PITTSBURGH — From the moment Omar Khan stepped into the command chair as general manager, he’s been working to build a bully.
After loading up on offensive linemen during his first two drafts, Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl turned their attention to the defensive front, while also targeting a running back who will carry the ball behind all those young offensive linemen.
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“You guys have heard me talk about the big guys,” Khan said after Day 1. “It doesn’t just apply to the offensive side, obviously.”
Fortunately for the Steelers, their two biggest priorities, defensive line and running back, were also two of the deepest position groups in the draft. That allowed Khan to fill needs and find value with players who fit the team’s schemes.
In the first round, one of the three defensive tackles the Steelers coveted fell into their lap at No. 21. They quickly pounced on Derrick Harmon, who excelled in an odd front at Oregon. More importantly, he has enough pass-rush upside to contribute in sub-packages after leading FBS interior defensive linemen in pressures with 55.
“I like his explosiveness,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “I like the fact that as an inside rusher, he’ll give you some up-the-field push. … (He’ll be) working alongside, probably on the same side, as T.J. (Watt), which maybe should open some things up that way.”
Then in the third round, the Steelers drafted 6-1, 224-pound Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson. He brings a bigger, more physical running style to the room and the vision to thrive on outside-zone runs.
On Day 3, the Steelers continued to address their defensive front in a variety of ways. Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer had a second-round grade from Dane Brugler. When he slid into the fourth round and was the best player available, the Steelers selected a stout run defender with upside. And in the fifth round, they double dipped on defensive line by drafting Iowa DT Yahya Black, who can play the 4i/five-tech or the nose.
“We need to be more dominant up front,” defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. “The way you get dominant up front is to get youth.”
Later on Day 3, the Steelers found a developmental quarterback by drafting Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round. They rounded out the draft in the seventh by selecting Carson Bruener — son of former Pittsburgh first-round tight end and current Steelers scout Mark Bruener — and Central Michigan cornerback Donte Kent.
Best value pick
The Steelers came into the draft looking to tap into a deep and talented running back class at the end of Day 2 or early on Day 3. When Johnson fell to No. 83, Pittsburgh quickly grabbed the effective outside-zone runner, a fantastic schematic fit. On a team that already has the 5-8 Jaylen Warren and 5-9 Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson rounds out the room with a bigger runner.
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Rated by Brugler as the third-best back and 44th player overall, Johnson brought great value and addressed an important need for a Steelers team that ran the ball fourth-most in the NFL last year. Many expected Johnson to be drafted at the beginning of Day 2, not the end. The perfect scheme fit makes him extra valuable at this spot.
Most surprising pick
Outside linebacker was already one of the Steelers’ deepest and most talented position groups, so adding to it in the fourth round with Sawyer came as a bit of a surprise.
“I think at this point (in the draft), we really just liked the player,” Austin said.
While this wasn’t a pressing need, the selection makes more sense when you consider Pittsburgh always carries four outside linebackers on the roster, and that Sawyer slid so far. At 6-4 and 260 pounds, Sawyer offers a different body type than Nick Herbig, who is 6-2 and 240. While Herbig can continue to show his value as a pass rusher in one-dimensional passing situations, the rookie should be a more stout option on run downs to spell Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Biggest question mark
Though Johnson fits the Steelers’ identity, the one question mark about his game is his speed. He ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, while many others in this talented class were in the 4.3-4.4 range. The Steelers learned a tough lesson with Najee Harris, another bigger back who lacked a burst. However, the difference is that Johnson’s vision and experience with zone runs is superior to that of his predecessor. The incoming rookie is more instinctive and patient, which makes his lack of top-end speed less of a concern, but still something to monitor early in Johnson’s career.
Remaining needs
Though the Steelers addressed two of their biggest priorities on Day 1 and Day 2, who is going to be throwing DK Metcalf the ball? Pittsburgh has been (and continues to be) optimistic that Aaron Rodgers will eventually sign. Team president and owner Art Rooney II reiterated that sentiment on Steelers Nation Radio during the draft, saying, “(Rodgers) does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.”
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It’s fair to question how well Rodgers will perform at 41 years old (or if he’ll throw the Steelers a curveball by going elsewhere or retiring). At the same time, Pittsburgh has a plan. It’s clear that rather than overdrafting a polarizing QB early, the Steelers want to ride out 2025 with a bridge QB and then take a bigger swing in 2026.
Post-draft outlook
By finding fits at positions of priority, the Steelers don’t have a glaring hole on the roster … well, except the most important one: quarterback. Their 2025 ceiling is going to be tied directly to Rodgers and how well he performs at 41 years old.
At the same time, the Steelers are taking a patient, build-it-right approach. The roster is starting to look a lot like the early 2000s, when the Steelers had a suffocating defense and a potent run game. Finding a star quarterback in the first round in 2004 took that competitive roster and catapulted it into the legitimate contender sphere. If the Steelers can package their extra picks next year and find the future of the franchise, they will be well-positioned for long-term success thanks to this trench-oriented approach.
(Photo of Derrick Harmon, 55: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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