| Round / pick | Player | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| R1 · No. 21 | Derrick Harmon (DL) | A- |
| R2 · No. 52 — Trade (B-): Pick sent to Seattle for WR DK Metcalf. | ||
| R3 · No. 83 | Kaleb Johnson (RB) | D+ |
| R4 · No. 123 | Jack Sawyer (EDGE) | B |
| R5 · No. 164 | Yahya Black (DL) | A- |
| R6 · No. 185 | Will Howard (QB) | C |
| R7 · No. 226 | Carson Bruener (ILB) | B |
| R7 · No. 229 | Donte Kent (CB) | C+ |
| Current class grade | B | |
The grades measure what each investment has produced through one NFL season, with draft position, injuries and developmental timelines included rather than ignored.
Derrick Harmon justified the first-round investment
Harmon played only 12 regular-season games because of knee injuries, but his healthy stretches looked like first-round football. He recorded 27 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery while starting eight games. Interior defenders rarely arrive as finished products, so producing pressure immediately while learning beside Cam Heyward was a meaningful start.
His grade holds at A-. Availability prevents an early jump, but Pittsburgh found a young defensive lineman capable of affecting both the run and pass. The Year 2 test is whether Harmon can handle a full season and become the weekly centerpiece the Steelers envisioned at No. 21.
The second-round pick became DK Metcalf
Pittsburgh did not make a second-round selection because pick No. 52 went to Seattle in the DK Metcalf trade. Any honest class review has to include that transaction. Draft capital is still an investment even when the return is a veteran rather than a rookie.
The trade earns a B-. Metcalf led Pittsburgh with 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns, but that was a modest return for a second-round pick plus a premium contract. He remained a legitimate boundary target, yet the first season fell short of the impact required for an A-range grade.
Kaleb Johnson is the class’s largest concern
Johnson entered the draft with a 1,537-yard, 21-touchdown final season at Iowa and looked like strong third-round value. His rookie year changed that evaluation quickly. He appeared in 10 games, carried 28 times for 69 yards and caught one pass for nine yards while spending long stretches outside the active offensive plan.
A D+ current grade is severe but fair. Running back is a position where third-round picks are expected to contribute early, and Pittsburgh added Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer rather than simply handing Johnson a larger role. He can still recover, but Year 2 now looks like a roster fight instead of a natural progression toward starting work.
Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black gave the defense useful depth
Sawyer played all 17 games and finished with 34 tackles, one sack and a touchdown. His pass-rush production was modest, but that was always likely behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. The current B reflects a dependable fourth edge defender who still needs a larger set of impact plays.
Black was the stronger value relative to draft position. The fifth-round lineman appeared in every game, made three starts, totaled 28 tackles and forced two fumbles. His size and heavy hands translated faster than expected, earning an A-. He already looks capable of becoming a long-term rotational piece.
Will Howard’s first evaluation year never arrived
Howard did not appear in a regular-season game after a preseason hand injury disrupted his rookie development. That does not make a sixth-round quarterback a failed pick, but it does remove the momentum that made the draft-night value feel exciting.
The current C is effectively an incomplete grade with consequences. Pittsburgh drafted Drew Allar in the third round in 2026, so Howard now has another young quarterback competing for developmental snaps. His size, mobility and college experience remain interesting, but he must show that the lost year did not leave him behind.
Carson Bruener and Donte Kent remain late-round bets
Bruener’s path was always special teams first and defense second. That makes his steady B grade appropriate: he did not need to become a starter immediately to justify pick No. 226. His ability to cover kicks and provide inside-linebacker depth gives him a realistic route to a longer stay.
Kent has a narrower margin at cornerback after Pittsburgh added Jamel Dean and drafted Daylen Everette. The C+ grade does not close the book on him, but seventh-round defensive backs must force their way onto special teams quickly. His second summer will determine whether he is useful depth or simply a short-term roster swing.
Final 2025 class grade: B
The current class grade is a B. Harmon and Black are legitimate defensive wins, Sawyer is useful, and the Metcalf trade delivered a useful but below-expectations first season. Johnson’s poor first year and Howard’s lost season keep the class from grading higher.
One year is not a final verdict. It is enough, however, to identify where the value currently sits. Pittsburgh needs Harmon to stay healthy, Johnson to rescue his trajectory and at least one late-round player to become more than depth. If those things happen, this class can climb again.
For a longer development window, compare this group with the Steelers 2024 draft class two years later.
Evaluation is current as of June 19, 2026. Pick information comes from the Steelers 2025 draft class; rookie production was checked against Steelers rookie recaps and Pro Football Reference.