The Steelers enter the 2020 NFL Draft at a bigger disadvantage than they have had in ages. Here’s why this draft has a chance to be one of their worst.
The start of the new league year in the NFL has been weird, to say the least. Shortly after the Steelers sent their brass to Clemson’s Pro Day on March 12th, the travel ban was put into effect, and teams all future workouts (that included over 85 Pro Days) were canceled.
But a bizarre start to the offseason is hardly the only reason why the Steelers will be at a disadvantage in 2020 compared to every other year. Here are three reasons why Pittsburgh could see one of their worst drafts come this year:
No first-round pick, fewer draft choices
The Steelers are without a first-round pick for the first time since the 1967 NFL Draft, and that clearly puts them at a disadvantage. In past years, they have gotten solid production out of first-round players like Ryan Shazier, T.J. Watt, and Devin Bush. However, they won’t be able to experience that luxury this time around.
Most of the Pro Bowl and All-Pro players they have drafted under the direction of Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have been first-round draft choices, and their odds of landing one drops significantly after round one.
In addition, Pittsburgh only has 6 draft selections in 2020 – the fewest they’ve had since the 2003 NFL Draft. This decreases their chances of finding a gem in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft.