Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft grades: Mike Tomlin sends a clear message (2025)

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to get ‘big and physical’ in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they did just that. With seven selections, Pittsburgh ended up with three players on their defensive line, while trying to strengthen their special teams core in the later rounds.

Here is my final draft grade for the Steelers’ class:

Round 1: Derrick Harmon, IDL, Oregon

Harmon has the chance to be a dispersive force. He led the NCAA in pressures last year with 55 pressures and was second in pressure rate. Harmon knows how to create havoc as a pass rusher on stunts, though his power game as a rusher needs some work.

He tested well, and he is quick, but his first step is not elite. With 34-inch arms, he has a lot of potential for a long arm and bull rush combination. Those moves seem to be coming along, as they popped more in 2024 than they had in previous years.

Harmon can play anywhere between 2i and 5-technique, which signals Keeanu Benton will play at nose tackle in base defense. Since the Steelers play base defense so little, however, both will work into their sub-packages.

Grade: A-

Round 3: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Johnson is an explosive running back, despite what the timed speed may say, and fits into the Steelers’ offense like a glove. A mid-and-wide zone specialist who fits what Johnson does perfectly.

He had a massive 2024 season, racking up 1537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. That earned him an All-Big 10 selection and All-American honors as one of the best running backs in college football.

Despite the lack of timed speed, Johnson was one of the most explosive runners in college football. He averaged 6.4 yards per attempt and 128.1 yards per game in his stellar Junior campaign.

Considering where they got him, this was a steal for a player who was thought to be a second-round pick.

Grade: A+

Round 4: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State

Known as ‘Captain Jack,’ Sawyer was the lifeblood of the Buckeyes’ National Championship team. In his four seasons at Ohio State, Sawyer recorded 23 sacks, with nine of those coming in his senior season, which helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship. He had 144 tackles and 11 pass deflections over his career.

Sawyer slots in as a special teamer who can bring some run defense upside to the Steelers’ edge rusher group. Against teams where they have heavier personnel, Sawyer can be an outside linebacker with that potential.

They had bigger needs than this, but Sawyer was projected to go earlier. It is good value. I have questions about Sawyer’s upside as a pass rusher, given his average athletic traits at best. As a run defender, he is strong at the point of attack and should give them a boost there.

Grade: C-

Round 5: Yahya Black, IDL, Iowa

The Steelers got themselves another big run-plugger in Black, who fits the team’s mantra of getting bigger and physical. Tomlin even referred to Black as an ‘F-350′, a reference to Ford Trucks, showcasing just how much they think of him as a physical force.

Black is a nose tackle type the team saw down at the Senior Bowl. A strong player, he can play anywhere from 0-technique to 4i, and he is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ defense.

He does not have much pass-rush upside, but for a rotational run-stopper, he can do that.

Grade: C+

Round 6: Will Howard, QB, Ohio State

For Howard to fall this far and still end up with the Steelers is a coup for them, to be quite honest. At worst on tape, Howard was a fourth-round talent, and the Steelers got him two rounds later. That is great value, if nothing else, but Howard’s talents and fit with the Steelers all make a ton of sense.

This season, Howard threw for 4010 passing yards, a career-high. With that, he posted a 73 percent completion percentage, another career-high mark. Howard had 35 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

Howard is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the entire class, having started 50 games since 2020, with four years at Kansas State.

His deep ball and ability to layer throws fit with Dk Metcalf and George Pickens exceptionally well. Howard has all the makings of a quality NFL backup quarterback.

Grade: A

Round 7 1a: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington

This pick made headlines because Carson Bruener is the son of former Steelers tight end and current West Coast area scout Mark Bruener. Those family connections always come back around for the Steelers.

Bruener had 104 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and five pass deflections in his Senior campaign. It was a shallow linebacker class, and the Steelers projected him to become a depth piece and special teams ace.

On tape, Bruener has some light feet, and while he struggles with changing direction, he is highly instinctual, and there are some positive reps in coverage. The criticism will come down for this one, and so be it, but I really like the player.

Grade: B

Round 7 1b: Donte Kent, CB, Central Michigan

Kent, a Harrisburg native, is athletic and a ballhawk. Those are two traits the Steelers love in their cornerbacks, so it is not that hard to see them taking a swing on Kent.

Kent ran a 4.38 40-yard dash atCentral Michigan’spro day. In his five-year career with the Chippewas, Kent was a three-time All-MAC selection, playing as a cornerback, gunner, kick and punt returner, and special teams ace.

Over those five years, he had two interceptions but 47 passes defensed. He added four forced fumbles over that stretch.

Kent played more in the slot in 2024 but has played at outside cornerback in addition to his duties in the nickel. He has football bloodlines that fit the Steelers’ mantra at that position.

He is a boom-or-bust player, having the most passes defended in the NCAA since 2023, but allowing the second most explosive plays. Either way, there is some athletic upside here.

Grade: C+

Overall, this was a class that showcased the Steelers’ want to get bigger in the trenches, strengthen their run game, and add some high-character players. They have four different team captains from this draft, which is a trend they are focusing on positive locker room influences.

There was a clear vision to that, and while I think they killed the first two days of the draft, day three was more of a mixed bag. Overall, this is a class that continues that tone-setting element the Steelers have pursued, and even more importantly, they did not take a quarterback early in a poor class.

Final Grade: B