Steelers NFL draft reaction: Do Derrick Harmon, Jack Sawyer, Yahya Black help run defense enough?

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to the team’s selections in the NFL draft over the weekend.

Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin do enough to address the ailing run defense with selections including Derrick Harmon, Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black? And how will they fit alongside names like Keenau Benton, Cam Heyward and Patrick Queen?

What should fans feel about the way the team addressed the QB situation, settling on Will Howard over names including Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Jaxson Dart? Especially with Aaron Rodgers still undecided any Mason Rudolph as the only viable starter on the roster at the moment?

And what does Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s surprise departure Monday say about Tomlin’s future amid his own prolonged stretch or relative mediocrity?

For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.

24 comments

  1. They drafted Howard over Sanders. They went with a guy that just helped his team win the national championship over a guy who didn't, so please tell me who would you have drafted?

  3. In my opinion if Will Howard loses some weight and really focuses on getting quicker all the way around I believe he could be the steal QB of the draft especially with the fire he plays with? Let's go Will Howard let's prove your not here to be a backup!!! Let's go Steelers

  4. For the Steelers to get a top of the draft QB next year they'll have to give up multiple first round picks. That's just the going rate to move way up the board. They're not going to go 4-13. Most likely they'll draft where they always do, in the 20s.

  5. The Penguins realized that being a good/great coach in the past doesn't make you the right coach for NOW. Rooney is too gutless and afraid to make the same move and come to the same, correct decision.

  7. Imagine if Will Howard ends up being a top 10 QB? We would be SO back. He just needs to work on that soft touch on go balls and needs to find some way to black mail Tomlin and Art Smith so we can actually call audibles at the LOS. Will Howard can be a field general. He needs to have control to read defenses and identify and exploit defenses.

    "Oh he is just a rookie, he can't read defense"

    Pfft even teenagers who play Madden can read defenses. Every single QB can read a defense, the only reason they don't is because they are emasculated and the OC won't give them the authority Manning, Ben,Brady, and Mahomes have. Give him a fkn chance man. Let's start playing chess, NOT CHECKERS

  9. The Steelers have been supposedly getting nastier over the last couple of Seasons they were supposed to be the goons but they ended up getting gooned right down the stretch by every team that they faced and this year will be no different because Tomlin is still the final say

  11. You people really believe QB'S must B like this STEREOTYPE with all these TRAITS then tell me why was TOM BRADY PK 199 or Joe Theismann went in the 4th rd why was Tony Romo a UDFA since every QB must have these qualities well the most important qualities is between the EARS- WORK ETHIC-ACCURACY

  15. We’re what, 7 or 8 deep on DL? Not counting edge?!?!
    All those guys can play to a degree, cuz they were/are Steelers.
    We quietly move numbers 6, 7, and 8 for future (2027-beyond) draft capital, and give Omar a few extra bullets in a few extra drafts, and keep it flowing with strategic trade backs.
    We do more with patience and draft capital than most; begrudgingly not the Ravens though😫

  18. Ha, you we're willing to die for Pickett, as the MAN…Howard is for sure a step up, but yet we gotta hear you regulate him to #3…

  20. Since we're pointing things out with one 🏈 family it's only fair to do it with another. The beloved Mannings said Eli WILL NOT BE PLAYING for the San Diego Chargers in 2004. The Chargers draft Manning, then later trades with NYG for Phillip Rivers. After that the world seemed to have moved on 🤔

  22. Sanders had like one win over top teams!! Sanders sucks and way overrated and apparent every NFL team thinks the same so there’s that

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