The Pittsburgh Steelers went in the 2025 off season with a lot of missing pieces that needed to be addressed. With another wild card loss to end their 2024-25 campaign, the Steelers needed to take a look at their roster. That’s exactly what they did during the 2025 NFL draft taking a bunch of high quality guys, even if the picks themselves weren’t flashy. Day
Pick 21 DL Derrick Harmon: B
With Pittsburgh’s first round pick a lot of people wanted them to take a QB to make sure they have someone besides Mason Rudolph going into the season. Tomlin and the rest of the front office decided to go in a different direction. The Steelers run defense in the 2024 season wasn’t great, especially in that wild card game against the Ravens. Derrick Harmon can fill that role with instant impact. He had the most pressures for a interior D-line man last year with 55. That is 12 ahead of second best, so he isn’t some type of run stopper only. He can get to the Quarterback, but he struggles to finish off sacks. Of his 55 pressures he only has 5 sacks to his name and that combined with his average athleticism could set him back . Hopefully Derrick Harmon can learn behind the vetted Cameron Heyward and develop to be player for this franchise. I just think his ceiling isn’t an elite player, which is why this pick is a B.
Pick 83 RB Kaleb Johnson: A-
The Steelers recently let Najee Harris walk to the Los Angeles Chargers this off season, so some RB depth was needed. That is exactly what Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa brings to this team. I thought going into this draft that Johnson was RB 3 behind Jeanty and Hampton. Kaleb is a beast from Iowa with his patience being the best part of his game. Johnson averaged 6.4 yards a carry last season in 240 attempts, getting into the endzone 21 times in 12 games. He is a beautiful counter-part to the smaller and speedy Jaylen Warren who the Steelers just extended. Johnson does struggle on outside runs and doesn’t have a deep move set, but for him to go as the sixth running back is a steal to me. With that being said this pick gets an A- .
Pick 123 Jack Sawyer EDGE: A-
Bolstering their defense even more the Steelers were able to get Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer in the 4th round of the draft. I had Jack Sawyer as a top 100 player in this draft, so for Pittsburgh to get him this late is a steal. He will help this run defense immediately with his on field IQ and tracking being my favorite part of his game. For an Edge he doesn’t have the greatest pass rush moves, but Pittsburgh doesn’t need that. They have T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith running at the QB. Sawyer adds much needed run stopping to a team that got destroyed by Derrick Henry in the playoffs. If Sawyer can develop some pass rush into his game that’s when he’ll be a big problem for years. Even without it this is an easy A- pick from Pittsburgh’s front office.
Day 3 Picks CB/QB/LB: C+
The rest of the draft went decent for the Steelers, with them getting mainly depth pieces. This is highlighted by National Title winning QB Will Howard, who fills out the team’s Quarterback room. This gives them something to look forward to if Rodgers doesn’t end up with the team. I’d say this is like a normal B pick because it’s nothing crazy from them, but needed. They also got some cornerback depth with Yahya Black in the fifth round and Donte Kent in the 7th. Black could be a consistent starter for this team in a year or two with his enormous size, but I don’t think his ceiling is all that high. This is more of a C for me as I don’t think it’ll be anything more than a depth player. Kent is more of a C+ boom or bust pick with him having good athletic instincts, but needs to think about the game more. Linebacker Carson Bruener was also a 7th rounder who need help with his mechanics as he struggles to keep his form during plays. I don’t think he’s anything special either though, so I’d give it a C. Pittsburgh’s last day was mainly just depth pieces that might not go anywhere, but in the game of football that’s needed.
Overall Draft Grade: B+
Mike Tomlin and this team had a great draft weekend. They didn’t get lost up in the pressure to get a quarterback early in this weaker class. Kahn and Tomlin ended up getting pieces to fix up their flawed defense, and focus their 2025-26 offense on the ground game. Pittsburgh’s class might not be flashy, but they have instant impact pieces that I am ready to see produce in this upcoming year.
