Reasonable Expectations of the Steelers 2025 Draft Class

On the most recent episode of the Pittsburgh Standard Time podcast, Greg Benevent and I gave our expectations of the Steelers 2025 draft class from what we hoped was a reasonable perspective. It’s easy to get overly excited about a draft class not long after they have been selected, so it’s also important to not expect too much of each player in their rookie season to where it’s impossible for them to come through and not disappoint the fans.

The following is a general review of what Greg and I believed to be a reasonable expectation for each of the Steelers draft picks from 2025. We did our best to both not undersell their contributions while not expecting too much too soon. It is also important to remember that injuries, both to the player and to others at their position, will gratefully influence how much a player is used in 2025. These expectations are assuming injury factors do not come into play.

Derrick Harmon

Playing the defensive line, a position where players are continually rotated in and out, Harmon should find himself a part of that rotation from the very first week of the 2025 season. Exactly how many snaps Harmon gets is the big question. I would not be surprised if the number to start out the season ends up being around 20. But once the season gets rolling, Harmon should see his snap count rise as Steelers fans hope he also continues to produce.

Kaleb Johnson

Much like the Steelers first round pick, Kaleb Johnson plays a position where at least getting some snaps is easier than others. I look for Johnson to not be the featured back for most of, if not all, of his rookie season. But this will not keep Johnson from seeing the field. Seeing a handful of carries early in the year, Johnson will probably be used in very specific situations to start the season and could see his role expand throughout the year if the productivity is there.

Jack Sawyer

I look for Jack Sawyer to see a lot of snaps right away with the Steelers, but they will be on special teams. He may get into the rotation a little bit outside linebacker, but the Steelers won’t put him in a situation that is more than they think he can handle. Just like the other two players selected before him, Sawyer looks to start slowly on his side of the ball and potentially see increased workload as the season goes on.

Yahya Black

Steelers fans might not want to hear this, there’s the distinct possibility that Yahya Black is inactive when the season starts. His ability to make the roster should not be overly concerning, but he may not get a helmet on game days to start. If he does, Black will already be exceeding expectations. When it’s all said and done, if Black appears in half the games this season, maybe not even seeing double-digit snaps in a game, it would still be a successful rookie season setting him up for the future.

Will Howard

Once again remembering that injuries are not being factored into these expectations, Will Howard should have his name listed every game 90 minutes before kickoff unless the Steelers are playing a meaningless game the final week of the season. I still expect Howard to be in uniform because of the rules that have been in place the last several seasons about the third quarterback, but if all goes according to plan this is how Howard‘s rookie season should go. Remember, Ben Roethlisberger was the third WB his rookie season and only moved up so quickly because of injuries to Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox. Underachieving as a sixth round selection would be Howard not even making the squad, but if he sees any action in 2025 he’s already over shot his draft status.

Carson Bruner

First and foremost, Carson Bruner should be in a battle to earn a roster spot this season. As the seventh round draft pick, it is nowhere close to guaranteed he makes the cut at the beginning of September. If he does not, landing on the Steelers practice squad would be success. If Bruner manages to squeeze onto the roster, he must first earn a game day helmet which might not be a difficult task as he would be expected to be a key special teams contributor. I don’t expect Brunner to take a single defensive snap for the Steelers this season, but if he makes the team and contributes on special teams that it’s a job well done.

Donte Kent

Almost everything that was said about Carson Bruner can be said about Donte Kent. He will also be in a battle to make the 53-man roster. If not, the practice squad would be a nice place. But if Kent makes the roster, bringing that extra special team‘s ability as well, having to rely on him on the defensive side of the ball as a rookie is asking a lot. The main goal is to make the team in year one and to find a way to contribute in year two. Even if a stent on the practice squad happens along the way, that would still be success.

Overall

To sum up our expectations for the Steelers 2025 draft class as a whole, they should not have to be called on as early and often as the Steelers 2021 class was as rookies. On the other hand, the hope is that they are healthy and can contribute more than a class of 2024.

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