The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently sitting at 6-8 for the 2022 NFL season. With only three games left on the schedule and the team needing a lot of help, it is unlikely they will be making the playoffs this season. However, despite missing the playoffs, Steeler Nation shouldn't hang their heads after this season, as the team has a bright future ahead based on the performances of the team's 2022 rookie class.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) and wide receiver, George Pickens (#14) butt heads in warmups before a 2022 regular season matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Coming into the 2022 season, everyone knew the team would be going through a bit of a transition. Steeler Nation watched as future Hall of Fame Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger helped carry the Steelers to the playoffs one last time in 2021, and even though it didn't end in a Super Bowl victory, it did feel like a good send-off to put a bow on the end of his long and prestigious career.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
However, that also meant that the Steelers were going to be looking for a new franchise QB, as well as the question being asked if the team can truly compete or if they will need to enter a rebuilding era.
Replacing Ben Roethlisberger Was Not A Task The Steelers Took Lightly
Despite quickly signing veteran QB Mitch Trubisky as free agency opened, it didn't stop the Steelers from adding a potential franchise option at the position when they drafted QB Kenny Pickett out of the University of Pittsburgh with their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Overall, Pickett will be the final determining factor on whether or not the Steelers 2022 draft class is a success or not, because if he ends up not being the long-term option, then the Steelers will be stuck in the gutter for an extended period of time most likely. However, it is definitely worth evaluating how the rest of the draft class looks so far, as some of these guys can make Pickett's life much easier.
Round 1: QB Kenny Pickett, B-
Overall, I wasn't the biggest supporter of Pickett throughout the pre-draft process. However, once he became the full-time starter for the Steelers he has done well and helped lead them to several wins after the team's bye week.
Pickett has continued to grow each week and after the bye has played error-free football by not committing a single turnover in that time period. He still has a far way to go, as he hasn't shown significant ability to drive the ball down the field consistently yet, but overall his rookie season has been positive.
Round 2: WR George Pickens, C+
No one will deny after watching Pickens so far this year that he is an immensely talented receiver. He has made multiple highlight reel catches that make you wonder why he isn't getting the ball more, hint: blame Matt Canada. However, he has shown a couple of different bouts of immaturity in games at times, and his route running is still a work in progress.
Round 3: DL DeMarvin Leal, C
Leal is a player that a lot of people were high on coming into 2022 as he was a potential first-round pick that was available for the team in round three. His season hasn't gone the way he has hoped, however, as he has played sparingly when he has suited up, and missed several games with an injury.
There is definitely some upside with Leal that he has shown so far in his limited playing time, as well as some versatility which has been a nice surprise.
Round 4: WR Calvin Austin III, N/A
Unfortunately for Austin, his season was over before it even got started. Austin suffered an injury prior to the season and was placed on IR. His practice window was opened, but then he wasn't activated within 21 days which ended his season. He will be looking forward to 2023 to make his impact.
Round 6: TE Connor Heyward, B+
It sounds weird to say, but so far Heyward might be the best-performing rookie on the Steelers currently based on their draft position. A lot of sixth-round picks don't make opening day rosters in the NFL, but Heyward has contributed significantly across several special teams units as well as occasionally on offense.
If you were to tell an NFL team that a sixth-round pick was going to have the success Heyward has in his rookie season, they would take that almost every time.
Connor Heyward lining up on offense in a home game for the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Round 7: LB Mark Robinson, N/A
Robinson simply hasn't been given a helmet on gamedays very often this season, appearing in only two games. He did perform well in limited reps this past week against the Carolina Panthers, however, so hopefully that means he can get some more playing time as the season is winding down.
Round 7: QB Chris Oladokun, F
Oladukon was cut before the season and was barely given any reps throughout the off-season anyways. Complete waste of a pick.
UDFA: RB Jaylen Warren, B
The Steelers neglected to sign or draft a viable backup for second-year RB Najee Harris. They got lucky when they signed Jaylen Warren as an undrafted free agent as he has filled that role rather well so far.
Overall: B
The team definitely has to be happy with the draft class thus far, as they seemed to find key players from start to finish (and even after it finished). Time will tell if the class ends up being great. And how Pickett develops and performs five years from now will be what truly makes or breaks the class.
What do you think about the Steelers' 2022 draft class? Do you think they hit a home run with Pickett? Is the depth they got throughout going to lead to them turning it around sooner than later? Let us know in the comments below!
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