The Pittsburgh Steelers used their fifth-round pick to draft defensive lineman Yahya Black. The Iowa product comes to Pittsburgh towering at 6'5", 317 pounds — a massive presence up front who adds serious size and strength to the defensive line. His fall to the fifth round was seen by many as a steal, and another sign that the Steelers are committed to building depth and long-term stability in the trenches. The formula for competing in the NFL’s biggest games starts with dominating in the trenches. That’s something the Steelers seem committed to building under the leadership of Omar Khan and Andy Weidl.
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Steelers' Yahya Black during his time with Iowa in college.
While Cam Heyward turned in a dominant 2024 campaign that earned him First Team All-Pro honors, the reality is that the 35-year-old veteran can't hold off time forever. The Steelers are planning for the future, and drafting both Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick and Black at No. 164 shows a clear strategy: strengthen the defensive line now, while learning under one of the best. It’s a smart move that blends short-term production with long-term development.
On Thursday, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo made headlines during his appearance on 93.7 The Fan by revealing that he expects Black to get a significant amount of playing time in 2025. That’s a strong vote of confidence in the rookie, who hasn’t played a snap yet but is already being penciled in for a major role. If Black develops quickly, he could be part of the next great Steelers defensive front.
"I think Yahya Black is going to get a real shot to get into that rotation this year," Fittipaldo said. "No matter that he’s a rookie. I think people kind of saw what happened at the end of the year and said that they had to do something. Omar went out and executed on that over the weekend."
Harmon is expected to come to Pittsburgh and make some noise. However, the Steelers traditionally take a gradual approach when it comes to bringing rookies along. That trend shifted a bit in 2024 when they chose to start rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu right out of the gate.
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Steelers' Troy Fautanu looks on before a game.
Although Fautanu missed most of the season due to injury, he showed enough promise early on to earn that level of trust. If Harmon proves he’s NFL-ready, there’s a real chance he could follow a similar path on the defensive side of the ball. After the Steelers traded back from pick 156 to 164 and selected Black in the fifth round, few expected him to have a real shot at early playing time. But according to Fittipaldo, that’s simply not the case.
Other rotational pieces include Isaiahh Loudermilk, Daniel Ekuale, Dean Lowry, Logan Lee, and DeMarvin Leal. While those names offer solid depth, none have emerged as reliable difference-makers, and they haven’t exactly inspired confidence from the Steelers' front office when it comes to long-term impact.
That’s why Pittsburgh made a clear effort to upgrade the defensive line by drafting Harmon in the first round and Black in the fifth. According to insider Fittipaldo, the Steelers are very pleased with how they addressed the position in the draft, believing they landed both immediate contributors and future starters.
Steelers' Highest Paid Defense Didn't Foot The Bill In 2024
It will be fascinating to see how this new-look defensive line comes together over training camp and into the regular season. Despite being the highest-paid defense in the NFL, the Steelers underperformed down the stretch in 2024, especially when it came to stopping the run.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon looks on during a game in college.
They were pushed around up front and lacked the physicality that once defined Pittsburgh football. With the additions of Harmon and Black, they finally have reinforcements that could help turn things around. But the big question on every fan's mind remains: will it be enough to avoid another late-season collapse and return to dominance on the defensive side of the football?
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