Paul Zeise: Steelers set themselves up well for 2025 with their draft class

PITTSBURGH — I don’t think there is any question that, at least on paper, the Steelers had a really good draft, as their first three selections all figure to contribute a lot in 2025.

That is pretty amazing when you consider that the Steelers didn’t have a second-round pick and went into the draft with a glaring need at quarterback. It sure seems like the Steelers are ready to roll with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback and they opted to build the roster around him.

Their first-round pick was defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and he seems to be a plug-and-play kind of player that will fill a huge need along the defensive line. Harmon is not only a pick for this year, he is the player they hope will eventually take the baton from Cam Heyward in the middle of the Steelers defense for the next eight-to-10 years.

Running back was another clear need for the Steelers, and they grabbed Kaleb Johnson from Iowa, who looks like he will step right in where Najee Harris left off. Harris went to the Chargers in free agency, and Johnson is a big, downhill runner who should do really well in the Steelers scheme. Johnson will split time with Jaylen Warren, and that means the Steelers backfield is set for this season.

The Steelers also got some insurance for Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt when they drafted outside linebacker Jack Sawyer out of Ohio State. He is a playmaker at a position that is essential for the Steelers defense to thrive, and I expect him to find his way into the regular rotation at some point this season.

Watt is set to sign a big extension, but he is getting older and seems to wear down as the season progresses, so if the Steelers can get him some rest each week without losing production, he may be less beat-up when the playoffs roll around. Adding a player like Sawyer gives the Steelers the opportunity to do just that.

The Steelers also added some more defensive line depth in Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black, more linebacker depth in Carson Bruener from Washington, and took a flyer in the seventh round on a cornerback Donte Kent from Central Michigan. If there is a mild criticism, I would have liked to see them address cornerback earlier in the draft with someone who isn’t so much of a project, but at least they got Kent and we will see how he develops.

Plus, as predicted, the Steelers got their quarterback in Ohio State’s Will Howard. They have been linked to him for a long time, so it isn’t a shock that they ended up drafting him. To hear the Steelers talk, the thing they like the most is his “clutch gene,” as Howard led Ohio State to a national title. Arthur Smith said the thing that impressed the Steelers the most is that he won big games and played his best as the stakes got higher.

I don’t know about Howard long-term, as he gives me “game manager” vibes, but if Rodgers does sign as expected, he would be a third-string emergency quarterback that can hold a clip board and learn this year. If that is all he needs to do, then I am OK with the pick because it means the Steelers are getting competent quarterback play from whomever is the starter.

One of the best developments is what the Steelers didn’t do, as they held on to George Pickens. There were some rumors swirling, and it made some sense for them to consider trading him to get back into the second round. They had traded their second-round pick for DK Metcalf and then gave Metcalf $30 million a year for five years, and there is some discussion that the Steelers would not pay both Pickens and Metcalf.

Pickens has one more year on his deal, and then the Steelers will have to make a decision about an extension or a franchise tag for a year or two. Regardless of what happens, it seems clear that he will play for the Steelers this season, and that means they will be deadly in the vertical passing game with the combination of him and Metcalf.

I may be taking too much of a leap of logic on this, but it seems almost certain that the Steelers are going all in to win this year with those two, and that means Rodgers is going to eventually sign with them. I don’t believe they would have made that trade, passed on quarterbacks as much as they did in the draft, and passed on the opportunity to re-sign Russell Wilson or Justin Fields if they didn’t have a great idea they were going to get Rodgers.

That is the key to everything for me, as Rodgers makes a huge difference in my thoughts about the upcoming season.

The Steelers with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback will be competitive again for a wild-card spot and probably could get to 10 wins. The Steelers with Rodgers, though, have a chance to win playoff games and make a run deep into the playoffs.

Rudolph represents the status quo and will be good enough to lead the Steelers to another non-losing season. But Rodgers is a high-risk, high-reward player, and if he still has a lot left in his tank, he could take the Steelers to another level.

There is still some offseason left for the Steelers to add a player or two for depth, but for the most part the roster is what it is going to be when training camp opens in July. The additions of Harmon, Johnson and Sawyer, at the very least, fill some important needs and give the Steelers three players who are ready to contribute in 2025.

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