With the NFL Draft concluded, the Steelers sit on the cusp of optimism, having fortified their ranks with a draft class that oozes potential and purpose. Yet, as the dust settles, a lingering question looms over the Steel City like a stubborn cloud — Will the Steelers finally win a playoff game this year? Can these new draftees help get us there? Or, will the the continued boondoggle handling of the quarterback position the past couple seasons carryover this year and undo it all. But, let's talk about that draft class for a sec - at least the top four picks.
I loved the top 4 picks. The selections brimmed with an air of urgency, affirming the franchise's intent to address immediate needs while planning for a future beyond the current window of contention.
Troy Fautanu, the towering offensive tackle taken in the first round, and Zach Fraser, heir apparent anchor at center, were the brushstrokes of pragmatism over a canvas that has seen the departure of seasoned linemen, many of them not that good. While their immediate contribution may be an exercise in patience, the groundwork for their integration is in place, and their eventual role as starters seems a six weeks or so formality.
Break Down: The Steelers Top 4 Picks
These players will help our defense by keeping it off the field. These players will pave the way for a dynamic running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to continue to dominate. Let's take a closer look at them.
Round One: Troy Fautanu, OL
On the line, Troy Fautanu appears to be a quick-handed, Polynesian Kung Fu Panda in shoulder pads.
Fautanu started 15 games at the University of Washington as a left tackle and even bagged all-conference and All-American honors. Plus, he was a major reason the offensive line snagged the Joe Moore Award for being the top offensive line in college football. This guy should be in the lineup by midseason and doing well.
Round Two: Zach Frasier, OL
Zach Frasier, drafted in the second round from WVU, will look great at center and that position is practically his by default. With solid footwork and a mean streak, Frasier seems a perfect fit for Pittsburgh's power run scheme.
Considered the the third best center in his draft. He draws on a background in wrestling. He has a reputation as a tough, nasty baller with terrific power once he gets locked in on a pass rusher. He loves to run block, which should be music to the ears of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Round Three: Roman Wilson, WR
Roman Wilson, drafted in the third round, was an explosive wide receiver at the University of Michigan. He now emerges as a beacon of hope for an aerial assault that seemed like they desperately needed a discrete package from the Hims mail order pharmacy. Roman Wilson should help this unit get hard and stay hard.
He should be exactly what the doctor ordered as a No. 2 receiver to No. 1 receiver, George Pickens. Roman Wilson's potential to stretch the field and offer a versatile skill set could invigorate an otherwise predictable offense. He stands to replenish a kitchen cabinet bare of ingredients at the WR position.
Round Four: Payton Wilson, ILB
Many believe a big sleeper in the draft could be Payton Wilson, an ILB the Steelers drafted in the fourth round. This athletic linebacker from North Carolina State has the potential to fill a chasm and become a formidable presence. Last season, Wilson bagged the Dick Butkus and Chuck Bednarik awards, not just for his charm, but because he's a tackling terror with a 4.43 sprint in the 40-yard dash, all while packing a 6-foot-4, 233-pound frame. His lightning speed and ninja-like coverage skills make him the perfect partner-in-crime for ex-Raven turned Steeles wrecking ball for hire, Patrick Queen.
Overall Ranking: A
The Steelers boast a great defense and perhaps netted an impressive draft class but make no mistake: the time is now. The Steelers draft is designed to support a defensive unit that has a window of about one or two more years (An assessment from Big Red, of which I agree). The Steelers did the best they could to do that.
Perennial DPOY candidate TJ Watt has never won a playoff game. It should be emphasized to each draft pick the Steelers bring into camp this year: You are here to get TJ Watt a playoff win.
Elephant In The Locker Room: Russel Wilson
Despite the impressive draft, the elephant in the room is the QB situation.
Russel Wilson taking the helm at the QB position, the most critical of all positions, will be a crapshoot, no matter how good it feels to have this former Seattle Seahawks star with all his accolades, experience, and pedigree—hot wife aside.
We only hope that he can be as good once as he ever was—just like Toby Keith once sang about aging greatness. We have to ask: can Wilson be as good once as he ever was?
Seattle didn't think so.
They moved on from Wilson for Geno Smith, to that point a career journeymen, and well, things were more rocky at Denver. However, Wilson hit a stride before they benched him for contractual mile high milestones they didn't want him to achieve. So Wilson might be good. one more time—maybe as good as he ever was. Still, is more than a good chance, he will suck as much as he ever did in Denver.
Russel Wilson might get us to the promise land, but then again, maybe the promised line is now the Tomlin record of .500 or better. What if we want to do more than that? What if—and dare I say—make a playoff run beyond one win in the wild card round?
If Wilson can't do that, maybe his backup, Justin Fields, can?
Justin "Can't See The" Fields (Noodles came up with that one) is another major gamble and shot in the dark.
Fields got shipped here out of the kindness of the Chicago Bears who wanted to give him a chance to develop his career—just not on their team.
Still, Fields has a big upside that can't be ignored. Justin Fields has the athletic potential to be great but again he washed out in Chicago and is therefore another crapshoot.
The Cloud of Kenny Pickett: What Might Have Been
I don't blame the Steelers for Pickett packing his bags for Philadelphia, entirely.
Pickett made the dubious choice to be a back up to Jaylen Hurts in Philadelphia. He chose being a backup versus competing against Wilson for the starting job here. At first glance, it seems his ego was the main factor in that decision. However, I'll give Pickett a pass for bailing on the Steelers, despite that the Steelers clearly thought he had more talent than anybody else in the NFL—by a long margin.
So why would Pickett leave?
QBs get hurt all the time. Pickett may have thought "Hey, if I play in Philly, this Eagles rooster is pretty good and the coaching is too."
If Pickett thought this way, could you blame him?
The Eagles rosters in recent years have been much more conducive to success than what he had here when Pickett was running for his life and carrying out the calls of a guy named Matt Canada.
Think if Pickett would have waited—or at least competed—or took a one year back seat to Russell Wilson—with this draft coming in, those missing pieces could finally be here now.
If he had stayed, things would have been much better for Pickett this coming season. He might have found the success he wanted. At the very least, he would have kept all those Levin furniture sofas another year or so.
Perhaps there were other reasons.
Maybe if he took the backup job here, Pickett would have lost the #1 Cochran Buick GMC Monroeville deal since those good folks don't ostensibly push a #2 Cochran Preowned Lot. Maybe that is why he choose free agency via the Carvana route this year.
The sad truth is Pickett could be leading this team this year with another year of experience under his belt and what the the heck, we know beta male Mason Rudolf didn't mind being a back up.
The question we have to ask is this: would the Steelers be any better or worse now with Pickett and Rudolf versus Wilson and Fields? I suspect the answer is that it would be a wash.
It Comes Down To Russell Wilson
Despite this impressive Steelers draft class, headed by Fautanu and Frasier, it comes down Russel Wilson as our QB and maybe Justin "I Can't See The" Fields, if he is thrown in there after the Wilson train derails.
I am not ruling out Wilson having a great year.
Success is possible. It might work out because Wilson seems well suited to how the Steelers are built: run and play defense.
The Steelers new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, should have the Steelers well-positioned to utilize this squad's talents, new hostages included, that will feature the potent pigskin-toting duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. That combo of talent might be enough to get over the playoff win hump, and Wilson could be the man for that job.
I am reminded of the film Glengarry Glen Ross when they only gave the prize leads to the best sales person. This draft class constitutes the Glengarry leads and to Russell Wilson they are gold. However, the Glengarry Leads comes with great responsibility.
Wilson has one job this year and that is "Not to F-up the Glengarry leads."
If Wilson does that job, Tomlin deserves no credit.
Giving Tomlin credit for brining Wilson and Fields would be like giving an NBA general manager who ran a team into the lottery draft through sheer mismanagement and poor decisions only to find they lucked out and got the best player in the draft. That is a best case scenario.
What is the worst case scenario?
Another .500 season.
You read it here first: If there is no joy in Yinzerville come December, it won't be because of this draft class, or the aging defensive unit. It will be simply a case of our luck running out and us getting exactly what we paid for at WeBuyAnyQB.com.
Say his name! “Heisenburgh” is our resident, middle-aged 51-year old Pittsburgh Dad, while unable to parlay a chemistry talent into a billion dollar enterprise as Walter White did in Breaking Bad, nevertheless, has reinvented himself as a Pittsburgh sports writer on Across Pittsburgh.
