Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 draft class received mixed reviews from the national media. Some experts raved about the Steelers’ draft haul, while others like Mel Kiper Jr., were not blown away. Kiper gave the Steelers a B- and ranked their draft class 27th out of 32 teams. Former NFL head coach Jay Gruden was even more critical, giving the Steelers’ draft haul a D.
Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame was impressed with what Omar Khan and Co. did in the draft, however. He thinks the Steelers had the best draft class in the AFC.
“Pittsburgh didn’t have its second-round pick because of the DK Metcalf trade and still nailed the draft,” Verderame wrote. “Harmon is a stud inside who should pair nicely with Cam Heyward, while Johnson will make a nasty tandem with Jaylen Warren in the backfield. “Sawyer is also a good value who should thrive in Pittsburgh’s system, with no team doing a better job of coaching front-seven talents over the years.”
Jackson also noted that Arth recruited Howard out of high school while he was the head coach at Akron. So the two have a past history.
Harmon was Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s favorite pick in the first round. Brugler thinks he’s a perfect fit for what the Steelers want to do on defense.
“The natural progression from Cam Heyward to a guy like this, who is just disruptive, against the run, against the pass,” Brugler said. “You can line him up in a number of different ways. We know the Steelers can get kind of funky with what they do with their defensive linemen and ask them to do. He can do so much and be disruptive doing all those different things that you feel like you’re getting a steal at this point at 21… They went with one of their top needs with a player that should of not made it out of the top 20.”
After three dormant seasons at Michigan State, Harmon transferred to Oregon in 2024 and broke out in a massive way. He notched a career-high five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, while also registering 55 pressures, which was most in the FBS amongst interior defensive lineman.
Veteran Cam Heyward thinks they were lucky to land a talent like Harmon.
“Derrick Harmon, really good football player, even better person. I think everybody’s got a chance to hear his story. I like the way he plays on the field,” Heyward said on his “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast. “He can play a five-technique, a three-technique, a four-technique, good hands, good acceleration, and I think he’s only going to continue to just keep getting better. So I think we really lucked out with that, getting a guy like that early in the draft.”
New Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson has already received comparisons to former All-Pro Le’Veon Bell. But former running back Chase Edmonds believes he has a better comp for the rookie.
“I love Kaleb Johnson’s game. You talk...
