A Letter From the Editor: Save the Steelers draft grades until they actually play
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and in the wake of the 3-day event every outlet is putting out some sort of grades for teams’ draft selections.
This the day after the draft ended.
Think about that for a second. Outlets are grading players who have never even stepped foot on an NFL field, for an actual NFL game, in their lives.
When I put it into that context, it should sound as ridiculous as the actual exercise is.
By grading these players immediately after being drafted, those who are penning these articles are refusing to admit these players might have been drafted into the right system/scheme. They are refusing to admit these teams will be able to get these players acclimated to life in the NFL. They are refusing to admit these players can continue to develop. They are refusing to admit these players can improve and become long-tenured players in the league.
So, when can you grade these players? When can you get out the red pen and say a player wasn’t a good pick?
In my opinion, you can do so once the rookie contract is coming to a close. Yes, I think you have to give these players years, not hours, before you can ever use the word “bust” when describing them. Let’s not forget how in 2003 fans called Troy Polamalu, who the Steelers traded up to draft, a bust after he only played special teams his rookie season. Given some time, Polamalu became a multiple Super Bowl champion and a Hall of Fame safety.
Before you think I’m suggesting there is nothing to critique or criticize after the draft, that’s not the case. I absolutely believe the process can be reviewed, analyzed, critiqued, and even graded, if you wish to do so.
To give an example, let’s look at this past Pittsburgh Steelers draft. The Steelers remained patient, not choosing to trade up at any point; however, they did choose to trade back in the 5th Round. If there was a player available when they were scheduled to pick who could have been a more impact player than the Yahya Black, or the two 7th Round picks, you can absolutely criticize that decision.
That isn’t critiquing the players, but the process and decision making of the Steelers.
Ultimately, this comes down to what many here at the Steel Curtain Network call the Terrell Edmunds effect.
Back in 2018 the Steelers took a chance at drafting Terrell Edmunds in Round 1 of the draft, the same draft his brother was drafted. By most accounts, Edmunds was though to be a Day 2 pick at the earliest, and a Day 3 pick by some. Edmunds wasn’t a bad player for the Steelers, and is still in the NFL as of this being written. But with 1st Round expectations heaped upon him, he never lived up to that hype.
Does it mean Edmunds was a bad player? No.
Does it mean Edmunds was a bust? No.
Was it Edmunds’ fault he was drafted in the 1st Round? No.
Does it mean the Steelers overdrafted Edmunds, making it a poor decision? Yes.
There’s a difference in the above statements, and as the dust continues to settle on the 2025 NFL Draft, I hope fans can keep this in the back of their minds as these players start their professional careers, and not just the players who were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but also those still on their rookie contracts. Give these players a chance to carve out their own paths, not to label them as bad, or a bust, this early in the process.
If you want to grade picks, that’s your prerogative, but for me I’ll withhold judgement until this crop of Steelers get to blaze their own trail.
I’d say the, very soon to come out, 26 mock draft is a bigger exercise in time wasting than grading the 25 classes, but I get your point.
I get a 2026 mock complaint although I do read them if any analysis is given. But when is it okay to give a who’s who for the 2026 class?
I completely agree with the sentiment expressed here. When the national pundits are “grading,” they are essentially evaluating the degree to which the Steelers choices diverged from *their* evaluations. Imma take the low hanging fruit and pick on Kiper, who was appalled that the Steelers didn’t choose *his* guy, Sanders in the first, third, or fourth, so he gave the draft a B-, even though I think Johnson is a way better choice in the third.
I’ll admit that I’m baffled by Sawyer in the fourth, but not because I wanted them to take Sanders, because there were other guys there at positions of greater need that *I* think would have been better fits. But that’s not grading Sawyer — it’s me, with far less knowledge, questioning the Steelers’ choices.
And I extend the decision makers enough credit that I’m not bothered that it wasn’t Sanders. Everyone knows how much Pittsburgh needs a quarterback so I have zero doubt that the team evaluated the hell out of Sanders and decided that he wasn’t the guy.
I do fear that Starks or Cambell or even Mbow would have been better choices than Sawyer there, and that Starks and MBow we’re going to get to see a lot of and kick ourselves for the choices. But that’s not a knock on Sawyer – it’s a criticism of the FO, and it may be that I’m eating these words in a few years when he becomes a linchpin of the defense.
I see what you’re saying, and that is part of critiquing a draft, the process, is completely acceptable. There will always be hindsight “what ifs”, but for someone to say Sawyer was a waste of a pick at this juncture seems premature, and I’m not suggesting you are saying that.
If Sawyer turns into a valuable piece which makes the Watt/Highsmith and Herbig/Sawyer to formidable duos, is it a waste of a pick?
Yeah, I’m definitely not saying it’s a waste of a pick, just a confusing one given the Steelers’ real needs and player availability at the time. As I noted elsewhere, by the fourth, you’re probably drafting for future – probably future depth, not future starter – and special teams, but there were a few guys there with much higher grades at positions of future need that make me wonder if future depth at LB was worth it.
I named the guys I would have liked to see there – S Starks (who I think is going to haunt us), OG Mbow (because I think he is a way better talent than 4th round, and could potentially upgrade the line in a few years). Future *potential* starters. Not sure that Sawyer is that, though I think he’s a valuable depth piece now.
But I’m not sure, and it’s a fourth round pick. So, no, I don’t think it’s a waste of a pick. Just a confusing one.
Grinch, I agree. Starks makes sense to me with two aging safeties, or extending competition for Spencer Anderson. We’ll see how it pans out, in any event.
Along the line of potential safeties, is Ryan Watts doing okay? Haven’t seen an update for him since Jan.
I was talking to the screen to take Jalen Royals at Pick 123
Also was looking at Jalen Travis as a potential Swing Tackle. And Joshua Farmer as a double dip along the IDL.
I’m giving the draft an A+ just because of the message it sent to my guy George. Now, he knows for sure that there are teams interested in him (from Omar’s comments) and he knows the Steelers want him more.
GP is “reactive”, when a certain button is pushed he moves instinctively towards aggression. He’s a good teammate, a hard worker, it’s not a character issue that gets him into trouble. Any retired high school teacher can tell you he won’t respond to punishment or praise, but he might respond to stability.
Also, I’ve spent my morning reading articles and comments, and I haven’t seen a single one complaining that George wasn’t traded! Go Steelers!
That’s a great point. If Pickens was thinking he would be dealt before the draft, he now has a reassurance the team isn’t thinking that way. Let’s hope he has a big 2025!
I don’t think it’s a stretch to think the Steelers probably drafted at least three players (Harmon, Johnson and Sawyer) who can help them soon, if not immediately. Will Howard needs time to develop but he might turn out to be the steal of this draft. The more video I watch on Howard, the more I recognize the big, tough kind of player that Steelers Nation has come to expect in their franchise QB. And this kid also has impressive foot speed.
I agree and I’d add in Yahya Black, he and Sawyer would seem to be in DL rotation, though I’d also think Sawyer would be rotation earlier than Black.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s this true and the preseason is also too short that’s why the regular season will prove how good the Steelers draft picks really are