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After losing both of their starting quarterbacks and their starting running back from the 2024 season that ended in a wild-card loss to the division-champion Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in some new faces to help them in 2025.
On top of the 10 veterans they brought in either via trade or free agency, the Steelers also added seven first-year players in the 2025 NFL draft and signed 10 more as undrafted free agents who could make the team and make an impact as rookies.
While there's plenty of talent in Pittsburgh's rookie class, not many are expected to crack the starting lineups on offense or defense. In fact, Bleacher Report's Matt Holder has only one rookie starting for the Steelers in 2025, running back Kaleb Johnson.
Johnson, 21, was Pittsburgh's third-round pick (No. 83 overall) this year, following a three-year career at Iowa that saw him earn All-Big Ten and All-American honors in 2024 as well as the Big Ten Running Back of the Year Award.
In 35 collegiate games, Johnson rushed for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per attempt and caught 29 passes for an additional 240 yards and two scores.
He'll likely land in front of Jaylen Warren on the depth chart and fill the starting running back role left by Najee Harris, who inked a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.
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It's intriguing that defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh's first-round pick out of Oregon, isn't being considered a starter. Instead, Holder predicts the Steelers will have Keeanu Benton lined up next to Cameron Heyward. Benton obviously has a leg up as the veteran former second-round pick with two years of NFL experience, but Harmon has the first-round pedigree that may make it hard for the Mike Tomlin to keep him on the bench.
Even if Benton is the starter in Week 1, there's a strong chance that Harmon claims the job as he gets used to the speed and strength of the professional game.
It's also very possible that sixth-round pick Will Howard beats out Mason Rudolph for the starting job. We've seen Rudolph play in the NFL for years, and he's not a starting quarterback. It seems unlikely that Howard can make that jump, but he should get an opportunity to compete for it throughout training camp and into the preseason.
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