Steelers' Future Is Bright As Multiple Rookies Are Honored For Excellent Performance During Their First Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into the 2025 offseason with a clear goal, and that was to inject some youth into the defensive side of the football. The organization tackled this by drafting Derrick Harmon in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise also picked up Yahya Black, Jack Sawyer, and Carson Bruener during the event. All four of those rookies have played very well, while carving out a role for themselves on the team. Those four have also been honored by being mentioned for the 2025 NFL All-Rookie Team from The Athletic.

Harmon was the only rookie for the Steelers that made the All-Rookie team without having the tag of being an honorable mention. He was a runner up for the interior defensive line, and he probably would have made the team flat out had he not missed some games during his rookie season due to injury. His presence was always noticeable when he was on the field, and he certainly made an impact when it came to defending the run for the Pittsburgh defense. Dane Brugler of The Athletic noted this while discussing Harmon.

"Harmon played in only 12 games, but you could feel his presence when studying the Steelers’ front seven," Brugler wrote. "His pressure rates back that up."

The numbers against the run game with Harmon playing and with him not playing are quite staggering. The rookie clearly makes a difference for the defense, and he is only going to improve as the season goes on and as his career unfolds. Pittsburgh wanted to inject youth and talent into the defensive line after having a rough stretch of games defending the run in 2024, and the organization did that successfully by adding Harmon and Black into the mix.

Black is a run-stuffer in his own right, and Pittsburgh got great value in the defensive lineman as the organization grabbed him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is a threat on every play to knock balls down at the line of scrimmage, and he is also great to have against the run. He also had multiple instances of getting a great push on the pocket. He is going to continue to improve and will hopefully be a staple of the defensive line moving forward.

Sawyer was another part of the organization's efforts to help the defensive front. He is obviously behind some extremely talented individuals in the outside linebacker room, but he still managed to carve out a role for himself and make some plays. He recorded two interceptions during his rookie year while also recording a sack and 34 tackles, breaking up four passes as well. He was able to do a little bit of everything while also being great against the run. He has outplayed his label as a fourth-round pick, and he found himself mentioned along some first-round selections as honorable mentions at outside linebacker.

Steelers' Rookie Recognized For Special Teams Contributions

Bruener was also given a nod as a inside linebacker on the All-Rookie Team. This is especially interesting because he only played one snap on defense throughout his entire rookie season, however he was one of Pittsburgh's best players on special teams. He played 287 snaps for the unit and recorded 19 total tackles (which is extremely good for a guy that exclusively plays special teams). 

Good on Brugler for shouting out rookies that might not have found their way onto the field in a traditional sense, but Bruener's hard work and contributions in the third phase of the game still get recognized.

This rookie class can only improve. Kaleb Johnson is bound to get more involved, especially if Pittsburgh has trouble re-signing running back Kenneth Gainwell. 

What do you think of Pittsburgh's impressive 2025 draft class? Let us know in the comments below!

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