With their final pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Central Michigan corner Donte Kent. Corner does feel like a slight need for the team, but it’s unclear how much work Kent will actually see on defense. He was also a punt returner in college, so the Steelers might view him more as a special teams player. Whatever his role is, it sounds like he’s excited to be in Pittsburgh.
“I actually grew up a Chicago Bears fan, but I’m a Steelers fan now,” Kent said to media members after being drafted via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor on Twitter. “Where the towels at?”
It shouldn’t take long for Kent to get himself a Terrible Towel. They’re a staple of the fandom. The Steelers fanbase is one of the strongest in the NFL. They’ll even be able to showcase their international fans this season, playing the NFL’s first regular season game in Ireland.
If Kent makes the roster, he’ll have a chance to face his former favorite team. The Steelers are scheduled to go on the road and play the Chicago Bears this year. Even if he doesn’t get on the field, that would probably be a great moment for him.
As a seventh-round pick, Kent’s path to the 53-man roster is going to be a tough one. The Steelers’ corner room has some talented players at the moment. Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay will likely be the starters, with Beanie Bishop Jr. in the slot. The team seems to really like Cory Trice Jr., too. They also signed Brandin Echols and brought James Pierre back.
However, it’s not like Kent’s path to the roster is impossible. Bishop stuck with the team last year after being an undrafted free agent. Perhaps Kent can do similar things. What he does on special teams could help his chances, too.
Hopefully, Kent gets a lot of chances to see fans waving their Terrible Towels. Steelers fans usually travel well, so maybe he’ll even be able to experience that in Chicago. The real work will begin for him now. There’s a lot of offseason left, and Kent will need to make the most of every opportunity he gets.
