Steelers Receive an "A" Grade

[hawaiiansteel]

The Pittsburgh Steelers Just Got AWAY With HIGHWAY Robbery Drafting Jack Sawyer...

[hawaiiansteel]

How is this not an "A"?

Steelers: B

DT Derrick Harmon (21) fits the scheme nicely. RB Kaleb Johnson (83) has playmaker potential. Edge Jack Sawyer (123) is a Day 3 highlight. CB Yahya Black (164) and LB Carson Bruener are solid value picks. Finally took a QB and came away with a winner in Will Howard (185).

https://triblive.com/sports/raiders-jaguars-and-chiefs-receive-as-in-the-aps-nfl-draft-grades-steelers-close-behind/

[hawaiiansteel]

[hawaiiansteel]

Gerry Dulac:

Round 3: Kaleb Johnson, RB

Running back was going to be the first option in the first round if none of the defensive linemen they preferred were still available. That’s how determined they were to find a replacement for Najee Harris and get a back to pair in tandem with Jaylen Warren. Just as important, Warren is an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season who, like Harris, is just as unlikely to be re-signed. So, ideally, Johnson gives them their lead back through the 2028 season. He does not have great speed (4.57), but he has the size (6-1, 224) and toughness to break tackles and is very productive. At times, he looks like Le’Veon Bell, showing similar patience and vision. Getting him in the third round was a bonus.

Grade: A

OVERALL GRADE: A

The Steelers did exactly what they wanted, getting a defensive lineman in the first round, a running back with their next pick and finding backups at outside linebacker and quarterback. The only thing that disrupted the order, even though it highlighted their need to address their top priority, was taking a nose tackle. If you look at receiver DK Metcalf as their second-round draft choice — which is what they gave up to get him — then the draft haul becomes even more impressive. In addition to size and physicality, the Steelers put a lot of weight on on-field production with players like Sawyer, Howard, Bruener and even Kent. There are no projects in the bunch. They come ready-made. Now time will determine how successful they were. But for now ... make it three good classes in a row.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/04/28/nfl-draft-grades-steelers-derrick-harmon-kaleb-johnson-will-howard/stories/202504270085

[NorthCoast]

Gerry Dulac:

Round 3: Kaleb Johnson, RB

Running back was going to be the first option in the first round if none of the defensive linemen they preferred were still available. That’s how determined they were to find a replacement for Najee Harris and get a back to pair in tandem with Jaylen Warren. Just as important, Warren is an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season who, like Harris, is just as unlikely to be re-signed. So, ideally, Johnson gives them their lead back through the 2028 season. He does not have great speed (4.57), but he has the size (6-1, 224) and toughness to break tackles and is very productive. At times, he looks like Le’Veon Bell, showing similar patience and vision. Getting him in the third round was a bonus.

Grade: A

OVERALL GRADE: A

The Steelers did exactly what they wanted, getting a defensive lineman in the first round, a running back with their next pick and finding backups at outside linebacker and quarterback. The only thing that disrupted the order, even though it highlighted their need to address their top priority, was taking a nose tackle. If you look at receiver DK Metcalf as their second-round draft choice — which is what they gave up to get him — then the draft haul becomes even more impressive. In addition to size and physicality, the Steelers put a lot of weight on on-field production with players like Sawyer, Howard, Bruener and even Kent. There are no projects in the bunch. They come ready-made. Now time will determine how successful they were. But for now ... make it three good classes in a row.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...s/202504270085

Best predictor of NFL success is college success. Not perfect, but it correlates well.

The Steelers already have one starter from this draft (Metcalf). If they add another two starters, then it's an outstanding draft.

[The Standard]

I wish some of these folks were handing out the grades when I was in school.

[feltdizz]

Best predictor of NFL success is college success. Not perfect, but it correlates well.

The Steelers already have one starter from this draft (Metcalf). If they add another two starters, then it's an outstanding draft.

as in DJ Metcalf? That dude is not on a rookie contract.

[NorthCoast]

as in DJ Metcalf? That dude is not on a rookie contract.

He was the Steelers second round pick so he gets included in the draft class. Instant starter.

The second starter this season will be Johnson. All the rest will be backups, some playing a lot more snaps than others.

[hawaiiansteel]

He was the Steelers second round pick so he gets included in the draft class. Instant starter.

The second starter this season will be Johnson. All the rest will be backups, some playing a lot more snaps than others.

I think Harmon will start.

[NorthCoast]

I think Harmon will start.

You might be right. But I was thinking about how Heyward's career started on the DL. Maybe the Steelers weren't in as desperate a situation then and could wean Heyward into the game.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

man, every year links are provided that have A draft grades for the steelers yet tomlin never has any talent…weird

I tend to grade with a heavy slant towards day 1-2 AND filling key needs.

So for example if Fauntanu doesn't work out? He was a consensus 1st round graded player that they took at a position of need. That's an early round A selection. Pickett wasn't. Najee shouldn't have been because of RB devaluation over the years. Edmunds was a reach.

I think Khan/Weidl drafts (the last 3) have been A-/B+ type of drafts. You could literally say, "they need someone to replace Ogunjobi (or Cam) and there's a guy there - and that guy falls to them"... Porter, Benton, Frazier as second rounders are EXCELLENT selections. Roman Wilson still TBD, but rounds 3/4 with Payton Wilson, Herbig, McCormick, Washington, these are nice picks.

Meanwhile, Colbert's last few sucked and left the team short of talent. You'd have to go back to 2017 with TJ, JuJu, Conner, Sutton to find an actual good draft. He consistently reached for need (Pickett, Najee, Edmunds, etc)

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I think Harmon will start.

With the DL, even if he doesn't he will be able to join the rotation and increase his role as play warrants. Last season, aside from Heyward, the next two starters on the line played 58.7% of snaps (Benton) and 45.2% (Ogunjobi in 15 games). Either way, snaps will be there.

[hawaiiansteel]

Ranking the 2025 AFC Draft Classes: Pittsburgh Passes on QB, Still No. 1

Steelers add value all over their roster, while the Jets, Chiefs, Browns and Patriots find talent across the board.

Below, we looked at the 16 AFC draft classes and took our best shot at ranking them from worst to best.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers Grade: A

• Round 1: No. 21: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• Round 3: No. 83: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
• Round 4: No. 123: Jack Sawyer, edge, Ohio State
• Round 5: No. 164: Yahya Black, DT, Iowa
• Round 6: No. 185: Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
• Round 7: No. 226: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington
• Round 7: No. 229: Donte Kent, CB, Central Michigan

Pittsburgh didn’t have its second-round pick because of the DK Metcalf trade and still nailed the draft. 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.

https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-the-2025-afc-draft-classes