The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2025 NFL Draft with the third-lowest draft choose worth due to their second-round choose that was traded to accumulate WR DK Metcalf. How do you shut that hole and nonetheless make certain to have an impactful class regardless of the misplaced worth? The Steelers’ sturdy emphasis on drafting one of the best gamers obtainable helped.
In accordance with Warren Sharp Soccer Evaluation, the Steelers had the eighth-best draft primarily based on worth. His mannequin took the sum whole of the differentials between a participant’s projected draft place and the place the Steelers really took them.
the Steelers had the #8 finest draft primarily based on worth
however if you happen to give attention to what they did with larger worth draft picks…
the Steelers ranked #6 in draft worth via the primary 5 rounds
RB Kaleb Johnson at No. 83 when he was projected No. 54 and EDGE Jack Sawyer at No. 123 when he… pic.twitter.com/QljoU7Lut8
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 27, 2025
Right here is the complete breakdown in line with Sharp’s mannequin so as of worth.
| Participant | Precise | Anticipated | Differential |
| Will Howard | 185 | 116 | 69 |
| Jack Sawyer | 123 | 65 | 58 |
| Kaleb Johnson | 83 | 54 | 29 |
| Derrick Harmon | 21 | 28 | -7 |
| Yahya Black | 164 | 222 | -58 |
| Carson Bruener | 226 | 294 | -68 |
| Donte Kent | 229 | 300 | -71 |
Of the Steelers’ first 5 picks, the vast majority of them have been good and even glorious worth. Johnson was drafted practically a full spherical later than anticipated whereas Sawyer and Howard have been drafted practically two full rounds later than anticipated. There’s extra weight on larger picks, which is why the Steelers graded out so properly on this mannequin.
Even higher, they managed to largely focus these good worth picks at positions of want. Jack Sawyer was the one luxurious choose, however generally the worth is just too good to go up on. This class married want with worth rather well.
Forward of the Steelers in reverse order from seven to at least one have been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. The Browns’ whole was largely propped up by drafting Shedeur Sanders within the fifth spherical.
It’s troublesome to assign significant grades so quickly after the occasion, however the specialists appear to all share a fairly favorable opinion of Omar Khan’s third draft class because the Steelers’ GM.
