Dazz Newsome
Out of all of the names on this list, Dazz Newsome makes the most sense for the team when you add in all of the variables. Starting with his play, the soon-to-be-former Tar Heel is a perfect example of what a traditional slot receiver needs to be. He doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he is extremely quick and runs sharp routes. His tape is riddled with examples of his route running making opposing defenses look silly.
Add in some good hands and impressive after the catch ability and Newsome has the look of an old school slot option. He has value elsewhere, as he was a returner while in college as well. The only thing he needs to work on is having a more complete route tree, but if he can add a few more wrinkles into his routes, there is no reason he can’t be a dynamic slot option.
As of now, he looks destined to go in the fourth round. While some will argue that his ability is worthy of a higher pick, this receiving class is extremely deep which aids in driving his value down. As well, his slot status makes his potential more limited. That said, Newsome would fill a huge hole for the Steelers, and he has to be on the watch list for the team’s draft.
While losing a young talent like Smith-Schuster will be hard to swallow, the Steelers do have a quite few options to fill his shoes in 2021. None of these options are as talented as Smith-Schuster, but they should come at a fraction of the price. Any of the options would aid the team in having a successful season this year.