Isaiahh Loudermilk
This was easily the worst pick of the draft. Isaiahh Loudermilk was projected to go undrafted by most, and if anyone had him going anywhere, it was late day three. The Steelers decided to trade a fourth-round pick from next year to get this prospect. Now, to be fair, Loudermilk has the height of a traditional defensive end, but that is about all he has. He was a decent run stopper in college, but that was really it for the former Badger.
Had the team stayed pat and selected Loudermilk in the sixth or seventh round, while still a reach, the pick wouldn’t have been as frowned upon. Instead, giving up future resources for a player that isn’t in a position of need is mind-boggling bad value. On the roster as of now, the Steelers have Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu that would likely see snaps at defensive end for the team before Loudermilk. That is already great depth, so it makes even less sense why the Steelers felt like they had to trade up for him.
While his roster spot seems virtually guaranteed given the investment in him, Loudermilk’s value wasn’t equivalent to a fifth and a next year’s fourth. Had the team had a desperate need at defensive end this pick would be slightly more tolerable, but they didn’t. Hopefully, the team can develop him, but until he is the top rotational defensive end, the value won’t be here for this pick.
The Steelers draft as a whole was a solid one with some decent finds in all rounds. That said, these three players above represented the worst value when being drafted. Being a bad value doesn’t mean you will be a bad player, but it will keep the pick in question. For a team that beats the drum of “best player available”, these picks seem to disprove that notion.