Steelers Snag A Bargain In Yahya Black With 164th Pick In 2025 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting together a fascinating 2025 NFL Draft class. General Manager Omar Khan, now leading his third draft, is once again earning high marks from Steelers fans for the way the board has unfolded. Pittsburgh has done an impressive job addressing key needs while also striking a strong balance between immediate help and long-term potential.

In the fifth round, holding the 164th overall selection, the Steelers drafted Yahya Black, a defensive linemen from Iowa. Pittsburgh moved back from the 156th pick, picking up both the 164th and 226th selections in the process. It was another example of the Steelers' patient, calculated approach, landing a player who fits seamlessly into their scheme and locker room culture without having to force a pick. Black brings exciting upside at a position where depth and steady development are critical.

Of course, fifth-round picks are never sure things. But given the Steelers' strong history of molding late-round talent, Black will have a real chance to carve out a role. With Pittsburgh’s coaching staff and culture behind him, the Steelers may have uncovered another late-round gem to add to their growing young nucleus.

The Steelers made a quiet but meaningful move in the fifth round, sliding back from pick 156 to 164 and scooping up Black along with an extra late selection. It was a classic Pittsburgh move — no panic, no flash — just the kind of calculated patience that has built the foundation of their roster for years. Black, a rare blend of size and athleticism for a defensive linemen, fits right into the Steelers’ blueprint of drafting physical, versatile players who can be molded into long-term contributors.

Black arrives in Pittsburgh with the tools you can’t teach — towering frame, aggressive instincts, and raw power — and lands in a system that knows how to sharpen the rough edges of promising prospects. In a league where depth is tested every week, especially in the trenches, Black’s upside could eventually make him one of the more important value picks of this draft class. He’s exactly the type of player who tends to quietly grow into something special in Pittsburgh.

Steelers Add More Depth To Stop The Run

The Steelers struggled badly to stop the run when it mattered most down the stretch of the 2024 season. By adding Black, a space-eating defensive lineman who they announced as a defensive end, Pittsburgh is taking clear steps to fix that. Black becomes the second Hawkeye to land in the Steel City, and at 6'5" and 317 pounds, he’s a massive presence inside. Many view him as a great value pick at this stage of the draft.

The defensive line was a clear area of concern, and the Steelers were able to pick up extra selections while still getting their guy. They've now addressed the position twice, with their first-round pick at 21st overall used to grab Derrick Harmon. It's exactly what many close to the team believed was Pittsburgh’s biggest need — and clearly, the Steelers' front office agreed. Stopping the run is essential to their success, and Black has the tools to become a valuable depth piece who could eventually carve out a significant role.

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