2017 NFL Draft: Grading the Pittsburgh Steelers First-Round Pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers got their edge rusher in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
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When T.J. Watt fell into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lap at No. 30, both fans, the team, and himself were all thinking the same thing, “we got him!”
The Wisconsin product is known as one of the best edge rushers in the draft class. His potential is said to be higher than his older brother’s, J.J. Watt, making him one of the scariest players in the draft. Well, sorry NFL, but Pittsburgh scooped him up.
Watt’s explosiveness of the edge is second-to-none. Off the ball, Watt uses his long arms and strength to push and pull offensive linemen, then use his speed to get into the backfield. As one of the most vicious players in the draft, Watt is always delivering the initial blow when making contact with blockers.
His natural athleticism makes him a threat to drop back in coverage, and he seems never to be afraid to jump in front of a pass. He uses his quickness and agility to stay with players in coverage and can adapt to their route with ease.
Watt is simply and all around great player. He may only have one full year of football behind him, but his potential is ridiculous. To be considered “new” to the game and still have the skills Watt does is something special. With teachings from defensive coordinator Keith Butler and outside linebacker James Harrison, Watt will take no time before he starts impacting the team.
First-Round Draft Grade: A
The best part about this pick is the amount of secondary talent still on the board. Kevin King, Buda Baker, Obi Melifonwu, and Quincy Wilson are all still on the board heading into Day 2. The likelihood of them falling to Pittsburgh at No. 62 isn’t high, but if they can make a move, they could essentially end up with two first round talents.
The Steelers made a significant improvement to their defense. Now, teams have to worry about Bud Dupree, James Harrison and Watt on the outside. That’s a constant flow of pass rush throughout a game. With Ryan Shazier in the middle, Pittsburgh now has one of the best young linebacking cores in the NFL.
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This team just got a lot more dangerous than they were last season. They may have only added one player, but with the amount of talent left out there, Pittsburgh could finish their entire defense in one draft.