Pittsburgh Steelers fans have absurdly high hopes for 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon. The Oregon product has an incredible blend of size, length, and burst to go with impressive pass rush chops. The same cannot be said for fifth-round pick Yahya Black.
Black, the 164th overall selection out of Iowa, was considered an on-value pick by the Steelers in the fifth round. The mammoth Hawkeye's defensive tackle is known for his immovable anchoring strength and ability to stop the run.
Black projects best as a 0-tech and 1-tech nose tackle at the next level. Unfortunately, this niche role and his specific skill set will come with some limitations that will cap his ceiling in the NFL. Here are my high-end, low-end, and most likely NFL player comparisons for the Steelers' 2025 fifth-round pick.
NFL player comparisons for Pittsburgh Steelers DT Yahya Black
Low-end NFL comp: Daniel McCullers
There were other low-end comps I could have gone with here, but I think the floor for Black could be 'Big' Dan McCullers. This isn't as pitiful as it sounds. McCullers stuck around the NFL for seven years as a reserve defensive tackle, and he offered some value as a run defender.
From a size and play style perspective, this comparison is easy to make. Though Black is a better athlete than McCullers, he will still have limitations due to his lack of speed and burst along the defensive line. McCullers measured in at 6'7'' and 352 pounds. Meanwhile, Black is nearly 6'6'' and, ironically, 352 pounds is exactly what Teresa Varley of Steelers.com reported he weighed entering his first NFL OTAs.
If Black only became McCullers in the NFL, this would be a bit underwhelming but not surprising.
High-end NFL comp: John Jenkins
If you're looking for a high-end NFL player comp for Yahya Black, look no further than John Jenkins. The Georgia product entered the NFL in 2013 at 6'4'' and 346 pounds with 34'' arms, but posted unspectacular testing numbers at his Pro Day, including a 24 1/2'' vertical jump.
Despite his poor testing numbers and unspectacular movement skills on film, Jenkins was able to use his length and strength to his advantage in the NFL en route to an impressive 12-year career. This came with limited production (just four-and-a-half career sacks), but Jenkins wasn't asked to be productive in the backfield; he was asked to shut down the run.
The long-time defensive tackle did this at a high level. Though he had three-year stretches where he was only credited with one or two starts, his physical profile and anchoring strength helped him to a long NFL career. This all came despite beginning his career as a 24-year-old rookie in 2013. I wouldn't expect Black to become Jenkins in the NFL, but it's not impossible.
Most likely NFL comp: Mike Pennel
In many ways, Mike Pennel is like a lesser version of John Jenkins, which makes him a reasonable 'most likely' NFL player comp for Yahya Black. At 6'4'' and 332 pounds, Pennel is known for his run defense ability, not his pass rush chops.
Pennel has been the definition of an NFL journeyman. After going undrafted in 2014, Pennel played three seasons with the Packers before spending time with the Jets, Chiefs, Falcons, and Bears before landing back in Kansas City. In his first 11 seasons, Pennel recorded a mere five sacks while starting 25 games (2.27 starts per season).
For most of his career, Pennel would be considered a replacement-level backup defensive tackle, but like Jenkins, his size and anchoring power helped him stick around in the NFL for a long time. Yahya Black could follow a similar career path, beginning with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.