The Pittsburgh Steelers had seven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with the 21st overall in the first round. Here are the team’s selections:
• Round 1, selection 21 >> Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon
• Round 3, selection 83 >> Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson
• Round 4, selection 123 >> Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer
• Round 5, selection 164 >> Iowa defensive lineman Yahya Black
• Round 6, selection 185 >> Ohio State quarterback Will Howard
• Round 7, selection 226 >> Washington inside linebacker Carson Bruener
• Round 7, selection 229 >> Central Michigan cornerback Donte Kent
Day 3
Tim Benz: Our annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ recap
I like who the Steelers picked. I advocated for a defensive lineman in Round 1. That’s what they did by drafting Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. Then the team added on by grabbing Iowa’s Yahya Black in Round 5.
Steelers address physicality in NFL Draft, beef up defense on Day 3
What transpired this weekend at the NFL Draft provided further confirmation that the Steelers were sick of being pushed around in the playoffs.
Steelers continue to address defense in 4th round by selecting Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer
Bypassing a quarterback again to start the third day of the NFL Draft, the Steelers addressed defense for the second time when they took Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer in the fourth round Saturday.
Jack Sawyer bio: Steelers’ 4th-round pick (123rd overall) in 2025 NFL draft
Steelers add another d-lineman, draft Iowa’s Yahya Black in 5th round
No secret that their defensive line needed an injection of youth, the Steelers made the position the focus of two of their first four picks of this draft when they selected Iowa’s Yahya Black in the fifth round Saturday.
Yahya Black bio box: Steelers’ 5th-round pick (No. 164 overall) in 2025 NFL Draft
Steelers add to QB depth on 3rd day of draft, select Ohio State’s Will Howard in 6th round
With the No. 185 overall selection, the Steelers took Ohio State’s Will Howard. It was the fifth consecutive player the Steelers selected from a Big Ten program and second in a row who represented the national champion Buckeyes.
Will Howard bio: Steelers’ sixth-round pick (185th overall) in 2025 NFL Draft
Steelers draft LB Carson Bruener — son of team scout, former TE Mark Bruener
An inside linebacker from the University of Washington, Carson Bruener was taken by the Steelers with their first of two seventh-round picks Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Bruener went 226th overall.
Carson Bruener bio box: Steelers’ 7th-round pick (No. 226 overall) in 2025 NFL Draft
Harrisburg’s Donte Kent excited to be drafted by Steelers with second 7th-round pick
Donte Kent, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound cornerback from Central Michigan, not only didn’t cheer for the Steelers, he wasn’t a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles or Baltimore Ravens, either — teams that are in a close driving proximity to Harrisburg.
Donte Kent bio: Steelers’ 7th-round pick (229th overall) in 2025 NFL Draft
Steelers add 7 undrafted free agents, including WRs Roc Taylor, Ke’Shawn Williams
After bypassing wide receiver with all of their seven selections, the Steelers added a pair soon after the draft ended.
Pitt
Former Pitt, Peters Township safety Donovan McMillon to sign with Cleveland Browns
Before Donovan McMillon got to college, he had an NFL combine-themed party to celebrate a birthday while he was in high school.
Pitt’s Brandon George to sign with Kansas City Chiefs
Brandon George is highly confident in his abilities, and he believes his experiences at Pitt have prepared him for a career in the NFL.
Former Pitt kicker Ben Sauls signs with Steelers
Ben Sauls just sounds like an NFL kicker. Literally. Sauls proved so to the scouts and team personnel from across the NFL during Pitt’s pro day last month.
Los Angeles Chargers pick Pitt’s Branson Taylor in 6th round of NFL Draft
A tear of the lateral meniscus in a knee ended the senior season of Pitt starting left tackle Branson Taylor. The ensuring recovery from surgery prevented Taylor from taking part in drills at the NFL combine, too.
Minnesota Vikings select Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew in 6th round
Gavin Bartholomew appeared in 49 of Pitt’s 52 games over the past four seasons, starting 41 and having at least one catch in all but seven of them.
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Los Angeles Rams select Pitt WR Konata Mumpfield in 7th round
If Konata Mumpfield doesn’t make it in the NFL, rest assured it won’t be because the stress of the moment gets too big for him.
Penn State
Houston Texans select Penn State safety Jaylen Reed in 6th round of NFL Draft
Jaylen Reed didn’t take too much time to ponder what was the biggest lesson he learned from coach James Franklin over four years as part of the Penn State football program. If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.
Penn State linebacker Kobe King picked by Minnesota Vikings in 6th round
The latest off-ball linebacker to enter the NFL out of “Linebacker U,” Kobe King during the combine relayed a chat he had with management of an unnamed NFL team.
WPIAL
Streak ends: NFL Draft includes no WPIAL players for 1st time since 1993
A WPIAL streak that started more than three decades ago ended quietly Saturday. For the first time in 32 years, no former WPIAL football players were selected in the NFL Draft. The last time that happened was 1993.
Day 2
Steelers select Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in 3rd round of NFL Draft
Getting their running back to replace Najee Harris — and passing on a quarterback for the second day in a row — the Steelers selected Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night.
Kaleb Johnson bio: Steelers’ third-round pick (83rd overall) in 2025 NFL draft
Tim Benz: With Kaleb Johnson, Steelers go for ‘perfect fit’ as Shedeur Sanders’ slide continues
Shedeur Sanders’ tumble down the draft board has been the biggest story over the first two days of this year’s NFL selection process. The Steelers helped to contribute to it Friday night. Again.
Penn State
Tennessee drafts Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr. in 3rd round
When speaking last week in discussing safeties available in the draft, the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah observed that the knee injury suffered by Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr. early last season would end up being to the benefit of the team that drafted him this spring.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum selected in 3rd round by Jaguars
Born and raised in southwestern West Virginia, Wyatt Milum talks as if he’s as proud of his native state — and its flagship university — as he is of his status as one of the college football’s best offensive tackles in recent seasons.
Day 1
Steelers select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in 1st round of NFL Draft
The Steelers had a chance to take a highly rated quarterback in the NFL Draft when their turn came up Thursday night. They opted to fix a leaky defensive line instead. The Steelers stuck with conventional wisdom and selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon rather than take a chance on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Derrick Harmon bio: Steelers’ first-round pick (21st overall) in 2025 NFL draft
What might the Steelers do on Day 2 of the draft?
Two years ago, the Steelers had the proverbial pick of the litter to contemplate over the roughly 20-hour break before the start of the second round of the draft. This year, they have only a vague idea of who will be available when they’re next scheduled to pick.
Mark Madden: Steelers surprised talking heads with sensible 1st-round draft choice
The Steelers drafted the right guy. I’m as shocked as anybody. Especially with Shedeur Sanders’ availability giving Mike Tomlin the opportunity to go showbiz with a shiny new toy.
Tim Benz: Blissfully boring Steelers pick the right draft to play it straight with Derrick Harmon
When it comes to the first round of the Steelers’ 2025 NFL Draft, not since “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” has so much pre-event suspense resulted in such limited surprise on live television.
Friday’s “First Call” wraps up Day 1 of the NFL Draft with some additional Steelers rumblings after they passed on Shedeur Sanders in Round 1.
Penn State
New York Giants select Penn State’s Abdul Carter with No. 3 overall pick
Abdul Carter was asked for his best pass rush move during the NFL combine. “I would say my ‘ghost rush,’” Carter said. Not unlike a ghost, it didn’t take long for Carter to disappear off draft boards Thursday night.
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Penn State tight end Tyler Warren selected 14th overall by Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren made himself the highest-finishing tight end in Heisman Trophy voting in almost a half-century by way of his work with the football. Catching it. Scoring with it. Running with it. Even throwing it.