The Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth-round selection of Yahya Black in the 2025 NFL Draft initially left questions about how the defensive lineman would fit into the team’s scheme. However, recent updates about his physique have clarified expectations: Black appears poised to anchor the defensive line as a nose tackle.
A Thursday highlighted Black’s current weight of 352 pounds at 6’5”, with head coach Mike Tomlin humorously dubbing him an “F-350.” This marks a notable shift from earlier listings, which fluctuated widely during his college career. While Sports Reference listed him at 287 pounds during his early days at Iowa, ESPN and Iowa’s official site later cited weights ranging from 279 to 317 pounds.
Game footage, however, always suggested Black played heavier than those numbers implied. His weight stabilized around 336-337 pounds during pre-draft events like the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, though he trimmed to 330 pounds for Iowa’s Pro Day. Now, at 352 pounds, his trajectory seems clear.
Black’s size and athletic testing further solidify this role. At the Combine, his 5.39-second 40-yard dash (5th percentile) and 1.88-second 10-yard split (1st percentile) underscored limited agility for a traditional 3-4 defensive end. Adding bulk only reinforces the Steelers’ likely plan to deploy him as a run-stuffing nose tackle, filling a critical need after last season’s defensive struggles.
Pittsburgh’s first-round pick, Derrick Harmon, is expected to occupy the 3-4 defensive end role akin to Cam Heyward, leaving Black to focus on clogging gaps at 0- or 1-technique. With his updated weight signaling a commitment to interior dominance, Black’s path in 2025 now appears unmistakable.
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