Steelers' 2025 NFL Draft Class Draws Harsh Criticism From Jay Gruden

The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, and the Pittsburgh Steelers made a statement by not taking a quarterback in the earlier rounds. They instead opted to bolster their defensive line multiple times. With the draft now complete, many have begun judging teams' performance during the event and predicting how well each franchise will do with their newest players. The Steelers' decision not to take a quarterback in Round 1, or any early round, has been brought up frequently when critiquing the organization's draft. Others simply aren't so keen on the talent the Steelers drafted, questioning the capabilities of rookies like defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and running back Kaleb Johnson. One former NFL head coach had a particularly harsh assessment of the Steelers' 2025 draft.

On Monday, former head coach, Jay Gruden spoke on the podcast Clean Pocket to give every NFL team a draft grade. When it came to the Steelers, he didn't hold back. 

"I give a D," Gruden said. "I'm not a big Derrick Harmon fan. I think he plays high too much. He's okay. Kaleb Johnson, to me, was a lower-end running back. I know he played good at Iowa, was a tough kid, but he doesn’t really have elite speed. Doesn’t have that elite contact balance. He's a big kid, has decent vision. I don't like him that much."

Both Harmon and Johnson have been widely praised as solid picks for the Steelers. Harmon, especially, has been considered the Steelers' attempt to find the next Cam Heyward. Harmon has a long way to go before he achieves such a status, but the rookie is absolutely promising.

Gruden's comments are a rare critique of the Steelers' 21st overall pick, but they aren't entirely unfounded. Harmon has size and strength down, but his technique could use work. Among the negatives in his game, Harmon's scouting report lists his habit of dropping his hands as a pass rusher, allowing offensive linemen to get to his chest, and his need to develop a counter move to turn to when his primary doesn't work.

Gruden was much more receptive to the Steelers' drafting of quarterback Will Howard. It's been confusing for some to see the Steelers wait so long on a decision from veteran Aaron Rodgers, and then wait until a later round in the draft to take a rookie signal-caller. However, Gruden said he's confident in the Steelers' choice.

"I think Will Howard is a good pick, he's a good player," said Gruden. "He won a National Championship, what else do you want him to do in his college career? He's smart, a great competitor, and he can run."

If Howard is all that he's been hyped up to be, the Steelers could have gotten themselves an under-the-radar steal. Of course, Howard was a widely known prospect, but many didn't consider him more than a second or third-round caliber talent. If Howard eventually rises to become the Steelers' starter, then Pittsburgh getting him in the sixth-round would have been a game-changer.

Steelers Faced Major Decision Going Into The Draft

It's no secret that the two biggest problems that the Steelers faced going into the draft were their quarterback situation and holes in the defensive line. When there was talk of quarterback Shedeur Sanders falling in the draft, many speculated that the Steelers could get him with the 21st overall pick. However, the Steelers made their priorities clear by focusing on the defense.

It's also been speculated that the Steelers only passed on Sanders because they were confident that Rodgers would sign with them soon. Although the Steelers' quarterback situation is still ongoing, the defensive line is in a much better place than before the draft.