The Steelers could select their smallest draft class since 2003

The 2020 NFL Draft doesn’t look to be a very eventful one for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point.

A team, known for drafting and developing their own talent, the Steelers have averaged almost eight selections per draft since 2000 and made ten selections in the 2010 draft. Thanks to a couple of big trades the Steelers are in line to have only six selections in the upcoming draft.

If that number holds that would be the fewest selections made by Pittsburgh since the 2003 draft when the Steelers traded away three total picks to move up in the first round to select Troy Polamalu.

The Steelers were already without their third-round pick entering the season, thanks to their trade during last year’s draft that gave them the ability to select linebacker, Devin Bush. The second trade occurred after the season started when Pittsburgh sent their first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to acquire safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Joshua Dobbs earned the team a second fifth-rounder when he was sent to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but as it stands now, Pittsburgh is without a pick in the fifth round. One was exchanged for a second fourth-rounder in the Fitzpatrick trade, and the other was sent to Seattle in exchange for tight end, Nick Vannett.

The Steelers still hold their own picks in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds, will receive another fourth from Miami, and should receive a compensatory third-rounder after Le’Veon Bell signed with the Jets this offseason, leaving them with six to work with at this point in time.

The Steelers approach to roster building looks a little different than it has in years past. The Steelers signed both Joe Haden and Steven Nelson in free agency to more significant contracts than we are used to seeing in Pittsburgh. They also have made multiple trades that are out of the ordinary for a team that usually stockpiles draft selections.

It’s a big gamble for the front office. With an 0-3 record and Ben Roethlisberger out for the season, Pittsburgh could fall higher in the draft order than we’re used to seeing.

Despite only making five selections back in 2003 the team managed to make a big splash, by selecting both Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. You can’t expect the team to find a player like Polamalu, but they do have a lot of work ahead to prove that they have been making the right decisions.