Pittsburgh entered the 2025 NFL Draft with an emphasis on restoring depth and toughness across its roster.
Under GM Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin, the draft class was built with a clear philosophy in mind -- physicality and versatility.
While injuries and depth chart realities have kept some players from making a massive statistical impact early, several rookies have already flashed the Steelers’ trademark identity: grit.
Let’s take a closer look at each member of the class and what they’ve shown through the first half of the season.
Taking a close look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 draft class
Round 1, Pick 21: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
Harmon was a prototypical Pittsburgh pick -- a big, violent, high-motor defensive lineman who thrives in physical football games.
The former Oregon standout has appeared in four games so far, missing some time early with an MCL sprain, but when he’s been on the field, the flashes have been everything the team hoped for, totaling 12 pressures and three sacks in four appearances.
At Oregon, he lined up everywhere from the 1 to 3-technique to 5-technique, and that same alignment versatility has shown up in the NFL.
He’s quick off the ball, powerful at the point of attack, and uses violent hands to disengage blockers. While his statistical production hasn’t jumped off the page yet, he’s consistently affected the line of scrimmage, collapsing pockets and forcing running backs to redirect.
Round 3, Pick 83: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
While Johnson's usage has been limited early on (14 carries for 36 yards), the Steelers see him as a long-term piece in their backfield rotation.
Behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, touches have been hard to come by. But Johnson’s blend of vision, power, and patience has been evident in limited reps.
At 6-foot and 215 pounds, he runs with controlled aggression, showing the ability to push piles and finish through contact. He also has enough burst to bounce runs outside and create chunk plays once he finds daylight.
As he continues to adjust to NFL tempo and earns more opportunities, Johnson has the skill set to grow into a future RB1 candidate when the depth chart eventually shifts.
Round 4, Pick 123: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Sawyer was one of those picks that just made sense for the Steelers. The former Ohio State defensive end plays the game the way Tomlin loves -- with heavy hands, technique, and unrelenting effort.
Through six games, Sawyer has already recorded his first career sack (Week 2 vs SEA) and flashed the ability to set the edge on early downs.
While he doesn’t possess the elite burst or bend of teammates like Alex Highsmith or T.J. Watt, he compensates with discipline, power, and hand placement. He’s strong at the point of attack and rarely loses ground against the run.
As a rotational rusher, Sawyer has been trusted to spell the starters and maintain the standard.
The expectation internally is that as Sawyer refines his counter moves and expands his rush arsenal, he’ll become a steady contributor in Pittsburgh’s pass-rush rotation for years to come.
Round 5, Pick 164: Yahya Black, DT, Iowa
One of the more underrated picks in the draft, Black has quietly carved out a role on the defensive line through the first six games.
At 6-foot-5 and nearly 310 pounds, the Iowa product is built for AFC North football. He’s powerful, immovable against the run, and brings a veteran-like mentality to his approach.
Black’s physicality was evident throughout his college career and especially during Senior Bowl week, where he consistently stonewalled interior linemen.
That same stoutness has translated to Pittsburgh. He’s shown up as a rotational defender on early downs, eating blocks and freeing up linebackers to flow to the ball.
Round 6, Pick 185: Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
The Steelers took a flier on Howard in the sixth round, and while he hasn’t made his NFL debut yet, his profile is intriguing. A big, strong-armed passer who thrived at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State, Howard brings leadership and poise to the quarterback room.
At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, he looks the part of a traditional pocket passer, and his ability to push the ball vertically was well-documented in college.
He’s still refining his timing and footwork at the pro level, but he’s been praised internally for his command of the playbook and steady development behind Aaron Rodgers.
In time, Howard could become a valuable depth option -- or even a developmental project worth grooming for the future once Rodgers’ tenure winds down.
Round 7, Pick 226: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington
Bruener was the type of late-round pick Pittsburgh routinely hits on -- a productive, instinctive linebacker who thrives on special teams and plays with effort. Through the early part of the season, Bruener has done exactly that, carving out a niche as a core special teamer.
His tackling consistency and awareness have translated smoothly from college, and he’s already earned praise from Tomlin for his discipline and energy. He’s not the biggest or fastest linebacker, but his football instincts and toughness make him a dependable depth piece.
Round 7, Pick 229: Donte Kent, CB, Central Michigan
With their final pick, the Steelers took a chance on Kent. He currently sits on the reserve/injured list, but is a practice squad member who has yet to make his NFL debut. The team views him as an intriguing developmental project.
Kent’s film from college showed flashes of good ball skills and competitiveness in press coverage, traits Pittsburgh hopes to cultivate over time.
Overall, the Steelers’ 2025 class reflects everything their organization stands for -- toughness, effort, and player development. Harmon has the look of a future mainstay on the defensive front once he’s fully healthy. Sawyer and Black are already fitting seamlessly into Pittsburgh’s defensive rotation, bringing steady, blue-collar production.
On offense, Johnson remains a long-term project with starter-level upside, while Howard offers developmental intrigue behind a veteran starter. Bruener has found a role on special teams, and Kent is quietly developing behind the scenes.
It may not be the flashiest rookie class in the league, but it’s one that feels unmistakably “Steelers.”
Built on physicality and patience, the 2025 group has the foundation to strengthen Pittsburgh’s depth and identity well into the future -- exactly the type of class that sustains the organization’s long-standing culture of hard-nosed, dependable football.