With their final selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers used the 229th overall pick in the seventh round on a player most fans have never heard of: Donte Kent. The Central Michigan cornerback probably wasn't on anyone's draft bingo card, but this is the high-upside swing everyone should love. This decision came just three picks after the Steelers selected linebacker Carson Bruener.
Kent played five seasons in the MAC conference for the Central Michigan Chippewas, where the defensive back racked up 234 total tackles and 46 passes defended. As a senior, Kent recorded 53 tackles and nine passes defended in 12 games. Unfortunately, Kent has just two career interceptions in five college seasons, and his last pick came all the way back in 2021.
But don't let his lack of takeaways detract from what the Steelers might see in this late-round selection: Kent possesses NFL traits as a nickel cornerback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers swung big on an athletic Day 3 cornerback in Donte Kent
If you were to only look at this selection on paper, you'd wonder why the Steelers went this direction with their final draft pick. Donte Kent comes from a non-Power Four conference and lacks splash play production (just four combined interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries in 53 games).
On top of this, Kent has a below-average size profile. The redshirt senior cornerback stands a hair over 5'10'' and weighs 187 pounds with 31-inch arms. However, what he lacks in splash play production and size, he makes up for in speed and explosion.
At his Central Michigan Pro Day, Kent blazed with a 4.38 40-yard dash while exploding for a 38.5-inch vertical jump. On his draft guide, The Beast, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler describes Kent as a player who 'skillfully uses his eyes to pick up on route clues and drive on throws.' Brugler also said that Kent 'shows the make-up speed on tape to recover.'
I will need to dive further into the tape on this pick, but Kent is a cornerback who has experience playing from the slot, which is exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers need with only one real option in Beanie Bishop at nickel CB.
While it's unlikely this team found a late-round gem, the Steelers swung big on an athletic cornerback at a major positional need. We'll have to wait and see how this selection turns out.