Drafting and developing are so vital in the NFL, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are consistently built around it. Though they’ve had issues in the past with landing the right players, developing them, and retaining them, the Steelers historically do very well drafting players and remaining competitive with talented rosters.

That was largely the case for the 2025 draft class for the Black and Gold under GM Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl. Landing seven players over the three-day draft in Green Bay, Pittsburgh brought in a number of talented players, shoring up the line of scrimmage defensively, while adding a pair of key special teams contributors in the process.

The jury remains out on running back Kaleb Johnson, and quarterback Will Howard and cornerback Donte Kent Jr. never even saw a preseason snap for the Steelers due to injuries.

But overall, the Steelers draft class looks pretty solid top to bottom, regardless of what ESPN’s Aaron Schatz had to say about the class. 

With that in mind, let’s hand out final report card grades for the Steelers’ rookie class.

DL DERRICK HARMON, GRADE: A

Midseason Grade: A-

Though he dealt with a pair of knee injuries that kept him out of a handful of games, Harmon was an impactful piece when on the field for the Steelers. When he played, the Steelers’ run defense was good, allowing less than 100 yards per game. When he was out of the lineup, the Steelers were gashed on the ground, giving up nearly 200 yards per game.

It wasn’t all due to Harmon’s presence or absence, but it goes to show just how good he is, and how bright the future is. 

Harmon played 490 snaps for the Steelers, grading out at a 49.9 overall from Pro Football Focus, which seems a bit low for what the tape showed. He finished with 16 run stops, showed great power and technique at the line of scrimmage against the run, and really started to turn up the pressure as a pass rusher late in the year. In his final three games, Harmon generated six of his 23 pressures on the year. He also had a sack against the Texans in the Wild Card loss.

The future looks very bright for Harmon. He needs to show he can stay healthy in the NFL, but based on what he put on tape, he looks like the next high-end Steelers defensive lineman.

RB KALEB JOHNSON, GRADE: F

Midseason Grade: D-

The F grade might seem harsh, and I even felt a twinge of discomfort writing it. But it’s hard to settle anywhere else than that for Johnson. The hype was sky-high for him entering his rookie season with the Steelers. He was a perfect fit in Arthur Smith’s run game scheme, and he looked pretty good in training camp.

But once the games started in preseason, he appeared overmatched. He was also put in a tough spot as a kick returner as a rookie and made a horrible mistake against Seattle in Week 2, leading to a touchdown. That was the beginning of the end for Johnson in his rookie season.

He was benched from that special teams role, rarely saw the football offensively and finished with just 29 offensive touches in his rookie season. He had 28 carries for just 65 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and had one reception for nine yards. He was behind a strong pair of running backs in Jaylen Warren and team MVP Kenneth Gainwell, but with the Steelers spending a premium pick on Johnson, it was expected he’d have a role.

Johnson didn’t, and then finished the season as a healthy scratch from Weeks 16-18, and then in the Wild Card matchup with Houston. Tough way to end his rookie season. Now, there are questions about his future, too, with Tomlin stepping down and Smith likely out the door.

OLB JACK SAWYER, GRADE: B+

Midseason Grade: B

The one draft pick that I had the biggest issue with in the moment turned out to be one of my favorite selections in the class for the Steelers. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

At the time, I didn’t see a need to invest a fourth-round pick in a fourth outside linebacker behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Turns out, they needed Sawyer in a big way due to injuries. He had a sack in the second game of the season, later picked off a pass in Week 9, and then really came on strong down the stretch. 

Sawyer played 306 snaps on the season, and while he generated just 16 pressures, he was a stout run defender, recording 12 run stops in 98 run snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. His best game came in his first career start, which came on the road against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. He had a big tackle for loss in the red zone and generated a season-high four pressures, matching up consistently against All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell.

One week later, Sawyer had a big interception against the Cleveland Browns on the road. He also had a big strip-sack against the Texans in the playoffs. Time and time again down the stretch, he made plays.

A special teams role was huge for Sawyer, though. He hadn’t played much special teams in college, but making the move into the NFL, he knew he needed to get up to speed there. Sawyer went on to play 358 special-teams snaps and was incredibly valuable to the Steelers under coordinator Danny Smith.

He might never be more than a rotational outside linebacker, but he has a clear role moving forward and is invaluable in it.

DL YAHYA BLACK, GRADE: C

Midseason Grade: C

Healthy all season long, Yahya Black held down a rotational role for the Steelers along the defensive line. He did start three games for the Steelers, but he was better in a limited rotational role. Black went on to play 445 snaps on the season. Though there was very little there from a pass rush perspective, Black was solid as a run defender, generating 17 run stops.

He’s still learning how to play the position, but there was plenty to be excited about with Black in Year 1.

The Iowa product had some good moments in the Wild Card loss, too, recording the fumble on Sawyer’s strip-sack of Texans QB CJ Stroud. He also had two run stops while playing 29 snaps in the playoffs. Year 2 should offer a big jump for Black, at least from a technique perspective. He knows what is needed in the NFL now, and he has all the tools with his size and strength.

Improving his hand usage and pad level from his rookie season to his second lap around the track will be key. If he does that, look out.

QB WILL HOWARD, GRADE: C

Midseason Grade: Incomplete

Back at midseason, when I handed out the incomplete grade, Howard had just come off the Reserve/Injured list to land back on the 53-man roster. The rest of the season, he remained in the QB3 role behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, never seeing the field. It’s tough to grade a quarterback that never saw the field, so I hedged here. A “C” grade is neither passing nor failing; it’s just right in the middle.

Howard reportedly did some great work behind the scenes, handling tasks from Rodgers throughout the season to help the quarterback room prepare week to week. Rodgers spoke highly of him throughout the season, too, and really poured into him time and time again. We’ll see if that eventually pays off on the field.

ILB CARSON BRUENER, GRADE: A

Midseason Grade: A- 

What a steal this proved to be for the Steelers. Landing Carson Bruener in the seventh round, the Steelers immediately inserted him into the lineup on special teams, and he quickly developed into one of the best on the team and in the league. He garnered some All-Pro votes in the process. He looks like the next special teams captain for the Steelers, regardless of what happens with the coaching staff.

Bruener played 286 snaps on special teams for the Black and Gold and was one of the highest-graded special teams players in the league from PFF at 91.3 overall. Bruener added 21 tackles on special teams and was as consistent as they come. He did this in college at Washington, and he’s doing it now in Pittsburgh. The future is so, so bright for Bruener.

CB DONTE KENT, GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Midseason Grade: Incomplete 

It might seem unfair to give Howard a grade based solely on practice reps and the work he did behind the scenes, and still give Donte Kent an incomplete grade. But that’s what I’m doing here. There’s just very, very little to go off of with Kent.

He missed almost all of training camp with a lower-body injury and wore a boot on his foot. That landed him on Injured Reserve, and he remained there until his 21-day window was opened on December 3. Two days later, his season was over again due to a knee injury.

Kent was believed to be an option in the slot at cornerback, and then a potential answer in the kick and punt return games. But he couldn’t stay healthy in his rookie season, and there’s a major question mark hanging over him entering Year 2. Hopefully, health is on his side next year, so we can see what he brings between the white lines.