PITTSBURGH —As much of the 2025 NFL draft conversation was defined by the idea of character — or at least what precipitated Shedeur Sanders' stock experiencing a Cleveland crash — the Steelers seemed intent on centering their own type of off-the-field focus.

Instead of navigating a world full of egos or outlandish personalities, general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin addressed several needs in ways that should resonate with Steelers fans.

In other words, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon wasn't the only selection with "Steelers DNA." Finding more of that defined Pittsburgh's performance throughout the three-day event.

"It felt like home when I went on my visit there," Harmon said on a conference call from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday night. "I'm happy I'm in Pittsburgh."

"I just try to play the game as physical and as tough as I possible can," added fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer — an edge rusher out of Ohio State — two days later. "I love the storied defenses we've had throughout [Steelers history], and the toughness they play with, and I can't wait to bring a part of that."

I can't wait to see it, honestly.

For as frustrating as the Steelers have been lately, this sort of haul — the players they drafted and the personalities they bring — was exactly what they needed.

They got a successor to Cam Heyward in Harmon. Not only that, they got someone who's big, mean and physical ... but also seemingly an incredible and resilient person.

The story about Harmon's late mother, Tiffany Saine, was heartbreaking.

But who doesn't want the kid who used his NIL money to buy his mom a wheelchair-accessible vehicle? Or the one who internalized the toughness Saine showed during multiple brain surgeries? Harmon fits as a Steeler.

So does Kaleb Johnson, the Iowa running back the Steelers grabbed in the third round on Friday. Google a few of his battering-ram runs as a Hawkeye, and tell me that kid doesn't play the game the right way.

Where Johnson fits with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell is unclear at the moment, but we're also talking about someone who's 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and really seems to thrive on contact.

Similar to Harmon, the Steelers seemed perfectly willing to bet on Johnson's makeup, how he approaches the game while trusting that the details will work out just fine. We've certainly seen professional sports teams operate in worse ways.

"I always want to go the extra mile and help my team," Johnson said. And he was hardly done. Among other gems the consensus All-American offered:

— "I'm a Steeler now. So I'm ready to work."

— "Me and Jaylen Warren, we're going to be very good together. I can't wait to work."

— "I'm going to continue what I've been doing, get better and fix it up and be the best I can for the Steelers."

I know the big-back theory and how it relates to Najee Harris. The Steelers needed someone with more of a home run swing. There's also no guarantee Johnson provides it.

But it's hard to dislike the work ethic, self-awareness or the angry way Johnson runs.

It's also important to remember that Johnson, whose experience running more outside-zone concepts at Iowa, could potentially help second-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith juice more out of the running game.

Smith talked about wanting to be more explosive this season, and he's right. Doesn't hurt to have someone who's a better fit for your scheme.

"I think Kaleb can do it all," Smith said.

We'll find out. We'll also find out where the experienced Sawyer fits.

An edge rusher who'll theoretically land behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, there isn't a crystal-clear path to playing time for the longtime Buckeye who played some of his best football during Ohio State's run to this year's national championship.

The selection of Sawyer was less about plugging a specific hole and more about drafting a football player, someone who fits a culture the Steelers are seemingly trying to re-establish.

"When you have a guy who has all the qualities that he has and intangibles and the winning attitude, those are things that are hard to pass up," defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.

Targeting winners was seemingly one of the pre-draft focuses of the Steelers. Sawyer and sixth-round selection Will Howard won a national title together in Columbus. Harmon's Ducks lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, while Iowa wasn't exactly a conference bottom-feeder.

Another focus was being better against the run after the Steelers failed miserably to do that during their season-ending losing streak, coughing up 157 rushing yards per game.

"We need to be more dominant up front," defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. "The way you get dominant up front is to get youth."

And size and character, which were seemingly traits that led the Steelers to fifth-round nose tackle Yahya Black. The Marshall, Minn., native should come with his own zip code; he's listed at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds and profiles as the immovable run-stuffer the Steelers have lacked.

Black fits a coherent strategy, the same for Sawyer, who should help against the run and actually saw his pass-rush profile grow a bunch this past year. Sawyer had 4.5 sacks over Ohio State's final four games and generated 64 pressures on the season, per Pro Football Focus, fourth-most among college edge rushers.

"It's just hard-nosed and tough," Black said of his impressions of Pittsburgh. "They're doing the right thing."

While the outside world wondered what happened to Sanders, whether his attitude during meetings caused his fall or perhaps teams simply didn't want to deal with his aura or annoying father, the Steelers found their own little character cocoon.

And good on them.

The negativity surrounding the Steelers has been awfully high, the result of the lack of playoff success and doing the same stuff over and over again. But drafting these type of players will never go out of style.

Even Howard will offer an intriguing quarterback project after the Kansas State transfer amassed 11,141 yards and 111 touchdowns during his collegiate career. The 6-4, 235-pounder can move a little. He also has plenty of arm strength, though there's obviously work ahead with consistency, accuracy and learning the NFL game.

"I cannot wait to delve into this situation and to really give my all to this team," Howard said. "Because that's how I do things. I don't do things halfway; I go all in. And I have every expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be amazing for me."

Everything sounds great now, but it obviously won't work out for the entire group. Some guys will be over-matched. Others might battle injuries. The sizzle that you hear now will inevitably fade.

But if we're going to look at addressing needs and doing so in a way that furthers team culture, one that predates my lifetime and will always matter in a blue-collar town, I'm more than comfortable with the process that led the Steelers to their 2025 draft class.

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