The 2025 NFL Draft is now over. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two clear intentions throughout this draft. They understood the holes throughout their roster that wanted to be addressed and needed to get extra bodily total. All issues thought-about, the Steelers’ draft class seems to be like a powerful one.
Physicality was one thing they checked out early and infrequently with their picks. Beginning within the first spherical, with the twenty first total decide, the Steelers selected Derrick Harmon, a DT out of Oregon. Harmon’s actually a likeable individual, and former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is excessive on him as properly, talking on his Footbahlin podcast in a brand new episode that aired Wednesday.
“I believe it is a nice decide,” Roethlisberger mentioned of Harmon. “… Sure, there’s some quarterback want there, however that wasn’t essentially the most dire want… I’m actually enthusiastic about this decide.”
Roethlisberger is referencing Shedeur Sanders because the quarterback on the board, and plenty of thought he may’ve been the Steelers’ decide within the first spherical as an alternative. Nonetheless, the Steelers, in addition to everybody else, have been conscious of simply how a lot they wanted so as to add depth on the line of defense. After Harmon, the Steelers additionally took Yahya Black within the fifth spherical.
Working again was one other main want. Persevering with the theme of physicality, Pittsburgh took Kaleb Johnson within the third spherical, one of many hardest runners in the complete draft. Roethlisberger was a fan of that choice, too.
“He’s the physicality that it is advisable to type of stability the assault,” Roethlisberger mentioned. “… It may need been a attain, however you knew you wanted one other operating again.”
Roethlisberger mentions that Johnson may need been a ‘attain’, which is a subject that’s been floated since Johnson was drafted. But, Johnson racked up 1,537 speeding yards and 23 complete touchdowns throughout the 2024 season. That’s much more spectacular, contemplating the truth that he performed in arguably the hardest convention in all faculty soccer and was the one actual risk on Iowa’s offense. Johnson seems to be like an amazing slot in Arthur Smith’s scheme as properly.
Johnson’s function within the backfield is tough to disregard. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell are each smaller backs, however Johnson is the alternative and brings the physicality that Pittsburgh wants in its backfield.
The Steelers kicked off Day 3 with one other defensive lineman, Jack Sawyer, out of Ohio State. Roethlisberger was a fan of this choice as properly, even going so far as to say Sawyer can do issues the Steelers’ method.
“The decide got here up, I’m like, oh, yeah, that’s decide,” Roethlisberger mentioned. “He [Jack Sawyer] seems like a man that could be a big-play man… That is an superior decide… It feels proper. It seems like a man that’s going to be a Steeler and be doing issues the Steelers method. I like this decide.”
The sting place isn’t missing in depth, however it’s clear the Steelers felt pressured so as to add to their line of defense on the whole. Sawyer has his limitations, however he needs to be an amazing depth piece. He has expertise speeding the passer from the sting, lining up on the inside of the road, and even dropping again in protection. Studying behind T.J. Watt for the close to future also needs to be useful for Sawyer.
Lastly, the Steelers began to spherical out their draft class with a quarterback, Will Howard, within the sixth spherical. That’s a place Roethlisberger is aware of higher than simply about anyone, and he thinks Howard will likely be a welcome addition.
“I’m actually enthusiastic about this decide… Heard some actually good issues about him… To me, that could be a love of the sport,” Roethlisberger mentioned. “Not caring the place you’re getting drafted, not caring what spherical you’re getting drafted, being excited to get to the NFL. I believe that’s what you need.”
Relying on whether or not Aaron Rodgers ultimately indicators or not, the period of time Howard sees the sphere within the close to future stays up within the air. Nonetheless, he supplies Pittsburgh with nice worth within the sixth spherical. Howard performed the most effective soccer of his profession in essentially the most important time in 2024, main Ohio State to a Nationwide Championship by means of a number of dominant performances throughout the again half of the season.
Roethlisberger’s reward is analogous for seemingly every of the 4 gamers he names right here. It’s arduous accountable him, although. The Steelers took care of their wants and located gamers that ought to match into the locker room seamlessly. Most of those picks might realistically have a huge impact in 2025. That’s precisely what the Steelers need out of their draft class.
