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The 2025 draft saw one of the biggest draft slides I think we’ll see in our entire life with Shaddeaur Sanders dropping to #144 to the Cleveland Browns. It also saw improvement for many teams. One of those teams is the Steelers.
Round 1 Pick 21 – Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
Draft Grade- A-
Great pick overall. Filled a hole that needed to be filled which was run defense. During the regular season they allowed 98.7 rushing yards per game, building up a reputation as run stoppers. They allowed 299 playoff rushing yards though in a crushing first round loss to the Baltimore Ravens. 
Round 3 Pick 86- Kaleb Johnson, Running Back, Iowa
Draft Grade-B
After letting Najee Harris sign with San Diego through free agency, I wouldn’t say this was expected, but it was needed. The Steelers re-signed Jaylen Warren and also added Kenneth Gainwell this offseason. This pick adds depth to a position that generally needs it, including on this team.
Round 4 Pick 123- Jack Sawyer, Linebacker, Ohio State
Draft Grade-B+
More so an edge rusher rather than a linebacker, this is a great addition to the team. If the Steelers will end up resigning T.J. Watt as this is the last year of his contract, Sawyer gets to learn from an all-time great. If Watt walks, Sawyer will certainly get some reps in his rookie year.
Round 5 Pick 164- Yahya Black, Defensive End, Iowa
Draft Grade- C+
Solid pick up from the Steelers. A great addition to the D-Line and this will give them some depth up front and will help fill that Nose Tackle spot. He and Harmon will be great working behind guys like Cam Heyward, Keanu Benton, and Montravius Adams.
Round 6 Pick 185- Will Howard, Quarterback, Ohio State
Draft Grade-B+
Coming off a National Championship and getting him in the sixth round I would say is great for the Steelers. Quarterback is a glaring need for the black and gold. Speculation about Sheduer Sanders making his way to Pittsburgh in the first round floated across local and national media, but the Steelers passed on him multiple times before he landed in Cleveland in the fifth. One round later, Pittsburgh takes a low-risk chance, the reversal of the Kenny Pickett strategy a few years back.
Round 7 Pick 226- Carson Bruener, Linebacker, Washington
Draft Grade- C
This was more so made to fill a spot in the inside linebacker category rather than the outside linebacker category. More likely than not this guy will not end up being on the roster by the beginning of the season, but you never know.
Round 7 Pick 229- Donte Kent, Cornerback, Central Michigan
Draft Grade- C
Same as the last one. This was more so depth pick up. This boosts a spot that has been a sort of weak spot for the Steelers over the past couple of years and Donte Kent can maybe be a guy that has a chance to give the Steelers some hope over there.
Overall Steelers Draft Grade- B+
As a whole they did very good this draft at filling in needs and even maybe exceeded in those spots. They boosted up a defense that gave up 299 rushing yards in the playoffs to the Ravens. They helped boost their offense, adding to positions where they lost guys this offseason. And overall, I felt like they improved as a team this draft and cannot wait to see how these guys pan out this summer, going into the start of the 2025 NFL season.
