I couldn’t have been the only one sitting in front of the TV on day two of the NFL Draft – hoping the Steelers would draft Hakeem Butler when he began to slip. If Chase Winovich wasn’t going to be the pick at 66 overall, then I was on board with the Iowa State receiver.
The Steelers obviously went a very different direction in drafting a 5’10’,’ 183 pound receiver in Diontae Johnson. Though this seems like a reach at first glance (most draft boards had Butler rated higher), maybe there is some science behind this pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are widely regarded as one of the best (if not the best) at drafting the wide receiver position.
But what type of wide receivers do the Steelers have the most success drafting?
The answer is pretty simple: The little guys.
Pittsburgh has had more success stories at the receiver position over the past decade than any team, but it’s largely the small receivers that make this possible. Here is every receiver the Steelers drafted since 2009 and the height range they fall under:
| Under 6’0” | 6’0”- 6’1” | Over 6’1” |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Brown | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Toney Clemons |
| Emmanuel Sanders | Mike Wallace | Justin Brown |
| Markus Wheaton | Sammie Coates | Martavis Bryant |
| James Washington | ||
| DeMarcus Ayers | ||
| Diontae Johnson |
The evidence pretty much speaks for itself.
Believe it or not, 6’1” is just below average height for an NFL wide receiver. Still, the Steelers have hit on just 1 of 3 wide receivers taller than 6’1” since 2009. Martavis Bryant was the only ‘success’ story.
Bryant was very good when he played, and served as one of the leagues’ most dangerous deep threats. However, he played only 36 games in Pittsburgh, as suspensions hindered his availability for the Steelers and put a halt to an otherwise promising career.
When it comes to the ‘mid-sized’ receivers, the Steelers have done pretty well. Though they struck out on Sammie Coates, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Wallace were excellent picks -each with a Pro Bowl to their names.
However, the best Steelers receivers over the past decade have been on the small side. At just 5’10,” Antonio Brown was a 4-time consecutive First Team All-Pro player who may hear his name called in Canton one day. Emmanuel Sanders (5’11”) is a two-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl Champion.
The Steelers aren’t perfect, though. There are a few misses in between. DeMarcus Ayers was simply a shot in the dark as a former 7th round draft choice, who ultimately didn’t pan out. Likewise, Markus Wheaton was never a great player. He was hindered with a finger injury most of his career, but was a capable number three option for the Steelers.
The verdict is obviously still out on James Washington and Diontae Johnson, so we will see what the future has in store for them.
With the success of players like Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, it’s not hard to understand why the Steelers would choose a player in Diontae Johnson. Johnson is of the same cut as Brown and Sanders – a quick-twitch receiver that can sell his routes, create separation, and run after the catch.
Though there’s a chance he may never live up to his draft status, it’s important to note that the Steelers are the best in the business at drafting this position and making wide receivers successful.
I don’t always agree with everything Pittsburgh’s front office does, but I have learned to trust them when it comes to their evaluation of wide receivers. The Steelers have had great success drafting small receivers, and there’s no reason we can’t trust them to do it again in Diontae Johnson.