The NFL Draft has come and gone. Seven new Pittsburgh Steelers chosen, and a bunch of free brokers added. Did they make good selections? Are they transferring in the precise route? Time will inform however why not speculate a bit of and share some ideas.
Submit-NFL Draft Ten Takes
1. Dangerous Timing…Once more – Being a quarterback needy group is clearly not a very good place to be. The Steelers have fully swapped out their quarterback room for the second yr in a row. Seattle joined them this yr in doing the identical factor.
How laborious can or not it’s to discover a quarterback? Nicely, it’s extraordinarily laborious truly. From 2021 – 2024, there have been 44 quarterbacks chosen. Twenty-three on the primary two days of the draft. Of these, 11 are starters with six of these starters coming from 2024.
Simply a kind of starters, Brock Purdy, was not chosen within the first spherical. 4 of these drafted have been Steelers in some unspecified time in the future. (Justin Fields, Kenny Pickett, Chris Oladokun, and Skylar Thompson). The Steelers have chosen to draft quarterback in two of the worst seasons to take action.
2. Maintaining it Beneath the Velocity Restrict – In my view, group pace has been beneath common for a very long time. Including DK Metcalf helps the offense and large receiver group. With the necessity for a operating again this yr, the group had an opportunity so as to add much more pace. Nonetheless, it will appear to be they caught with what they’re snug. A giant again with common pace. Of the 24 backs who ran the 40 on the mix, 18 ran a sooner time than Kaleb Johnson. Whereas Mike Tomlin appears very snug along with his pace, I feel there was missed alternative right here.
3. Comparatively Talking – There’s not group within the NFL that loves bloodlines greater than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Connor Heyward, Derek Watt, Trey Edmunds, and Karlos Williams are just some names that come to thoughts. All relations of extra profitable Steelers gamers. This draft provides one other identify to that listing in Carson Bruener, son of former tight finish Mark Bruener.
Will he buck the development and a least play to the identical stage as his father? Or will he be one other household footnote? In actuality it’s a seventh-round decide, a spot the place you belief your scouting division to seek out gamers that may fill a job, so I can’t actually argue in regards to the choice however there’s undoubtedly a sample.
4. Convention Confluence – Talking of patterns, inform me you’re keen on the Huge Ten with out telling me you’re keen on the Huge Ten. Their first six picks on this draft have been all from the Huge Ten. With the enlargement of conferences in school soccer the “ten” in Huge Ten is definitely eighteen in order that makes this quantity rather less shocking. However the Steelers now have 28 gamers on their 90-man roster from the Huge Ten convention. Ohio State leads the best way with 5 adopted by Wisconsin with 4.
5. Tis Higher to Not Strive Than Fail – Draft prospects are put by the ringer within the months main as much as choice. Many undergo a number of measurements and bodily assessments alongside the best way. For some, it will probably assist. For others, it may be damning. The NFL loves pace. Xavier Restrepo, a productive receiver at Miami who, for many of the course of, appeared like a day two decide.
He fell out of the draft after operating a 4.86 40 on his professional day. This brings me to Jack Sawyer who selected to not do any of the athletic testing apart from bench press. Whereas that alternative labored in his favor, it does fear me a bit about his athletic capacity.
6. The Henry Impact – Going through off in opposition to an explosive 247-pound operating again twice a yr can impact the way you construct your protection. The Steelers wished to get larger up entrance and that’s precisely what they did. Derrick Harmon at 313 kilos and Yayha Black at 336 kilos at the moment are the 2 largest defensive gamers anticipated to make the 53-man roster.
Three of their first 4 picks have been to assist the entrance seven. They weren’t alone within the division. The Bengals added three defenders within the first 4 picks whereas Cleveland’s first two picks went to defensive position and linebacker.
7. Kiper’s Conniption – The person is an innovator. He basically invented the “draft professional” position and has thrived in it for many years. The way in which he acted this weekend about Shadeur Sanders being drafted within the fifth spherical is embarrassing. I don’t know why he acted like this. It could possibly be that he didn’t wish to be flawed based mostly on his analysis of Sanders. It may have been conspiracy principle that the NFL blackballed him. It may have been ESPN doing what they do. Utilizing overkill, speaking about somebody/one thing constantly for consideration and scores.
They did this with Tom Brady, Tim Tebow, the Dallas Cowboys and Lebron James and made ESPN unwatchable for me. I want Daniel Jeremiah’s evaluation anyway.
8. Room To Enhance – This draft has included many additions to the roster however there are nonetheless some holes. The group wants a greater possibility because the quantity three offensive deal with. Identical goes for tight finish. If Darnell Washington or Pat Freiermuth is out of the lineup for an prolonged interval, this offense goes to have a difficulty. Donald Parham is a crimson zone possibility however can’t deal with the blocking or being a primary. Receiver quantity three. Calvin Austin proved he can get open final yr and having a quarterback who will throw on time and over the center could be helpful. And we don’t know what’s going to come of Roman Wilson. On the exterior nook place, you possibly can by no means have sufficient depth.
9. QB1 – I haven’t actually talked about this an excessive amount of as a result of there isn’t a lot to speak about. If Aaron Rodgers indicators, I feel he shall be a giant enhance for the offense. A few years faraway from the Achilles harm ought to enable him to be again to full well being. He will learn the protection correctly and he will throw the ball over the center. Two issues we haven’t seen in years. If he doesn’t signal, let the perfect man win.
Until Will Howard actually wows them, it will be a one-year gig for whomever wins the job. They didn’t signal anybody as a UDFA after the draft that performs quarterback so which may be a sign they count on Rodgers to signal quickly.
10. Yinz Are on The Clock – One of many coolest selections the NFL has made is to carry the NFL Draft in numerous cities. It was a pleasant operation in New York however now it has change into a significant occasion attracting lots of of hundreds of followers. Detroit holds the report with the very best attendance with over 775,000 followers.
I’m certain the “Metropolis of Bridges” shall be a wonderful host. And the way nice it will be for the group and metropolis to seek out the quarterback of the long run whereas they’re internet hosting. You’ve gotten a yr to arrange, plan forward, perhaps drop a few these kilos you’ve been that means to lose. You wish to look good on TV.
