With the biggest offseason event of the NFL calendar year in the books, we already have an early look at the Pittsburgh Steelers' depth chart. General manager Omar Khan entered the 2025 NFL Draft with just six draft picks, but after trading back once in Round 5, Khan was able to get the total number of selections up to seven.
Despite the lack of a second-round pick because of the DK Metcalf trade, the Steelers were able to string together an impressive draft class on paper that included value picks throughout.
The Steelers' depth chart took one big step toward the roster we will witness in training camp this summer. Here's my initial depth chart prediction after the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 depth chart after the NFL Draft
Position | Starter | Second-Team | Third-team | Fourth-Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Mason Rudolph | Skylar Thompson | Will Howard* | |
RB | Jaylen Warren | Kaleb Johnson* | Kenneth Gainwell | Cordarrelle Patterson |
WR | George Pickens | Scotty Miller | Ben Skowronek | Lance McCutcheon |
WR | DK Metcalf | Robert Woods | Brandon Johnson | Roc Taylor |
SWR | Calvin Austin III | Roman Wilson | Ke'Shawn Williams | |
TE | Pat Freiermuth | Darnell Washington | Connor Heyward | Donald Parham Jr. |
LT | Broderick Jones | Calvin Anderson | Aiden Williams | |
LG | Isaac Seumalo | Spencer Anderson | Lecitus Smith | |
C | Zach Frazier | Ryan McCollum | ||
RG | Mason McCormick | Max Scharping | Steven Jones | |
RT | Troy Fautanu | Doug Nester | ||
DL | Cameron Heyward | Daniel Ekuale | Isaiahh Loudermilk | Esezi Otomewo |
NT | Keeanu Benton | Yahya Black* | Domenique Davis | |
DL | Derrick Harmon* | Logan Lee | Dean Lowry | Jacob Slade |
ROLB | Alex Highsmith | Nick Herbig | DeMarvin Leal | Thomas Rush |
LOLB | T.J. Watt | Jack Sawyer* | Jeremiah Moon | Eku Leota |
ILB | Payton Wilson | Cole Holcomb | Carson Bruener* | |
ILB | Patrick Queen | Malik Harrison | Mark Robinson | Devin Harper |
LCB | Joey Porter Jr. | James Pierre | Kyler McMichael | |
RCB | Darius Slay | Cory Trice Jr. | Cameron McCutcheon | |
SCB | Beanie Bishop Jr. | Brandon Echols | Donte Kent* | |
FS | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Juan Thornhill | Joshua Bledsoe | |
SS | DeShon Elliott | Miles Killebrew | Sebastian Castro | |
K | Chris Boswell | Ben Sauls | ||
P | Cameron Johnston | Corliss Waitman | ||
LS | Christian Kuntz |
*Denotes rookie draft choice.
When you look at the Steelers' depth chart from top to bottom, it's not hard to start getting excited about this group. Admittedly, their depth remains thin at multiple positions. Pittsburgh didn't address the cornerback position until late in the draft with Donte Kent, while safety Sebastian Castro was an undrafted free agent who isn't guaranteed to make the final roster.
At the quarterback position, sixth-round pick Will Howard offers much-needed depth alongside Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Howard will attempt to work his way up the ladder. He should be in a firm position to land the QB3 role this year, even if Aaron Rodgers ultimately signs with Pittsburgh.
At running back, Kaleb Johnson will immediately slot ahead of veteran Kenneth Gainwell as the RB2, and in time, Johnson could steal the starting job from Jaylen Warren.
On the defensive side of the ball, Derrick Harmon will be a Day 1 starter next to Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton when the Steelers are in their base 3-4 defense. Harmon will also be worked into sub-packages where he can show off his quickness, bend, and nimble feet to get to the quarterback.
With the recent release of Montravius Adams, I have fifth-round rookie Yahya Black slotting in behind Benton as the primary backup nose tackle. Black is a run-defense specialist who could see some rotational work on early downs and obvious run situations.
At edge rusher, I have fourth-round draft steal Jackson Saywer, a left edge at Ohio State, working behind T.J. Watt, with Nick Herbig primarily focused on rushing off the right edge behind Alex Highsmith. I also have Carson Bruener slotted as a third-string off-ball linebacker, as he may be competing with Mark Robinson to make the roster on special teams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have some fine-tuning to do to ensure this depth chart is pristine before training camp, but adding a talented 2025 draft class was a great start.