Carson Bruener

Steelers selected Washington LB Carson Bruener with the No. 226 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

A five-year grinder for the Huskies, Bruener capped off a productive college career with back-to-back 80.0+ PFF grades and a team-high 104 tackles in 2024. A throwback Mike ‘backer with old-school instincts and sideline-to-sideline urgency, Bruener diagnoses plays quickly and flows to the ball with impressive urgency (82.7 DEF grade, 74.8 tackling). Despite only one full season as a starter, he logged 197 tackles and 40 stops over the last two years, showing he’s always around the ball. His 8.85 RAS shows explosive agility (6.77 3-cone, 4.24 shuttle), but average size (6’0/227) and middling play strength limit his take-on ability at the next level. NFL teams will love the four-phase special teams value (23 career ST tackles) and coachable football IQ. While Bruener won’t wow with flash, he projects as a high-floor, low-ceiling inside linebacker who earns a living in the league as a core special teamer and depth LB.