2025 NFL Draft Grades: Pittsburgh Steelers

Best Pick: It was their first one. They passed on a quarterback to take defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. He's going to be a typical Steelers down player for years to come, which means menacing.

Worst Pick: I like running back Kaleb Johnson, who went in the second, but I thought there were better options at the position when he was picked. I think they see him as a Le'veon Bell type of back, but that's asking a lot.

The Skinny: They didn't take a quarterback until taking Will Howard in the sixth, which says a lot about how they felt about this class. Instead, they did what the Steelers usually do, which is take big people to help their defense. Getting Harmon was a smart move, rather than forcing a quarterback in the first.

Top needs entering the draft: Defensive tackle, quarterback, wide receiver and running back

The Steelers must feel really good about their chances of signing Aaron Rodgers. That's the only explanation for their approach to the 2025 draft. And if they don't land Rodgers (or pull some other magic at QB), coach Mike Tomlin's 18-year streak of going at least .500 could end. Mason Rudolph is the current starter. Yet, Pittsburgh added only Will Howard at the position -- in Round 6. He's a backup in the NFL. Instead of getting a quarterback they can win games with right now in Round 1, the Steelers went defensive tackle.

Don't get me wrong, Derrick Harmon is perfect for this defense. His 34 pressures when lined up as an interior lineman led the FBS. He combines power and quickness to create chaos. And with Cameron Heyward turning 36 years old, the defensive line had to get some youthful reinforcements. The pick itself is really good, but it just seems like Pittsburgh is rolling the dice at its most important position. And think about this, too: The Steelers didn't have a second-round pick because they traded it for DK Metcalf. But who is throwing Metcalf the ball???

Elsewhere, Kaleb Johnson will pair nicely with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell at running back. The Steelers averaged 4.1 yards per carry (tied for 20th). Edge rusher Jack Sawyer and defensive tackle Yahya Black provide some more youth to the defensive line -- and at good value. Sawyer ranked 90th for me but went 123rd. Black ranked 66th but wasn't drafted until 164th overall. And Sawyer's 15.9% pressure rate (eighth in the nation) will help T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Again, these are good picks that hit major needs. But this draft class grade will likely come down to Rodgers' decision. That's why I'm giving Pittsburgh a B-.

The Steelers put together a very Steelers-y draft, grabbing a handful of tough trench players, a big-play running back, and an intriguing developmental quarterback. Pittsburgh got better up front, grabbing Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round, adding a disruptive, gap-shooting defender with an upside that could develop him into a star. They added Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round, a perfect fit for Arthur Smith's offense and a guy who should complement Jaylen Warren well. He'll see playing time right away and I love his playmaking potential. I thought the team got good value in the fourth round with Ohio State's Jack Sawyer: a reliable, do-it-all edge rusher who lacks top-end athletic traits but has a knack for making big, game-impacting plays. The selection of Sawyer's quarterback from college, Will Howard, is also an interesting one. I have been calling Sawyer a Matt Hasselbeck—type player during this draft process—Howard even went right around where Hasselbeck went in the draft back in 1998 (187th overall to Howard at 185). Howard lacks elite traits, but if he can springboard off of a very impressive College Football Playoff performance, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see him starting games for the Steelers in a year or two. Add in DK Metcalf, who the team sent their second-rounder away for before this draft, and this haul looks even more impressive.

Few teams prioritize size and toughness along the line of scrimmage like the Steelers, and first-round pick Derrick Harmon exudes both of those qualities. This wasn't the flashiest of selections — the Steelers rarely have those — but I love this pick for Pittsburgh and won't be surprised at all when Harmon winds up being a decade-long anchor. Similar picks were made in the middle rounds with stubby but savvy edge rusher Jack Sawyer and nose guard Yahya Black. Third-round addition Kaleb Johnson runs with the determination, contact balance and game-speed that might remind Steelers fans of James Conner. All four were seemingly born to be Pittsburgh Steelers.

I also like the late-round selections of quarterback Will Howard and linebacker Carson Bruener, a special teams ace and the son of former Steelers' tight end and current West Coast scout Mark Bruener. If the Steelers were convinced that Howard was a realistic option to start the season opener at quarterback, GM Omar Khan would not have waited until the sixth round to draft him, but he does offer starter-like intangibles.

Here's why: The Steelers' first two selections are doing a lot for this grade. Derrick Harmon has versatility along the defensive front and can play the run and pass equally well. He can be the long-term replacement for Cam Heyward and will create a fun young duo on the inside with Keeanu Benton. I loved the Kaleb Johnson selection (more below) and I like Jack Sawyer more than most as another defender who can contribute in a few roles along the front.

Most interesting pick: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

My comparison for Johnson is "Honey, I shrunk Derrick Henry." Johnson is best in a zone running scheme where he can use his good vision and size to plant his foot and get north through arm tackles. He should thrive as the bell cow in Arthur Smith's (one of Henry's offensive coordinators in Tennessee) zone-heavy offense.

Let's call this a progress report grade — at least until they officially have Rodgers in the building (though worth noting that HC Mike Tomlin didn't seem too worried about it during an NFL Network interview Saturday). But assuming Rodgers ultimately arrives, he should walk into a locker room that's more talented than the version that qualified for the playoffs last season. First-round DL Derrick Harmon could be the next Cam Heyward, even as he plays alongside the perennial All-Pro in the short run. Fourth-round OLB Jack Sawyer should juice a pass rush that already had plenty of it beyond T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. But the real delta here could be third-round RB Kaleb Johnson, perhaps a substantial upgrade from departed Najee Harris and who ought to really thrive if a heavily resourced offensive line fully jells in 2025. And getting Ohio State QB Will Howard in Round 6 at least indicates something of a developmental plan for a team that's spun its wheels behind center since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

The Steelers had only three picks through the first four rounds as a result of the DK Metcalf trade, but still managed to walk away with a fantastic class. Pittsburgh found a heavy-handed defensive tackle in Harmon, who can both anchor against the run and get pressures in the passing game. Then there's Johnson, who ran for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns last year with the Hawkeyes, leading the Big Ten in both categories. Harmon and Johnson should contribute immediately.

Speaking of the Eagles, the Steelers clearly looked at their last two drafts and said, "let's do that." They drafted two defensive tackles (Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black) and an edge rusher (Jack Sawyer). They also stole Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round. It's clear they took what Derrick Henry did to them personally.