Steelers officially put the ball in Aaron Rodgers' court after making quarterback selection on the final day of 2025 NFL Draft
The third and final day of the NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were very active. It started with a surprise pick in round four, which has created discourse among many. It ended with some excellent depth additions and of course, a QB pick that proves what we have known about […]
The third and final day of the NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were very active.
It started with a surprise pick in round four, which has created discourse among many.
It ended with some excellent depth additions and of course, a QB pick that proves what we have known about Aaron Rodgers for months…
Round 4, No. 123 Overall: Jack Sawyer, EDGE OSU
Jack Sawyer certainly saved his best for last when it came to his college football career. He elevated his game to a new level in the College Football Playoff by recording three sacks, seven pass breakups, and returning a strip sack for a touchdown in four games to help the Buckeyes secure a national championship. His motor is unmatched despite being an average at best athlete. He projects as a rotational defensive lineman at the NFL level, but he is the type of guy you should never bet against. He was loved by his coaches and teammates and viewed as one of the top leaders on the team. He will be an elite addition to an NFL locker room and is determined to be great at any cost.
-Destin Adams, A to Z Sports NFL Draft
At 22 years old, and with a second-round grade from the A to Z Sports NFL Draft team, the pick of Sawyer rounds out a pass rush quartet of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
Some wanted a QB (Shedeur Sanders) or a CB-WR, but the Steelers decided to take the best player available via Sawyer. Sitting and learning under T.J. Watt will do wonders for his NFL career.
Round 5, No. 164 Overall: Yahya Black, DT Iowa
Yahya 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. An excellent depth piece on the defensive line.
Round 6, No. 189 Overall: Will Howard, QB Ohio State
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.
So with the Steelers passing on more obvious starters throughout the draft, it's clear that they have put their chips all in on Aaron Rodgers and they are left waiting his answer.
Round 7, No. 226 overall: Carson Bruener, LB Washington
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.
Round 7, No. 229 overall: Donte Kent, DB Central Michigan
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.
