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Steelers Brass Skips Ohio State Pro Day
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- Steelers Brass Skips Ohio State Pro Day
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan during the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
COLUMBUS, OHIO —Despite previous reports, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike McCarthy are not at the Ohio State pro day. Just assistant general manager Andy Weidl and area scout Jim Ward are in attendance.
The Steelers usually sent a large contingent to Columbus, but things are different now under McCarthy .
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While the Steelers prep for the Pittsburgh-held 2026 NFL Draft, they may need a home run or two as FanDuel NFL odds currently have them third in the North Division. Certain states, not Pennsylvania, can also bet on who the first-overall pick will be.
So far, Khan and McCarthy have only been to the Georgia pro day . Like every year, Ohio State has a slew of NFL prospects. Safety Caleb Downs , linebacker Sonny Styles , linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese, wide receiver Carnell Tate and nose tackle Kayden McDonald will headline Ohio State's pro day.
Ohio State could have five prospects drafted in the first round.
Downs, a two-time consensus All-American, is tabbed as the No. 8 overall prospect in this year's draft on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. The Steelers own the No. 21 overall pick in the order.
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NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein spoke glowingly of Downs in a scouting report, comparing him to the Houston Texans ' Jalen Pitre .
"Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State," Zierlein wrote. "Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He's at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. … Downs isn't the biggest, fastest or most versatile player, but he consistently puts his stamp on games."
Sonny Styles turned heads at the NFL Combine. He measured in at an impressive 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, combining ideal size with athletic upside. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, a standout time for a linebacker of his frame, demonstrating the kind of speed that allows him to track ball carriers in open space.
Styles also posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump and a 11-foot-2 broad jump, highlighting his lower-body explosiveness and ability to burst through gaps. His length and wingspan were evident during position drills, where he moved fluidly in coverage and showed comfort dropping into passing lanes, traits that fit perfectly with today's hybrid linebacker role.
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The Steelers met with Ohio State nose tackle Kayden McDonald at the NFL Combine. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound behemoth already has several ties to the team, starting with his relationship with future Hall of Famer Cam Heyward .
"We have a great relationship—their family, my family. The Steelers are a great organization… I had a formal interview with them and felt really good about it." With the 37-year-old still playing at an incredibly high level worthy of All-Pro honors just this past season, there's a good chance that he'll be interested in running it back for at least another season. As for what that means for an incoming rookie, McDonald explained, "Learning from Cam, he's one of the best players to do it. Having him around, and Connor, just that brotherhood makes me think I'd fit right in with them."
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Columbus
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Brass Skips Ohio State Pro Day
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