Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft Grades!

I had to stew on this draft.
To me, it was uninspired and sort of just a collection of obvious draft for need picks.
They took no risks what-so-ever and just rolled with the flow.

But there is some light on this - providing the Ifs work out
Harmon, if he works out can be the next Cam Heyward and impact the game for the next 10 years.
Johnson is truck, and as long as I don't see him dancing east-west on stupid sweep plays then we're good there. He should be able to pound those tough yards and break his share.
Jack Sawyer is one I am excited about. He could be a TJ Watt. I like his motor. He could pair up will with Wilson and Watt...
Yahya is not exciting but he's a good pick at that that spot and can fill a role.
Will Howard was a guy I liked, then didn't, then did. He's a guy that maybe comes on. I am hoping Pittsburgh does a better job this time on a drafted QB.
Carson Bruener has value, first as a Special Teams player then a LB... maybe a Spillane type.
Donte Kent might add value as a returner....

So while the draft was a bit on the boorish side, they again do as Pittsburgh tradition does and stick to the LOS and pick a QB that work out.

I can't give a grade and when I do, it is usually based on how Free Agency and the Draft impacted the team.

Right now, I do think they need to work Free Agency as some players that find themselves out, could provide some help.
I also think, and its ok to disagree, that Rogers is a must do.
Mason last season just plain out stunk up the joint, really, really bad. There is nothing based on that performance that fills me with an ounce of confidence.
But Rogers won't make 17 games, and Mason is a capable spot player.
Between those two, I think they can get the ball to Metcalf and Pickett and mentor Howard enough to get a feel for his abilities.

I also think it is mandatory to sign a vet WR, given Pickens mental swings.

 

i'm not going to base mason on last year with that trash titan team.

we have made some good subtle additions that may work out better than first thought. donald parham. big tweener target. he truly can be moved around and split out, out of some formations. mismatch player on a LB'er. washington in his 3rd year. that is usually when the light really comes on.

slay can play. echols gives some vet depth. thornhill gives some vet depth and could be very good. bishop played well and should be better year two. i believe we have added some stability on the backend.

OLB has depth out the whazoo.

DL has a ton of additions and depth now.

o-line is a big ????? young is not bad if it can get playing together. that will be an ongoing theme to watch. we have added some size, which they wanted to do. how they play will be crucial. doesn't mean it won't happen but will take a little time still. remember it's 5 guys to get on the same page not 1 or 2 at a position.

WR looks good at the top. austin will really only be in his 3rd year. again usually when the light really goes on. we have some pretty good depth there at least a couple of guys that have shown some flashes. roc taylor may add some small hope with that size. he's got some talent. we shall see if it translates.

RB we are pretty solid at. there are some deep backups that will be available if needed down the road. ward should at least be familiar with the offense. shampklin as well. hopefully we stay healthy.

i think if this offense plays within it's means, it can advance together as the season rolls on. i doubt we come out of the gates as a championship quality team but as long as we are progressing as the season moves on, we could have a very good team by the end of the year.

 

I am basing this on last years report of Pittsburgh's soft tissue injuries and their conditioning and training staff finished ranked dead last for helping players with their injuries.

Tomlin admitted after the season had ended that keeping players healthy was a major talking point heading into next year. "How can we keep our team healthier was a discussion that happened yesterday," Tomlin said back on Jan. 14. "We experienced a rash of soft tissue injuries this year that was impactful."

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The Pittsburgh Steelers' training staff and conditioning program have received consistently low ratings in NFLPA report cards, particularly in recent years. The team's strength and conditioning coaches have been ranked among the lowest in the league, with some players reporting a lack of individualized training plans and feeling under-supported by the training staff.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Strength and Conditioning Staff:
  The Steelers have received low grades for their strength and conditioning coaches, often ranking last in the league. Some players have reported that they don't receive individualized training plans, and that the staff isn't contributing to their success.
• Training Room:
  Players have voiced concerns about the training room being understaffed and lacking necessary equipment and modalities.
• Individualized Care:
  Many players feel they need more access to individual care and feel the current system is not providing adequate support.

 

Fair enough.


I am merely basing it on the fact that the Steelers often finish with fewer players who are season ending designated injury or long term.

 

Harmon may need surgery, i would encourage it so it's not an ongoing problem down the road

 

Players have surgery after seasons relatively often, though it doesn't get much attention. I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen at the end of his rookie season, when there is a lot more time to recover.

 

I see it happen after training camp and preseason right before the season starts way to many times for the Steelers. Players think they can play through the injury and then get their ass handed to them in games, and realize that yeah they need to have the surgery just to be competitive in the NFL. My guess is this is what may happen to Harmon this year. Playing through an injury in college is OK, because you are just so much better than your opponent, but in the NFL things don't work like that.

You see this happen with the Steelers, where there was nothing coming out about them being injured in the preseason and then immediately after making the 53 man roster they were put on IR. Mcfarland, Austin. Trice???

 

Please cite specific examples. Trice blew out his knee in practice. Those things happen. Everyone knew he had an extensive history of injuries. That is why he fell so late. Austin got hurt fairly early in camp. I try to block out any memory of McFarland because he was such a waste.

The one player who truly fits what you are talking about is Cameron Heyward. He tried to play through the groin injury, but most of that information came out after he tore it in the season opener.

 

We get a # of guys back on offense (healthy) that we counted on last year - draft and otherwise. And then we went ahead and scapegoated Russ Wilson. Tomlin and Smith are dummies.

Jones - preseason elbow
Faunatu - knee, whatever else
Wilson - WR

our problem IS and WILL be coaching. HC and assistants - not the best and brightest.

we are below PAR.

some of you get it - MANY of you DO NOT.

Mason may be able to squeeze out 9, 10 wins with a great defense and Boswell. It is the Tomlin method. But it will not advance us again anywhere in January, IF we get there.

 

I heard someone describe the Steelers draft as a meat and potatoes draft, I would agree nothing sexy but getting big physical guys.

 

To be honest, if you are a professional football team paying people millions a year, there is no excuse in modern times to not have top of the line facilities and equipment in my opinion.

 

A- . The draft filled alot of spots immediately and added some depth. What could be better. My two favourite picks are Will and Jack .

 

If memory serves King Henry was likely our toughest challenge and they rose to the challenge in the first game against the Ravens and then in the wildcard Henry ran wild.

 

josh allen, lamar jackson, joe burrow, trevor lawrence, jayden daniels, cj stroud, dak prescott, brock purdy, browns 10,000 qb's, kirk cousins, baker mayfield, the list goes on of franchise qb's that have not won a super bowl. so you all do realize that these so called great franchise qb's and mason have that in common. oh poor us we can't win in january, well i got news for you, not many do.

 

Foor some reason they decided to change their defensive gameplan against the Ravens in the playoffs.

 

It was not a huge surprise for me but it was very disappointing to see our defense on the field too often for 7-8 minutes per drive or more in the last month of the season...They were unable to leave the field, it was pathetic but unfortunately predictable too

 

The ravens had also over 200 rushing yards and over 400 yards on offense in the game in late december....It was also not the first time the ravens had over 200 rushing yards against us in the Lamar Jackson era....Of course they have one of the best running game of all-time but the biggest difference for the Ravens in the last two games against us is that they've shot themselves in the foot much less, with fewer stupid turnovers, fewer missed FGs or fewer drop passes.

But one thing that needs to change is our offense. Our offense scored fewer than 20 points against this team in their last 10 games... it wasn't sustainable in the long run, that was obvious.

 

that's what you took from that? just saying they haven't won anymore than he has. having one doesn't guarantee anything. it's a team game. mahomes lost because of the play of a left tackle. one player basically lost that game. the line failed them. it takes more than having the greatest qb. sure we fans are frustrated here but think about buffalo with the great josh allen or baltimore with the great lamar jackson, they can't get to the promised land either. close doesn't get you anything but frustration.

 

sure it is but without the rest you win nothing. participation trophy. do you really think justin fields or arron rodgers was going to get us over the hump any more than mason will? very doubtful.

 

This is dumb....Sure it don't guarantee a super bowl but when you have a franchise QB like Mahomes,Burrow,Allen,Lamar,etc you have a chance every year and can overcome some issues your team have,since this is very rare your team will be perfect at every position...Like Mahomes has been in the super bowl despite his poor o-line in 2024 and winning the super bowl in 2023 despite poor WRs....

In 2024,Jalen Hurts was very good,a top 10 QB but I don't think he was a top 5 QB....If you don't have a franchise QB,you have no chance unless your rest of the roster is a A+ roster and this is the hardest thing to do and it don't happen evey year....But if you have a franchise QB,you can have him for 10-15 years at least