Welcome back, Steelers and NFL Draft fanatics! With the NFL preseason reaching its conclusion and week one just days upon us, it felt like the ideal time to talk some ball and answer a few questions. As always, I sincerely appreciate everyone that took the time to make submissions for this article because it’s something that I really enjoy putting together on a monthly basis. Without further ado, here we go!
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) warms up before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Q: Should the Steelers take a swing on Jakobi Meyers knowing that he’s asking for an extension? What makes him different from the guys they already have in the receiver room?
A: The answer is unequivocally yes. Among those reasons, Meyers has been one of the most consistent complimentary pass catchers for quite some time now and is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign despite missing a couple of games while also suffering through dreadful quarterback play. He’s got good size with great hands to make plays in traffic, can win versus man coverage from all three positions (X, Z & Slot), and is a willing run blocker that can play in a condensed split for them. Meyers is very different stylistically from anyone else they currently employ on the roster, with his most glaring weakness being that he’s not an extraordinary athlete that doesn’t create a ton of explosive plays, but the Steelers have a plethora of team speed. What they need most is a chain mover. I understand the qualms over forking over draft capital, but it’s difficult to imagine Pittsburgh’s passing game being very dangerous as currently constructed.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton in a game against the Cowboys on Oct. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Q: Do you agree with keeping Yahya Black at three-technique? It feels like he could be a dominant presence at nose tackle, while Keeanu Benton would benefit from bumping out to end.
A: Since he was coming out of Wisconsin, I thought that Benton could play either role, with my preference being an upfield penetrator rather than a space-eating presence over the center. He’s obviously not built like a traditional plugger, although some of his deficiencies in the run game are more related to block recognition and fundamentals, not sheer mass. Year three is naturally a big year for him, with him being extension eligible in the spring as Pittsburgh prepares for life in a post-Cam Heyward reality. That being said, the Steelers’ nickel rate should see a boom in 2025 with the addition of Jalen Ramsey, meaning fewer snaps with fronts that require someone aligning head-up on the center.
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Black was honestly one of the more eye-opening surprises of the entire preseason regardless of team affiliation. All of the things that made him an intriguing prospect from a run defense standpoint, from his ability to create knockpoint at the point of attack or collect blocks to free up teammates, seemed to immediately translate in a small sample size. The flashes as a pass rusher were rather shocking because that wasn’t on his Iowa tape at all either. I certainly think he has the skill set to play all across the front, and that versatility, should they explore it, would be very helpful. However, there’s also something to be said for allowing young players, particularly rookies, to stick in one spot as they try to master their craft, instead of trying to stretch them too thin. In short, I can see both sides of the argument here.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jack Sawyer at OTAs on June 3, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Q: What should we make of Jack Sawyer’s preseason performance? Do you think that Omar Khan will regret selecting him, knowing there were bigger needs on the roster?
A: I was admittedly much lower on him as a prospect, placing him with a fifth-round value as opposed to other respected analysts who pegged him as a top-50 guy. Sawyer’s preseason film is a pretty rough watch, with most of his passing and rushing reps early in games being rather non-competitive because he just lacks the ideal traits the league looks for at this position. He’s a fine run defender who can chip in on early downs, but finding a role for him on passing downs is going to take some imagination, further development, and tweaks to his rush plan. Like any rookie, he should be afforded some grace to improve, but it is important to keep realistic expectations in this instance. Will the Steelers look back a few years from now and regret passing on guys like Tory Horton and Elic Ayomanor, both of whom were also day three selections? Probably. The draft is always a crapshoot, and no one bats 1.000, although it’s definitely fair to question their process given how things have played out.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop at OTAs on June 3, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Q: Did anything surprise you with the way that the Steelers constructed their initial 53-man roster?
A: Not really. The first thing that stood out was just how heavy they were in the trenches, but with Derrick Harmon’s status for week one in doubt, that makes sense. Ten offensive linemen feels rich, especially considering how much the backups struggled during the preseason; however, some of that could be due to guys like Calvin Anderson and Ryan McCollum working their way back into game shape after missing time this summer. A lot of people seemed to be very surprised with the release of Beanie Bishop, who was subsequently brought back to the practice squad, but it was pretty apparent that he had fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. Once the team started giving Brandin Echols, a player that played well enough to parlay himself into more playing time, there was no longer a clear role for him defensively. I was hoping that they would make at least one outside addition to the 53-man roster prior to the season opener, but as time moves on, that obviously becomes less likely.
Drew Allar and the Penn State quarterbacks warmup for the Nittany Lions conference matchup at Maryland. — Matt Lynch / Nittany Sports Now:
Q: How worried should Steelers fans be about their ability to land a quarterback in next year’s NFL Draft? It looks like so many teams are aiming for one as well.
A: This is actually something that I wrote about a few months back after looking at the positional landscape around the league. Teams like the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams have multiple first-round selections and will likely be in the market. You can write the Indianapolis Colts in Sharpie as well. The Steelers leadership has been very transparent about trying to acquire as much draft capital as possible in order to position themselves in a spot where they can move up the board for their guy. It’s probably going to be expensive, but it’s a necessary move. The best-case scenario is that there are at least a few passers worthy of that sort of investment, which was definitely not the case this past spring. Pittsburgh’s decision to assemble an older roster without fully committing to a rebuild per se could work in theory, but it’s dependent on finding both an immediate upgrade and a long-term solution next April. Of course, there’s luck involved, too. Either way, it’ll be a fascinating case study to re-examine years down the line.
Taylen Green, Arkansas Athletics
Q: Speaking on quarterback prospects, what are your thoughts on Taylen Green from Arkansas?
A: Green is a physical specimen, listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, and a big-time athlete that offers immense rushing upside because of his long strides and wiggle with the ball in his hands. He’s got some natural playmaking instincts in terms of finding creative solutions to dealing with unblocked pressures and seeking out opportunities for big plays down the field. His arm is capable of generating RPMs (although it comes with a windup because of his wingspan), and some of his best moments as a passer came on touch throws down the field. Right now, everything happens a tick too slow for him in the pocket, as he is more of a see-it, throw-it passer with questionable decision-making that offsets some of the highs to his game. It’s worth noting that he was playing through injury last season and should feel much more comfortable in Bobby Petrino’s system that prepares quarterbacks well for the next level. There are tools to work with here, but he’s still very much a work in progress and best viewed as a dart throw in the next year’s cycle. For now, at least.
Clock counting down to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on May 12, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Q: Which position groups feel the deepest early on during the NFL Draft scouting process?
A: Based on what I have seen with my own eyes and gathering info from other trusted analysts that do this on a year-round basis, it feels like offensive tackle and edge rusher are two of the deepest positions, coupled with some premier talents near the top of the board. Linebacker, which in recent cycles hasn’t given us much to work with, has a lot of promise as well. On the flip side, running back and wide receiver (for the second consecutive year) are a bit down from what is traditionally expected from the college ranks. The quarterback class has a lot of talented passers, but this is a group that requires a good amount of projection, to the point where NFL teams, especially the Steelers, are praying that a few take sizable leaps forward this fall.
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Q: How many games do you think the Steelers will win in 2025?
A: As is tradition, I’ll be penning my predictions, both bold and season-long, for the site next week. Stay tuned!
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: DB’s Steelers Mailbag: WR Targets, Rookie Preseason Evaluations & 2026 NFL Draft Class
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