With the Steelers’ 2025 NFL Draft now within the rearview mirror, I wished to have a look at how the info from the sequence held up and supply some takeaways as effectively. Here’s a fast overview of what the scores measure and the hyperlinks by place if you happen to’d wish to verify these out:
Curiosity Rating: Right here, I configured a factors system for the next essential components: faculty efficiency, physique kind, expertise, age, place, competitors stage, professional day attendance, pre-draft assembly(s), and Senior/Shrine Bowl invites/participation.
Athletic Rating: merely 11 Mix metrics, excluding wingspan, and whether or not or not they have been inside a threshold in every metric of any participant drafted at their place by the Steelers since 2013.
Listed here are hyperlinks to the positional articles I do pre-draft:
Defensive Line + EDGE Rusher
Operating Backs
Quarterbacks
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Large Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Safeties
This was Omar Khan’s third draft because the Steelers GM, which is good to get a bigger pattern measurement of his tendencies. Let’s see how the scores fared with the 2025 Steelers Draft class:
A few issues stand out general in comparison with previous drafts. There may be much less correlation with athletic scores this yr. For context, 6-of-7 Steelers choices within the final two drafts had above-the-mean athletic scores, in comparison with simply 3-of-7 on this 2025 class. The three gamers have been later picks on Day Three, besides. Much less pre-draft testing with each passing yr is an element, however it’s a notable shift that will likely be attention-grabbing to watch shifting ahead.
The common curiosity rating landed a tick beneath seven amongst 2025 draft picks and held more true, with 5-of-7 Pittsburgh choices in that camp. It was 6-of-7 in 2023 and 2024, whereas 2022 (the primary yr I did these research) had solely 3-of-7 above the imply. The Steelers eyed Ohio State gamers extensively and double-dipped from that college, together with one other college in Iowa.
Hawkeye gamers lacked professional day attendance however met with Pittsburgh earlier than the draft. Six of the seven latest Steelers additionally met with the staff in some capability earlier than the draft. The exception was their last choice. That is the second yr in a row that HC Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan weren’t at their first-rounders’ professional day, with pre-draft visits having the clearer standing observe file lately.
Many tendencies remained for the Pittsburgh Steelers, however we see some shifts with Khan on the helm. Let’s get into the people.
Within the first spherical, Pittsburgh chosen Oregon DL Derrick Harmon. His 9.1 curiosity rating tied for seventh on the place, which the Steelers eyed totally—had a number of conferences (pre-draft, mix). Efficiency, physique kind, and age (21) have been different robust marks. Expertise, and particularly much less professional day attendance (scout) have been two decrease scores. Six athletic, checking the measurement and 40-time bins, with 5 DNPs.
Medical considerations cropped up late within the course of, however Pittsburgh’s docs cleared him at his pre-draft go to, fortunately including consolation to pounce on the chance so as to add him later than some anticipated. The Steelers continued their observe file of taking over potential damage danger for hopeful reward with gifted gamers.
The Steelers received worth at a number of draft slots, together with Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson in spherical three, projected by many within the second. 8.1 curiosity rating ranked ninth amongst 2025 RBs. Additionally had a pre-draft and mix assembly. Faculty efficiency, age (21), and measurement match latest Pittsburgh picks on the place. Lacked professional day attendance, and expertise have been decrease scores. Six athletic (5 DNPs), checking the measurement, and 40 bins identical to Harmon.
EDGE wasn’t excessive on the place wants checklist, however the Steelers seized the fourth-round alternative so as to add Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer (projected Day Two participant) to the room. We didn’t have a file of a professional day dinner, which DC Teryl Austin famous in his post-pick interview.
That bumps Sawyer’s curiosity rating as much as 9.5, which is the perfect of 2025 EDGEs. Professional day attendance (HC Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Khan, and Austin), efficiency, age (22), and expertise are pluses. Lacked different conferences, although. 5 athletic, checking the bench and measurement bins, with six DNPs.
Pittsburgh traded down within the fifth spherical, selecting up a further seventh rounder within the course of.
Fortunately resulted in a double dip on the defensive inside with Iowa’s Yahya Black. 7.3 curiosity mark (T-Twenty first) in a stacked IDL class. Pre-draft customer, measurement, efficiency, expertise, and Senior Bowl have been robust marks. Lack of professional day attendance and age (23) have been on the flipside. 9 athletic: a bench DNP, and set a brand new 40-time precedent (5.39). Former Steeler Dan McCullers (2014 decide), one other massive human, held that beforehand (5.3).
Surprisingly, Ohio State QB Will Howard fell to Pittsburgh in spherical six. 11.3 curiosity rating: finest amongst Steelers draft picks, 2025 QBs, and T-third in the complete draft class. Solely two prospects had higher curiosity marks, fellow Buckeye RBs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Each went early within the second spherical, so we sadly won’t ever know if they’d have been the decide over Johnson within the third spherical.
Howard had the professional day attendance (Tomlin, Khan, OC Arthur Smith), dinner, and mix assembly. Efficiency, physique kind, and Senior Bowl have been strengths, with age (23) the bottom. Seven athletic: three DNPs (40-times, bench). Set a brand new three-cone precedent (7.13), barely behind 2013 decide Landry Jones (7.12).
With their added seventh rounder, the Steelers went bloodlines with Washington LB Carson Bruener, son of former Steelers TE and staff scout Mark Bruener. Clearly know him effectively, paying him much less consideration with a 6.3 curiosity rating (ninth amongst LBs). The positives have been the pro-day attendance (Bruener), casual mix assembly, measurement, expertise, and Shrine Bowl. Age (23) a decrease rating. Ten athletic, because of a DNP on the bench.
A couple of picks later, Pittsburgh chosen Central Michigan CB/PR Donte Kent 229th general. The one non-combine participant of the category was a shock to most, garnering the second-lowest 5.6 curiosity rating of Pittsburgh’s choices within the 4 years I’ve finished the sequence (2022 QB Chris Oladokun, 4.0).
Kent’s measurement and expertise match, whereas the dearth of conferences, efficiency, age (23), stage of competitors, and no all-star sport are negatives. Eight athletic in a full exercise, setting new thresholds in hand measurement (8 1/2”), shuttle (4.38), and three-cone (7.15). Beforehand, these numbers have been 8 7/8”, 4.33, and seven.09, respectively.
Reiterates the notable shift in athletic testing, which will likely be adjusted shifting ahead. No choices had excellent 11 athletic scores (4 in 2024), or made our Alex Kozora’s What The Steelers Look For research both (three every in 2023 and 2024). One yr isn’t a development, however I discover this notable.
Other than Pittsburgh’s last decide, the extent of competitors and conferences was a theme on this draft. Tomlin/Khan have been 3-of-7 at all-star video games, in comparison with all seven 2024 choices. For the second yr in a row, Tomlin/Khan weren’t at a first-rounder’s professional day, one of many greatest draft tendencies that has shifted underneath Khan.
The place Pittsburgh stayed most true have been previous measurement thresholds (all seven picks), bloodlines, age (notably youth on the high of the draft), expertise, conferences (6-of-7), and 5-of-7 choices with professional day attendance. Whereas the latter has shifted away from first-rounders, it’s nonetheless crucial within the curiosity scores for gamers who’ve worn the Black and Gold.
It isn’t the strongest draft by way of my curiosity/athletic scores, however Pittsburgh discovered nice worth in a number of spots to make their 2025 roster higher on paper. I can’t wait to see the rookies in motion and the way the scores fare sooner or later. I hope you loved the festivities as a lot because the Steelers Depot staff.
What are your ideas on Pittsburgh’s 2025 draft class? What concerning the curiosity and athletic scores? Thanks for studying, and let me know your ideas within the feedback.
