Fifth round: 'F-350' Black reinforces defensive trench
After trading the 156th pick to the Chiefs for the 164th and 226th picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers used the acquired fifth-round pick to select Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black.
At 6-6 and 336 pounds, Black is a massive nose tackle that has the ability to eat space and stop the run.
"Like I've been saying throughout the process, he's a big chassis, okay. There's F-150s. He's like an F-350," Mike Tomlin said after the draft. "He's a big man and really stout against the run. You can always use a skill set like that certainly."
But, the Steelers don't just look at him as some old-school nose tackle that can't do anything else. Today's NFL demands versatility on the defensive line, and that's exactly what the Steelers will expect of him.
"I think he's going to be able to play all over," Karl Dunbar said. "I think he's going to play a four-technique. He can play nose, but I think we have a pretty good nose tackle on staff right now."
The Steelers had Black on their radar throughout the draft process. They hosted him for a pre-draft visit, which made an impression on Black in a number of ways.
"First, can we talk about how pretty it is when you drive into Pittsburgh? Like, going through the tunnel and then it opens up into the beautiful city? That's what I saw first," Black said. "Just everybody in that facility, everybody around there, they have such a great mindset. Really, just takes me back to my college days at Iowa. Just hard-nosed, tough. They're doing the right things."
Black is now thrust into a room with a lot of names. Of course, Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and first-round pick Derrick Harmon are at the top. Daniel Ekuale, Montravius Adams, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade, DeMarvin Leal, Esezi Otomewo and Black's former Iowa teammate Logan Lee are among those that will be part of an intense competition in training camp this summer.
"It's about competition, that's why we're sitting in this room is competition," Dunbar said. "If you want to eat, go take your food. That's what it's all about."
The team's intentions are clear, and have remained the same since Omar Khan became general manager: Beef up the trenches. The first two drafts, it was the offensive line. Now, it's the defensive line's turn.
"We need to be more dominant up front," Dunbar said. "The way you get dominant up front is to get youth. I think he's going to be a great addition to the group."
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
3:09 pm - 04.26.2025South SideFifth round: 'F-350' Black reinforces defensive trench
After trading the 156th pick to the Chiefs for the 164th and 226th picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers used the acquired fifth-round pick to select Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black.
At 6-6 and 336 pounds, Black is a massive nose tackle that has the ability to eat space and stop the run.
"Like I've been saying throughout the process, he's a big chassis, okay. There's F-150s. He's like an F-350," Mike Tomlin said after the draft. "He's a big man and really stout against the run. You can always use a skill set like that certainly."
But, the Steelers don't just look at him as some old-school nose tackle that can't do anything else. Today's NFL demands versatility on the defensive line, and that's exactly what the Steelers will expect of him.
"I think he's going to be able to play all over," Karl Dunbar said. "I think he's going to play a four-technique. He can play nose, but I think we have a pretty good nose tackle on staff right now."
The Steelers had Black on their radar throughout the draft process. They hosted him for a pre-draft visit, which made an impression on Black in a number of ways.
"First, can we talk about how pretty it is when you drive into Pittsburgh? Like, going through the tunnel and then it opens up into the beautiful city? That's what I saw first," Black said. "Just everybody in that facility, everybody around there, they have such a great mindset. Really, just takes me back to my college days at Iowa. Just hard-nosed, tough. They're doing the right things."
Black is now thrust into a room with a lot of names. Of course, Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and first-round pick Derrick Harmon are at the top. Daniel Ekuale, Montravius Adams, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade, DeMarvin Leal, Esezi Otomewo and Black's former Iowa teammate Logan Lee are among those that will be part of an intense competition in training camp this summer.
"It's about competition, that's why we're sitting in this room is competition," Dunbar said. "If you want to eat, go take your food. That's what it's all about."
The team's intentions are clear, and have remained the same since Omar Khan became general manager: Beef up the trenches. The first two drafts, it was the offensive line. Now, it's the defensive line's turn.
"We need to be more dominant up front," Dunbar said. "The way you get dominant up front is to get youth. I think he's going to be a great addition to the group."
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