Evaluating the Steelers 2025 Draft Class: Iowa DT Yahya Black
We are over three months removed from the 2025 NFL Draft, but not much has happened to move the needle one way or the other on the Steelers selections since that time. With all emotion and draft-day dreams laid away, now is an ideal time to give an honest breakdown and evaluation of the Steelers draft class.
Over the next week or two, Jeremy Betz and I will give you our personal analysis and opinions regarding each selection the Steelers made in the 2025 NFL Draft. We will put into account each player’s strengths, weaknesses, fit with the team and inside the organization, and the players the Steelers passed on in order to select said player. This will help us create a sensible, logical argument that can give you, the reader, reasonable insight and expectations for these rookies as they enter Year 1 in the NFL.
Today, we continue with Yahya Black.
Yahya Black | DT | Iowa
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 336 lbs
Wilbar’s Big Board Ranking: 276
Betz: Yahya Black is an absolute unit in the interior of the DL. He’s got a quick first step for his size, but he wins with sledgehammer hands and sheer size at the point of attack. Immediately improves your run defense, but things could get rough if he gets caught on the field in clear passing situations. In Pittsburgh, his versatility and size will be utilized in rotation along an already very deep DL.
Betz’s Grade: A+
Wilbar: I have been on record for multiple years now, saying the Steelers need to invest in an athletic, space-eating nose tackle with some level of pass-rushing upside. Unfortunately, that is not Yayha Black. While he can certainly eat up space, his horrific pad level must be improved before he sees any sort of NFL action. His inability to keep the pads down allows running backs to get low to either side of him and pick up a needed yard in short yardage and goal line situations, and preventing that is one of the biggest reasons to bring a nose tackle on the field in the first place. If he was more athletic and moved better laterally, I would believe more in his upside, but I just never saw anything more than a big guy who plays too high to reach his full potential as a nose tackle. Karl Dunbar is a mastermind and could definitely develop him into something down the line, but with Denzel Burke, Kyle McCord, and Zah Frazier still available, there were much more qualified options available.
Wilbar’s Grade: C-
Your Thoughts? Leave them in the comment section below so we can compare and discuss!
This is unusual 🤔 I usually pretty much see eye to eye with Andrew Wilbar on his evals. I have much respect for his insights on potential draft targets for the Steelers. However, I am much higher on Black’s potential impact on the Steelers defense.
Black is an immediate upgrade for the run defense. He will tie up multiple blockers and clog running lanes. He won’t jump off the stat sheet, but his influence and impact will be unmistakable. Especially for the inside linebackers.
I agree about his pad level and pass rush moves needing to improve, but as the article mentioned, the Steelers have Dunbar for that. One of the best in the business. Give him talent and he will develop it. Black definitely has talent and work ethic.
Love this kid. Grab your popcorn. This should be fun.
Wow, here’s a name I don’t recall seeing on this board for a long, long time. Kept wanting to congratulatue you for calling the success of Frazier last year.
Definately rooting for Black. If he and Harmon are the real deal, that would solidify talent on the d-line for several years. Pretty good drafting when everuone was wondering how th Steelers wouuld eventually replace Cam.
Great to hear from you as well 👍 I am thrilled with the Steelers recent investment into both lines. Khan and Weidl have focused on building both foundations.
I expect Harmon and Black to be solid additions, bare minimum. Frazier is a perennial Pro Bowler, baring injuries.
If the Steelers hit on both, there’s no doubt DL is a strength for years to come.
I guess we shall see. Definitely rooting for him. I just never came away impressed with his college tape.