Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan wrapped up the Steelers' 2025 NFL Daft process with their post-draft press conference. Tomlin and Khan expressed excitement about where the team stands following the annual event. The Steelers were able to address just about all of their needs via the draft. Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black help bring much-needed depth to the interior defensive line, while Jack Sawyer is a dynamic edge rusher who brings even more depth to the defensive line. Carson Bruener is an addition to the linebacker room and special teams as well.
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Steelers defensive lineman Yahya Black during a collegiate game versus Wisconsin.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Steelers added depth to their running back room with Kaleb Johnson and addressed their quarterback situation by drafting Will Howard. Pittsburgh not only added depth to their roster during the draft, but also added size. Black's measurements at the NFL Combine have him standing at 6'6", 336 pounds, and a seven-foot wingspan. Harmon and Sawyer both stand at 6'4", while Harmon weighs 313 pounds and Sawyer 260 pounds. That is a lot of height and size added to the defensive line. Bruener isn't small for a linebacker either, coming in at 6'1" and 227 pounds.
Even offensively, the Steelers added size with Johnson, who stands at 6'1", 224 pounds, which is big for a running back. The Steelers intentionally wanted to add size and physicality on both sides of the ball. During the post-draft press conference, Tomlin explained the team's intentions heading into the draft and spoke directly about the attempt at more physicality.
"We wanted to retool physicality in all areas," said Tomlin. "Included in that discussion is the use of the second-round pick to acquire DK Metcalf. Although he's a receiver, I think he fits the bill in terms of physicality and size, and so that definitely was an agenda of ours this weekend."
After this weekend, the Steelers will not have to worry about the physicality of their football team. The team intended to retool size and physicality on both sides of the ball, and they were able to achieve it. Adding Harmon, Black, Sawyer, and Bruener to a defense that already has TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, Patrick Queen, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is going to cause a lot of problems for opposing offenses. Being able to have a team that has the depth to withstand the physicality of a football game for 60 minutes is critical. Football games are won and lost in the trenches, and typically, the team that is bigger, faster, and stronger will come out victorious.
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Steelers linebacker Carson Bruener celebrates after making a big play in college.
Offensively, the Steelers will be a more physical team as well. DK Metcalf may be one of the most physical wide receivers currently in the NFL. He is a big play threat down the field, but he also doesn't mind driving a defensive back into the ground during a run play. George Pickens isn't as aggressive as Metcalf in run blocking, but he also doesn't mind mixing it up with a defensive back now and then. The addition of Johnson in the backfield will also bring a level of physicality to the offense. Even though Johnson is more of a finesse runner, he is still a big body that will be difficult for defenders to tackle in the open field.
The Steelers Will Look To Wear Teams Down With Their Size
On both sides of the ball, the Steelers have added size, which could play to their advantage. Over the course of an NFL game, players take a beating on their bodies. So, with the Steelers adding depth and size in many of those positions, they could look to use that as an advantage during the season. Having multiple physical running backs will allow them each to not have to take so much damage during a game and allow for them to have fresh legs in the fourth quarter.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 rookie running back Kaleb Johnson during an Iowa game in 2023.
On the opposite side of the ball, it will have the opposite effect, hoping that the depth and size of the defensive line will take a toll on the opposing team's running backs late in the game.
Steeler Nation, let us know how you think the Steelers have done this offseason in acquiring depth. Do you believe the Steelers will be one of the more physical teams during the 2025 NFL season? Let us know in the comments below.
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