Steelers 2020 NFL draft recap: Re-tooling both offense and defense

The Steelers added speed to the running back position and strength to the offensive line in the fourth round

Anthony McFarland Jr., the Steelers first pick in the fourth round out of Maryland, was a surprise pick, in my opinion. Honestly, I was thinking that if we wanted to draft a running back, we would take someone in the second or third round.

According to McFarland’s combine stats, he ran a 4.44-second.  Interestingly enough, in previous articles, I did write about the lack of a ‘lightning’ back on the offense.  Well, I think the Steelers solved that problem by drafting McFarland.  Check this out:  McFarland’s highlight reel

He looks pretty fast to me. McFarland reminds me of one ‘Fast’ Willie Parker.  If McFarland gets into space, he’s gone, akin to Parker.  Again, what his contributions will amount to remains to be seen, but I like the fact that the Steelers added ‘track’ speed to the backfield.

With the second pick in the fourth round, the Steelers selected a guard from Louisiana whom I would describe as ‘stout’.  Listed at 6′ 4″ and 321 lbs, Kevin Dotson, the former ‘Ragin Cajun’, is every bit of that 6′ 4″ frame.  Here is his highlight reel:  Dotson

Full disclosure:  On his highlight reel, his weight is 310 lbs; on the official site of the Steelers, his weight is 321 lbs.  Regardless of his actual weight, he looks like the type of offensive lineman we covet:  Big and athletic.

I remember watching a Louisiana game with my son and I commented on the right guard who blocked everything in his path and was athletic enough to pull.  I would suspect that is exactly what the Steelers expect from him.

Let’s continue by taking a look at who the Steelers drafted in the final two rounds of the draft.