.
7th Round, 229th overall: Central Michigan DB Donte Kent
The Steelers have needed a slot CB for a while. Beanie Bishop showed flashes of excellence in his rookie campaign, but Mike Tomlin was hesitant to name him head man. This pick adds more competition to that room.
Steelers 2025 NFL Draft class
- 1st round, 21st overall: Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
- 3rd round, 83rd overall: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson
- 4th round, 123rd overall: Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer
- 5th round, 164th overall: Iowa DT Yahya Black
- 6th round, 185th overall: Ohio State QB Will Howard
- 7th round, 226th overall: Washington LB Carson Bruener
- 7th round, 229th overall: Central Michigan DB Donte Kent
