The Steelers’ 2025 undrafted free agent class is here. As always, it’s full of college stars who not everyone has heard of, but this year’s group is a little more high profile than usual with a few players who could legitimately challenge for roster spots over the summer.
With that in mind, I went back and watched a game or two of every player in this year’s UDFA class, putting together mini scouting reports for these seven new Steelers:
Roc Taylor, WR, Memphis
Taylor is the first player I watched in this class, and he looks the part of an NFL wide receiver. He stands at 6’2, 213 pounds with sub-4.5 speed. He put up a respectable 7.23 RAS. Taylor’s career college statistics aren’t too bad either, with back-to-back 65-plus-catch seasons where he logged 1,083 and 950 yards, respectively (and seven career touchdowns).
On the field, Taylor is a bit inconsistent, but there are flashes of quick footwork, sharp routes, and breakaway speed. However, he doesn't always pull away as urgently as you’d like to see. He doesn’t catch the best through contact, but still was able to use his size for some highlight-reel grabs in 2024. Taylor has the build of an NFL boundary receiver, and while he isn’t the fiercest of blockers, he was able to use his size to his advantage against defensive backs.
Taylor is a name to keep an eye on in the Steelers' wide receiver room, where he’ll be able to learn from George Pickens and D.K. Metcalf.
Sebastian Castro, NCB/S, Iowa
Castro might have the best shot at making the Steelers’ roster of the players on this list. Earlier in the year, he was considered a fringe top-100 player but gradually dropped on the consensus big board.
Versatility is the first thing that stands out about Castro’s game. He played in the “star” role in Iowa’s defense (linebacker/nickel hybrid), but he had some reps at slot cornerback and safety as well. As evidenced by Castro’s heavy snaps in the box, he’s an aggressive, solid tackler with better play strength and block-shedding than the average defensive back.
In coverage, Castro is surprisingly smooth and fairly instinctive; he’s at his best in zone. In man coverage, he’s physical and able to reroute receivers, but he doesn’t have high-end athleticism. Castro scored just a 4.37 RAS as a safety, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, and it shows up against quick route-runners.
There are legitimate questions about how well Castro’s coverage acumen will hold up against NFL receivers, but he has an intriguing skill set as an option at slot cornerback and the floor of a solid special-teamer.
Ke’Shawn Williams, WR, Indiana
Williams is a fun player, but his draft stock was always limited as he’s a 5’9 pass-catcher without a standout athletic trait. Williams scored a 5.62 RAS, with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and middling agility numbers. He doesn’t have elite speed, and his catch radius is limited.
But his game against Michigan shows why you have to watch the player and not just the numbers. Williams is a good route-runner, and at 188 pounds, he’s compactly built. Largely used in a motion/slot role in the Indiana offense, Williams showed the ability to get open quickly and make difficult catches over the middle.
Williams is a tough football player, and he showed off some elusiveness and open-field vision in his occasional reps as a returner over his five-year college career.
New #Steelers WR Ke’Shawn Williams was fantastic against Michigan in 2024. Underutilized in Indiana's offense but delivered when it mattered – name to watch in the slot. pic.twitter.com/Jhi6QjawLf
— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 27, 2025
Aiden Williams, OL, Minnesota Duluth
Williams was a small school standout, which I had a hard time finding clips of, but his 9.35 RAS — as an offensive tackle — shows some clear NFL potential.
Williams was announced as a guard when the Steelers signed him, and that’s where he’ll likely stay in the NFL due to his sub-33” arms. But what I saw of him at Minnesota Duluth is a lot of fun, where he anchored a productive Bulldogs offense.
The level of competition can’t be ignored — this isn’t SEC football — but Williams has standout lateral agility, the athleticism to make second-level blocks, and an insanely powerful upper half. Check out where he casually tosses a defender to the ground at the 0:46 mark:
D.J. Thomas-Jones, FB/TE, South Alabama
Thomas-Jones is an Ole Miss transfer who went on to have three solid years of production at South Alabama as an H-back in the Jaguars' offense. He’s a good athlete (4.61-second 40-yard dash, 35” vertical), but his height, at 6’1, largely explains why the Steelers announced his signing as a fullback.
Granted, that won’t be a big position switch for Thomas-Jones. The 250-pound tight end was used as a blocker a lot in South Alabama’s H-back-heavy attack. He’s not the most dominant blocker and tends to play with a high pad level, but he packs a strong punch and great effort.
It’s Thomas-Jones’ athleticism that really stands out. He’s an easy mover who excels at connecting with blocks in space. He also looked good as a pass-catcher when given the opportunity.
Thomas-Jones received a $30,000 signing bonus from the Steelers — the biggest non-quarterback UDFA bonus in team history — signaling clear interest. The jump to NFL competition will be a big one, but if Thomas-Jones can continue to improve as a blocker, he’s a name to keep an eye on as he vies for the Connor Heyward role in the Pittsburgh offense.
J.J. Galbreath, TE, South Dakota
Galbreath is another talented small-school tight end who also ran sa ub-4.7 40-yard dash. He’s undersized at 6’3 and just 231 pounds, but put up a good 8.40 RAS. Galbreath played in a more traditional tight end role at South Dakota, where he was heavily featured in the offense and earned FCS All-American honors.
Galbreath is a good athlete who takes long strides to get up to full speed. In the game I watched of his, he was a little inconsistent when it came to difficult catches but was a reliable target underneath (take his late-game shenanigans in the video below with a grain of salt given the score-or-go-home situation).
As a blocker, Galbreath wasn’t the strongest given his size, but he’s a high-effort player with good technique, resulting in three pancakes in one game alone.
Galbreath will have to handle the transition from the FCS to the NFL, but he’s a good prospect at tight end.
Ben Sauls, K, Pitt
Barring an injury to Steelers star kicker Chris Boswell, Sauls’ chances at making the Steelers’ 53-man roster are about as good as yours or mine. But he’s still an excellent kicker prospect who will be auditioning for the rest of the NFL over the preseason.
The lefty kicker made 87.5% of his kicks in 2024, with a perfect record under 40 yards. He has a good leg, too, making 6/7 kicks from 50-plus yards last season with a long of 58. Sauls also hasn’t missed an extra point since 2021.
The Pitt product is a great insurance policy for the Steelers entering the 2025 season.
Which Steelers UDFAs do you think have the best shot at making the final roster in 2025? Let us know in the comments!
