Taking stock of the Steelers rookie class heading into Week 2 of the preseason

As the Steelers gear up for their second preseason game Saturday night against Tampa Bay, it’s worth taking a moment to check in on their 2025 rookie class. Where do each of the rookies stand on the team’s depth chart? How did they do in the pre-season opener against Jacksonville? And what are their odds of making the final roster? Let’s answer those questions here.

ROUND ONE: DERRICK HARMON, DT

Harmon has already established himself as a starter along the defensive front. He is playing with the first unit in the base 3-4 defense, and while Cam Heyward continues his “hold-in,” in the 2-4-5 nickel package as well. Even when Heyward returns, Harmon is expected to play in a rotation with Heyward and Keeanu Benton when the Steelers are in their nickel.

Harmon was excellent against Jacksonville. He used his long arms to create extension, and his hands to shed blockers and get to the football. His technique is accentuated by a quick get-off that makes him a threat to penetrate gaps. It’s too early to say how much Harmon’s presence improves the defensive line, but the early impression suggests he’ll be a stalwart for years to come.

More from PIT All-22 vs JAX:

Something you see consistently from Derrick Harmon: he doesn’t stay blocked for long.

Here he is working vs Jax’s RG (61). Harmon’s uses a long-arm technique to get extension, finds the football, then separates with an arm-over move.

He gets off… pic.twitter.com/9IXd82IaTv

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) August 12, 2025

ROUND 3: KALEB JOHNSON, RB

Johnson is expected to share time with fellow running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in a three-player rotation this season. He opened the pre-season with eight carries for 20 yards against Jacksonville. The numbers aren’t splashy, but Johnson displayed good vision and decisiveness when provided enough blocking to make positive runs. He was particularly good in short yardage, converting a couple of third downs on Duo calls:

1st drive of the pre-season and I'm already excited about Steelers rookie RB Kaleb Johnson. Here's why ⬇️: @FFSNSteelCity pic.twitter.com/rzhL712ibY

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) August 10, 2025

Much has been made about Johnson being an ideal fit for Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy run scheme, and that is true. The degree to which Johnson picks up the nuances of playing running back at the pro level — namely pass protection and the checkdown game as an outlet receiver — will likely dictate how much playing time he gets as a rookie. I’d expect it to be a lot, as he looks like a franchise back in the making.

ROUND 4: JACK SAWYER, EDGE

Sawyer started the Jacksonville game in TJ Watt’s familiar spot on the left edge of the defense, and played well. He didn’t make any splash plays and finished with two tackles and a quarterback hit. But he afforded himself like a player who belongs in the lineup.

Sawyer’s strength was evident in the way he controlled tight ends at the line of scrimmage and got off blocks. He did a good job of setting the edge on runs to his side. His pass rush repertoire needs some work, as he lacks Watt’s burst or Alex Highsmith’s pure power. But his motor runs constantly. He was always around the quarterback in the pocket, and his pursuit to the football was excellent.

With Nick Herbig also in the fold at edge, Sawyer won’t be called upon to take too many reps as a rookie. Still, I’d expect him on the field for a series or two each week, where he is already showing he can be productive.

ROUND 5: YAYHA BLACK, DT

The massive Yayha Black (6’6-335) is impossible to miss when he steps into the lineup. Wearing #78, Black looms over just about everyone at the line of scrimmage. He’s not too bad when the ball’s snapped, either.

Black showed good get-off against Jacksonville, and his power is evident. My big criticism of his college film was that he plays too high, which allows blockers to get under his pads. But he was better in that area against the Jaguars, showing that his time spent with Steelers’ defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is already paying off. Black is expected to earn time this season as a gap-stuffer on run downs, but he showed surprising quickness as a pass rusher, too. That could hint at a bigger role for him as the season progresses.

Steelers 5th-round rookie Yahya Black (78) was drafted to stop the run, but he showed promise as a pash rusher in limited snaps during the first week of the preseason. Going against backups here, but if he can move starting OL like this, he's gonna have a bright future. pic.twitter.com/mEzRZIsbji

— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) August 12, 2025

ROUND 6: WILL HOWARD, QB

Howard missed the Jacksonville game with an injury to his throwing hand and will be out for most — if not all — of the pre-season. That opened the door for Skylar Thompson, who had an excellent night against the Jaguars, throwing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. You have to believe the Steelers would have loved for Howard to get those reps and to find similar success. Now, without an adequate evaluation of him, it muddies the depth chart at the quarterback position.

One way or another, I expect Howard to remain with the Steelers this season. The injury, though, complicates that process.

ROUND 7: CARSON BRUENER, LB

Unless the Steelers choose to keep six inside linebackers, which they won’t, there doesn’t appear to be a path to the roster for Carson Bruener. That’s a shame, because he brought energy and playmaking to the position against Jacksonville. Bruener led the Steelers with seven tackles and was flying around all night. He showed up on special teams, too.

The problem is, to make the roster, he’s going to have to leapfrog one of Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb or Mark Robinson. Robinson is the most likely candidate, but the Steelers don’t seem ready to give up on him just yet. That means Bruener may be destined for the practice squad, provided another team doesn’t poach him before he’s signed there.

ROUND 7: DONTE KENT, CB

Kent’s path to the roster was narrow to begin with, but it became even less likely due to the solid play of Beanie Bishop, James Pierre and Brandin Echols against Jacksonville. With Joey Porter Jr, Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey entrenched as Pittsburgh’s starters at corner, and Cory Trice a primary backup, Kent was going to have to beat one of those others out for a roster spot. Bishop had six tackles and a pass breakup, Pierre had five tackles, and Echols was a physical presence against both the run and pass.

Kent, meanwhile, did not play due to a foot injury. The combination of that injury and the play of the team’s veterans means Kent will almost certainly be cut, with a practice squad designation a possibility.

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