Join the Post-Gazette's team of Steelers experts throughout the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL draft LIVE from Mike's Beer Bar as they discuss each pick all the way up to and after Pittsburgh's scheduled slot at No. 83 overall.
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Host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey to recap Day 2 of the NFL draft from a Steelers perspective.
Was Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson too good a value to pass up at pick No. 83? Or should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin have waited to dip into a deep running back class with names like Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten or DJ Giddens or Trevor Etienne? How does Johnson fit within OC Arthur Smith's scheme? And a backfield that already includes names like Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell? And how should we interpret Johnson coming to Pittsburgh with a similar style to the recently departed Najee Harris? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Our duo tackles those questions, then talks QBs as Shedeur Sanders continues to tumble from perceived Day 1 status heading into the draft. How much consideration did he deserve for the Steelers? Who enter Day with long-term QB questions? Would the attention around Sanders have been a bad fit with potentially a No. 3 role in the QB room behind Mason Rudolph and Aaron Rodgers? How does he stack up with other Day 3 QB options like Will Howard and Kyle McCord? And how much consideration did Jalen Milroe deserve before going to the Seattle Seahawks a few picks later?
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Join the Post-Gazette's team of Steelers experts throughout the first round of the 2025 NFL draft LIVE from Mike's Beer Bar as they discuss each pick all the way up to and after Pittsburgh's scheduled slot at No. 21. Join Adam Bittner, Christopher Carter, Paul Zeise, Jason Mackey, Ray Fittipaldo and Brian Batko to get their reactions to the big news as it happens. Will GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin fortify their defensive line with top prospects like Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen or Kenneth Grant? Will they aim for a possible franchise quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart? Could they go off-script completely and grab names like Omarion Hampton at RB or Jahdae Barron at CB? And will they consider a trade to move up, down or add picks by moving a name like George Pickens or T.J. Watt? Our team ponders those questions amid an offseason that's already included a big trade for DK Metcalf and a long pursuit of QB Aaron Rodgers. For more sports, visit post-gazette.com
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On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to the team's selection of DT Derrick Harmon at No. 21 overall in the NFL draft.
Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make the right call in going with Harmon over QBs like Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart or RBs like Omarion Hampton, who ended up being available late in the first round? Will they regret missing out on other DT prospects like Walter Nolen and Kenneth Grant, who went earlier in the first round? And how does Harmon fit on the defensive line alongside names like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton?
Our duo tackles those questions, then looks ahead to Day 2, on which the Steelers hold the 83rd overall pick in the third round. Will they chase a QB like Sanders, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Shough, Will Howard or Kyle McCord? Will they look to add from this deep running back class that includes names like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson and Kaleb Johnson? Or will they look at names at other positions including Alfred Collins on the defensive line or Azareye'h Thomas at cornerback? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
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Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley recap the Pirates' series victory in Anaheim, Calif., over the Angels. The recap begins with a look at Andrew Heaney's early dominance, then transitions into highlighting the consistent production the Pirates are now receiving from the top third of their lineup from names like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen. The duo then discusses the roster moves made by the team Thursday afternoon, which included Jack Suwinski being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and Mike Burrows and Matt Gorski being called up to the big-league club. The video is concluded with a series preview for the Pirates' upcoming three-game set against the Dodgers this weekend. How will Paul Skenes fare in his homecoming game against Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and the defending World Series champions? Can he outpitch Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
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In his weekly Pirates mailbag, insider Noah Hiles answers readers questions while the team plays on the West Coast. Will hot-hitting Enmanuel Valdez have a spot when Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales return from injuries? Will Henry Davis go back to Triple-A when Endy Rodriguez comes back? And was Andrew McCutchen forced on Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton?
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Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to give his thoughts on the Steelers, the NFL draft, the end of the Penguins’ season and the Pirates’ West Coast road trip.
On the football side, is Derrick Harmon the most uncomplicated pick for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin? What about Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen along the defensive line? And where do QBs Sheduer Sanders and Jaxson Dart fit into that conversation?
Later, the duo reacts to Penguins GM Kyle Dubas appearing to signal in post-season comments Tuesday that he's looking more toward 2026-27 than next season in terms of competing meaningfully in the Eastern Conference. Is he being too passive with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang on the roster? How aggressively should he shop in NHL free agency this summer? Or move bad contracts owed to Tristan Jarry, Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves? And where does coach Mike Sullivan figure into all of it?
Then finally, in a segment airing on the Post-Gazette’s Pirates YouTube channel, the guys react to Andrew McCutchen’s angst about his playing time. Does he deserve better from manager Derek Shelton and GM Ben Cherington? How much longer does McCutchen plan to play? And is Shelton’s lineup turnover an overall problem as well?
Our duo tackles those questions, then discusses the team’s mediocre record when Paul Skenes is on the mound and pressure on owner Bob Nutting after loud “sell the team” chants continued during the last homestand.
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On a special Thursday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Ray Fittipaldo and Christopher Carter preview the first round of the NFL draft.
How closely is GM Omar Khan really eyeing QBs including Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe as he holds the No. 21 overall pick? Could he and coach Mike Tomlin really pull the trigger and take one of those guys? Or are they trying to keep other teams guessing?
If the Steelers don't go quarterback, is the eventual pick likely to come from the group of DLs Derrick Harmon, Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen, or RBs Omarion Hampton and TreVeyon Henderson?
And what are the chances a trade happens? Could Khan to move back in the first round to add additional draft capital? Believing one of his top targets will still be available later? Could he move a T.J. Watt or George Pickens to make the night more interesting? And what should we make of comments by Tomlin and Khan about Aaron Rodgers? Our duo tackles all of that and more.
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Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. With the NFL draft looming, will Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin commit to George Pickens and T.J. Watt in the end? Or could one or both players still move on draft day if the team doesn't believe it will re-sign them for 2026 and beyond? What are Paul's final thoughts who the first-round pick will ultimately be? A defensive lineman like Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen or Derrick Harmon? A QB like Shedeur Sanders of Jaxson Dart? Or someone from another position group like Omarion Hampton at RB or Jahdae Barron? And on the baseball front, what should we make of Andrew McCutchen's big night for the Pirates in a much-needed victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.?
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Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable preview the NFL draft, taking place Thursday through Saturday in Green Bay, Wis. Which Panthers are most likely to be selected this weekend? Is Konata Mumpfield a potential mid-round sleeper pick at wide receiver like Bub Means was a season ago? Will the 6-foot-6 Pitt captain Branson Taylor find a place on an NFL offensive line? Will Ben Sauls get the chance to prove himself as a kicker at the game's highest level? Will local product Donovan McMillon fulfill his NFL dreams? And what does this year's draft so about the overall state of Pat Narduzzi's program? Our duo answers those questions and more.
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