The Pittsburgh Steelers have lengthy shied away from main offseason strikes, a number of vast receiver trades this yr however. Nonetheless, they’ve remained aggressive by means of their capacity to draft nicely through the years. Sadly, the Steelers’ 2022 draft was not a type of events. CBS Sports activities’ Pete Prisco regraded each group’s 2022 class in an article printed on Tuesday, and he gave the Steelers’ class a ‘D-‘.
“Of their seven picks, one is a starter heading into the season, that being fourth-round receiver Calvin Austin [III],” Prisco wrote. “Second-round receiver George Pickens would have been a starter, however they traded him to the Cowboys for a third-round decide two weeks in the past. They whiffed on first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett, who’s now with the Browns, his third group. The remainder of the draft didn’t produce a lot, both. They’re chasing a quarterback due to the Pickett miss.”
The Steelers’ class begins on a reasonably dangerous notice provided that they used a premium decide on Pickett in a weak quarterback class. Pickett was the primary quarterback off the board at twenty second general. However, the Steelers felt a necessity to seek out their quarterback of the longer term with Ben Roethlisberger’s profession within the rearview mirror.
Clearly that transfer didn’t work out. After a tough two years in Pittsburgh, Pickett is now with the Browns. He may very well have an opportunity to begin in 2025, which ought to say so much concerning the Browns’ quarterback room. Happily, the Steelers appear to have realized from that mistake. With the twenty first general decide on this yr’s draft, the Steelers had their likelihood to take nearly any quarterback they needed. As an alternative, they performed it sensible and didn’t make the identical mistake twice.
The Steelers did handle to draft an affect participant early in 2022 in WR George Pickens. Nonetheless, regardless of all of issues the second-round decide introduced on the sector throughout his three seasons as a Steeler, there have been loads of issues as nicely. Pickens is now a Dallas Cowboy, and the Steelers acquired a 2026 third-round decide in return.
Within the third spherical, on the 84th general decide, the Steelers took defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. Sadly, he’s but to make a lot of an affect. It’s not completely his fault, although. Leal suffered a season-ending neck damage simply 5 video games into the 2024 season. By 28 profession video games, he has one sack, three tackles for a loss and 33 complete tackles.
Within the fourth spherical, Pittsburgh grabbed one other WR in Calvin Austin III. He’s the one participant from this class who has an opportunity to begin for the Steelers in 2025. Austin didn’t make waves to start his profession, however he did take a pleasant step ahead in 2024. He’ll have loads of alternatives this yr given the Steelers’ lack of depth on the place.
Past that, there’s not a lot to be enthusiastic about with their final three picks: TE Connor Heyward, LB Mark Robinson and QB Chris Oladokun. Any decide past the fifth spherical isn’t going to be a star, so their lack of manufacturing shouldn’t be essentially a shock. After a weak first 4 rounds, although, the Steelers’ 2022 draft would have been seen in a extra optimistic gentle if a type of three had made a much bigger affect.
All issues thought-about, it’s exhausting to argue with Prisco’s ‘D-‘ grade right here. Austin might be the one cause it’s not an ‘F’. Two of the Steelers’ first three picks didn’t make it to the fourth yr of their rookie contract. That’s not very best, to say the least. Underneath Omar Khan, the Steelers have drafted higher since this poor class. Wanting again, although, it’s not a enjoyable class to reminisce about.
