The Pittsburgh Steelers are becoming Iowa City East after spending another draft pick on a former Iowa Hawkeye. With their second-round pick on Friday night, the Steelers selected former Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson to bolster their backfield.
On Saturday afternoon, Pittsburgh used a fifth-round pick to select a former Iowa defensive lineman.
With the 164th pick in the 2025 #NFLDraft, we select DE Yahya Black. pic.twitter.com/YuIIfxZ80M
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 26, 2025
Yahya Black will not have to change jersey colors as he goes from the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Black was the No. 164 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Black had a solid career for the Hawkeyes. He tallied 117 total tackles (51 solo, 66 assisted), 5.5 sacks, and 3.0 forced fumbles in five seasons. This includes 27 career starts (13 coming last season).
Black is an enormous human, standing at six feet six and weighing 336 pounds. He cannot be moved off the line easily, and excels in the running game. He has a seven-foot wingspan and uses his length to get by would-be tacklers.
He is not the fastest defensive lineman, but he moves smoothly for a big man. Good luck to any offensive lineman who attempts to block him in the running game.
Black struggles in the pass rush, showing very few passing rushing moves that will translate to the NFL. He has all the athletic tools to succeed if he is used in the right system.
The Pittsburgh Steelers always find a way to utilize big, powerful defensive linemen and Black fits that profile. With some work, the Steelers can use him as a reserve rusher at the nose tackle position. He will need to work on his pass-rushing skills, but the Steelers can utilize his size and strength.
Pittsburgh ranked in the top ten in rushing defense last season, and bolstered their defensive line with the addition of Yahya Black in the fifth round.