PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Steelers keeping the 2025 draft class in the Big 10, landing Iowa defensive lineman Yahya Black in the fifth round after trading back with the Chiefs to add another seventh-round pick.
The last two seasons, Black was named Honorable Mention All-Big 10 with 85 total tackles over those two years, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 7 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
Likely he will be a nose tackle, but has the ability to play on the outside. He is 6’6”, 336 pounds and gained 57 pounds since starting at Iowa as a freshman.
“Good, physical young man, like the things he brings to the table in the fifth round,” said Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.
Dunbar said the depth added with Black and first-round pick Derrick Harmon and that is key for guys like Cam Heyward. He said for the other players currently on the roster with the addition of two drafted rookies ‘if you want to eat, go take your food’.
He then added this.
“I think if you want to be good up front, you got to have a good rotation,” Dunbar said Saturday. “When Cam Heyward is playing 55-60 plays a game in the fourth quarter, you don’t have what you want. If you can get that to 30-35 snaps a game and you got a good rotation going, everyone will be fresh and then your best players can play their best at the end of the game.”
Dunbar said both of the drafted defensive lineman will benefit from being with Heyward.
“It’s like being in the church, youth and wisdom,” Dunbar said. “They have youth and Cam has wisdom. Some things you try to give to a person, but I think a lot of players respect players who have been through it.”
Steelers have made it a point, they are going to improve that defensive line and did so with two of the top four picks.