Kicking things off: Let the games begin.
Well, at least the NFL Scouting Combine.
After a few days of hearing from coaches and general managers in Indianapolis, players begin to hit the field today at Lucas Oil Stadium.
And it all starts with the defensive line and linebackers.
"It's a defensive line heavy draft," said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who kicked off the network's coverage with Rich Eisen. "Defensive tackle, edge rushers, absolutely loaded at those two positions. And they're going to kick us off here."
Defensive line is a position many draft gurus have been praising for depth and strength, and for a team looking for an impact player or even just to boost depth, this is the year.
"I'm excited about this draft," said Jeremiah. "It's a starter's draft is how I would phrase it. Going through and watching all these guys for the combine and talking to a bunch of people around the league, some positions maybe don't have that superstar that we have had in years past, but we do have a boatload of starters, particularly the defensive line. A bunch of really, really good players."
In several of his mock drafts, Jeremiah has the Steelers going on the offensive side of the ball in the first round, but he does think the talent is there if they opt for a defensive lineman with the 21st overall pick in the first round.
"If you are looking at Pick 21 for the Steelers, Mykel Williams (Georgia) would be a lot of fun just because the physicality they require, setting the edge, all that stuff. He checks that box," said Jeremiah. "I think he has so much upside as a rusher. I don't anticipate he'll be there at that point in time. Him and Mike Green (Marshall) are probably both gone, but either one of those picks would be to me home runs.
"Shemar Stewart is as raw as can be. There is a lot to work with. I can't imagine with someone with his physical gifts that he has, getting a chance to learn from T.J. Watt, that would be fun if he were to get where he is capable of getting talent-wise. There's a lot in his body.
"They'll have options. If they want to go with an edge rusher, they're going to have someone there that's worthy of that pick. They're not going to have to reach if that's truly the position that they wish to address."
Making an impression: With Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar watching closely from the field, and conducting some of the drills himself, there were a lot of players who put on a show.
And one of them was edge rusher James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee.
Pearce showed off his speed with a 4.47 40-yard dash, the best of all the defensive linemen.
He also showed the speed in drills, something that didn't go unnoticed.
"Oh man that's pretty good," said NFL Network's Charles Davis. "That's pretty good."
It's not just his straight-ahead speed that opened eyes, but his overall movement.
"That confirmed the straight-ahead speed," said Davis. "Very good side to side. Really no loss of movement. The fluidity on it is really impressive."
All in the family: Steelers scout Mark Bruener is closely watching all of the players at the combine, but there isn't anyone who likely has his attention more than a linebacker from the University of Washington.
And that's because it's his son.
Huskies' linebacker Carson Bruener is participating in the combine, running a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash on both of his turns.
The young Bruener said he had gotten plenty of advice from his father, who was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft and played nine seasons for the team.
"He's given me a lot of great pointers," said Bruener. "Biggest thing is he's not a helicopter dad. He lets me enjoy this whole journey and just be myself. He'll give me pointers and tips here and there. I don't know what my true scouting report on myself really is. I haven't asked him, nor has he told me.
"He told me, 'You control what you can control, and you've done everything at this point to be where you're at.' I'm here, and this was my goal to be here, and I feel blessed to be here."
Bruener said he hasn't read any of his dad's scouting reports on himself and when he was interviewed by the Steelers at the Shrine Bowl, dad took a back seat.
"I walked in and there was a second room of interviews," shared Bruener. "There was a certain amount of teams in each one, 15-minute interviews. The Steelers were the first team I met with in that room. My dad was sitting right across the table and he kind of stood up. He was going to leave no matter what and just kind of walk into the back wall.
"He doesn't want to be a hovering parent. He'll eavesdrop and listen in. He knows everything about me already. I mean, we talk every single day, so it was something where he wanted me to get that true experience that every other player's getting, a true interview without having your dad sitting right there. That was something I really appreciated, him kind of giving me my space and letting me be able to enjoy this moment. After the fact, we were able to go get dinner and talk about everything. But both of us being there in that moment was truly special."
Plenty to talk about: During the NFL Scouting Combine, every team has the opportunity to talk to a total of 60 players for a 15-minute interview.
Which means, there will be a lot more talking than actually drafting or signing a player, because nobody is going to add 60 rookies to their roster.
So, while people might get excited when they hear a team talk to a specific prospect, yes, it shows there is an interest, but it doesn't mean they will end up on the team.
Among the defensive linemen who spoke to the Steelers were Michigan's Kenneth Grant and Oregon's Derrick Harmon, to name a few.
"I met with the Steelers. Very serious," said Grant. "They want competitors. They want dudes that are ready to go.
"He's (Coach Mike Tomlin) a pretty cool dude. Most people think he's so serious, but he's all about his business. He's easy to communicate with."
Another player who was impressed with Tomlin was Harmon, who said Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is someone he watches in the NFL.
"That's a great guy," said Harmon. "That's a guy you can sit down and have an hour talk with, a two hour talk with, talk ball, talk life. Just a great guy to talk to."
A perfect script: A player who had the longest journey to the combine is Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein.
Hassanein was raised in Cairo, Egypt and didn't move to the United States until he was 16-years old when his brother, who was raised in America, brought him to live with him.
It's the type of story Hollywood scripts are made of, but this one is true.
Hassanein's older brother, Cory Besch, introduced his younger brother to football and the rest is history.
Hassanein went from a kid who knew nothing about the sport and didn't speak English to a top NFL prospect.
"I don't know if I've ever met a player more eager and excited to be at the combine than Ahmed Hassanein out of Boise State," said Stacey Dales during the NFL Network broadcast. "I just spoke to him. He's the first Egyptian player to not only play college football, but to be here at the combine. He's going to be the first Egyptian player drafted in the NFL.
"I spoke to him and he said five years ago I couldn't speak English. He spoke Arabic and he said I didn't play football. His brother, who's watching, is a teacher and a high school coach, actually went over to Egypt, talked to the family and said let's bring him back.
"So, they brought him back over here to the U.S. to play football and he tried out at receiver. He told me he couldn't catch. They tried linebacker, and he said it was too much. So, they said, go get the quarterback. That's what he's done.
"I just love this guy. His energy will blow you through the roof ."
Dales isn't the only fan of his. So is Jeremiah.
"Talk about having the odds stacked against you," said Jeremiah. "I mean, to come out of that environment with just no experience and no knowledge of the sport, and to be on the precipice of being selected as one of the top players. It's pretty incredible."
And he doesn't take for granted how incredible it is. He showed amazing energy during the drills, challenging the coaches who were running the drills as much as they were challenging him.
"Being at the combine is an amazing feeling and I'm so grateful for it," said Hassanein. "The sky is the limit for me. I have the will to learn and I'm eager to learn. I'm grateful for this opportunity.
"Not a lot of people get to come to the combine. Being one of them after five years of American football and five years of learning the English language, I'm so grateful. God willing I'll be the first Egyptian to ever get drafted. That's a huge honor to me and a huge honor to my country."
Out like a Lion: Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter isn't just the best of the bunch on the defensive line, but he also is predicted to be the overall No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by many. If Carter is taken with the first overall pick, Penn State will become the sixth school to have at least three players selected first overall in the modern draft era, joining USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Ohio State and Stanford.
Carter isn't taking part in the on-field activities at the combine, dealing with a foot injury that according to reports from the combine is a stress reaction in his right foot.
Carter does plan to work out at his Pro Day at Penn State near the end of March, but his time at the combine is mainly focused on interviews, medical and such.
"I'm really just starting to heat it up right now," said Carter. "I just got cleared, really started training, started working out again. So, my next couple weeks look like just me getting right, me getting ready for my pro day and once I get to my pro day to perform at an elite level."
Performing at an elite level isn't an issue for him as Carter was a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
"I think I bring energy, effort, versatility," said Carter. "I feel like when the biggest moments come around, that's when I play at my best.
"I feel like (teams) definitely need a franchise edge rusher. If you look at all the great teams, all the great teams that won Super Bowls, you have that one standout, great defensive player and I feel like I'm that."
Confidence isn't an issue for Carter, who said it comes from the work that he has put in from the time he started playing football.
"I would say the work I put in my whole life," said Carter. "My dad, he trained me to be the best player I can be, and not just being the best on the field, but off the field. Knowing all the work I put in, all the training I did, all the sacrifices I made, I know I'm the best."
Steelers influence: An interesting defensive lineman is Ole Miss do-it-all J.J. Pegues, who made the switch from tight end to defensive line and has even been used as a short-yardage running back.
"I'm comfortable playing both sides of the ball," said Pegues. "And I'm here now just because of that."
Pegues transferred from Auburn to Ole Miss after his freshman season and said it was former Steelers defensive lineman Nick Eason, who was the defensive line coach at Auburn in 2021, who had a huge impact on him.
"He really just dumbed everything down for me, he made things simple for me, simplified everything, from the pass rush to the run game and being violent," said Pegues. "I put my faith in him, and he poured into me."
In talking about him on the broadcast, Rich Eisen said it best.
"The more you can do."
Making an impression: NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales is providing insight from the field during the combine, including sharing her take on Michigan's Mason Graham, who is not taking part in on-field drills due to a 'left heel bruise.'
"He's dealing with a left heel bruise," said Dales during the drills. "They don't want to push it. They're going to wait for his pro day at Michigan.
"But there's not a whole lot you just can't fall in love with when it comes to Mason Graham. His character is off the charts. He told us this week there's no mystery to who I am. I love football. I'm all about business. But his impact on the field is obviously really special.
"I asked him this week to describe what he thinks his game looks like or feels like, and he told me, I feel like I'm just dominant. He said I'm at least one of the most consistent players on every down. I'm dominant on every down and there isn't a down he likes to take off.
Graham was a consensus first-team All-American selection in 2024, and a second-team selection in 2023.
"Count has gone up every year at Michigan," said Dales. "He doesn't want to come off the field. They don't want to take him off the field. In fact, last season, almost 550 snaps in 12 games. But in 10 of those games, 45 plus snaps. And it's that consistency, with all that time on the field, he is most proud of. Can't wait to see him at his pro day."
All the numbers: If you are searching for the in-depth numbers from the NFL Combine, the NFL has you covered. Be sure to check out the NFL Combine Next Gen Stats for all the details you want and then some.
Combine rewind: A look back at the 2024 NFL Combine per NFL Research:
With the 2025 NFL Combine getting underway today, below is a recap of the 2024 NFL Combine.
2024 NFL Combine Leaders
40-Yard Dash: 4.21 by Xavier Worthy (NFL Combine record since at least 2003)
Vertical Jump: 42.5" by Daequan Hardy/Elijah Jones/Jalen Coker/Malik Washington
Broad Jump: 12'2" by Tyler Owens
Bench Press: 39 by Beaux Limmer
Tallest Player: 6'8 5/8" by Joe Alt
Shortest Player: 5'7 3/8" by Emani Bailey
Heaviest Player: 366 by T'Vondre Sweat
Lightest Player: 165 by Xavier Worthy
Fastest 40-Yard Dash Since 2003:
TEX WR Xavier Worthy 2024 4.21
WASH WR John Ross 2017 4.22
BAYLOR CB Kalon Barnes 2022 4.23
ECU RB Chris Johnson 2008 4.24
UTSA CB Riq Woolen 2022 4.26
MICH CB DJ Turner II 2023 4.26
KENT RB Dri Archer 2014 4.26
HAMP WR Jerome Mathis 2005 4.26
- DB Tyler Owens (12'2") became the 2nd player in combine history (since at least 2003) to broad jump 12+ feet, joining Cowboys 2015 1st round pick Byron Jones
- OL Garret Greenfield's 38.5 vertical jump was the highest by an offensive lineman and the highest by a player 300+ lbs at the combine since 2003
- WR Johnny Wilson (6'6 3/8") was the tallest WR measured at the combine since 2003
- OL Tanor Bortolini joined former Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce as the only OL at the combine since 2003 to have a sub-4.3 20-yd shuttle and a sub-7.3 3-cone
- OL Frank Crum's 4.94 40-yard dash was the fastest by an OL 6'8" or taller at the combine since 2003
- 6 players ran a sub 4.4 40-yard dash and had a 40"+ vertical (T-most at a single combine since 2003)
- Michael Penix Jr. was the first quarterback at the combine since 2003 to be shorter than 6'3" and have an 80+" wingspan
- RB Isaac Guerendo joined WR DK Metcalf as the only players at the combine since 2003 to be 220+ pounds, have a 40+" vertical jump and run a sub-4.35 40-yd dash
- WR Malik Washington's 42.5" vertical jump was the highest by a WR under 5'9" at the combine since 2003
NFL Combine Participants - Defensive Line
Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland
Darius Alexander, Toledo
Tyler Baron, Miami
Tyler Batty, BYU
Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech
Yahya Black, Iowa
Warren Brinson, Georgia
Vernon Broughton, Texas
Jordan Burch, Oregon
Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Alfred Collins, Texas
Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
Fadil Diggs, Syracuse
Ethan Downs, Oklahoma
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Joshua Farmer, Florida State
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Mason Graham, Michigan
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Mike Green, Marshall
Eric Gregory, Arkansas
Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Jared Harrison-Hunte, SMU
Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
Cam Horsley, Boston College
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
Jared Ivey, Mississippi
Cam Jackson, Florida
Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Sai'vion Jones, LSU
Jah Joyner, Minnesota
DeAndre Jules, South Carolina
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Steve Linton, Baylor
Sean Martin, West Virginia
Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
Walter Nolen, Mississippi
Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Payton Page, Clemson
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
JJ Pegues, Mississippi
Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Jahvaree Ritzie, North Carolina
Elijah Roberts, SMU
Que Robinson, Alabama
Ty Robinson, Nebraska
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Elijah Simmons, Tennessee
Tim Smith, Alabama
Barryn Sorrell, Texas
Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Bradyn Swinson, LSU
Junior Tafuna, Utah
Jay Toia, UCLA
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
David Walker, Central Arkansas
Deone Walker, Kentucky
CJ West, Indiana
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
NFL Combine Participants - Linebackers
Eugene Asante, Auburn
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Carson Bruener, Washington
Teddye Buchanan, Cal
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
Power Echols, North Carolina
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Shemar James, Florida
Kobe King, Penn State
Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Bam Martin-Scott, South Carolina
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Jalen McLeod, Auburn
Kain Medrano, UCLA
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
Tyreem Powell, Rutgers
Karene Reid, Utah
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Cody Simon, Ohio State
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jackson Woodard, UNLV
Up Next: Defensive backs and tight ends take the field on Friday in Indianapolis.
