Steelers fans love football and they should pay close attention to these players during the upcoming college season.
Every Steelers fan is always wondering who the next big star for this team will be. There seems to be a lot of change with this team coming after the 2021 season concludes. That means that this upcoming draft class in 2022 is going to be very important for the Steelers future.
Their competitive level as a team could sink significantly if they do not find answers across multiple positions this upcoming offseason via free agency and the NFL Draft. There will be possible glaring needs at spots like offensive tackle, quarterback, cornerback, wide receiver, and potentially others.
It is going to be a lot of work to overhaul this group but it isn’t impossible. There are some solid players entering this draft that could make immediate impacts for Pittsburgh.
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Evan Neal will be one of the top tackles in this draft class. He is a huge man at 6’7 and 360 pounds of physicality. He moves his opponents lined up across from him and has an overall solid game, and he plays solid competition each week in the SEC Conference and that will help boost his stock.
Neal needs to be careful with the weight not getting any higher but this guy is super athletic for his size. He can move and has good footwork. His technique could be more consistent at times and if he can improve that, then this player will be a slam-dunk prospect. Neal could be a top ten pick if he keeps growing his game from where it left off last season.
In addition, he also has prior experience as a tackle and a guard, so that will also catch the eye of NFL teams. The Steelers might need a tackle if Zach Banner, Chuks Okorafor, or Dan Moore Jr. don’t work out in 2021. Neal will go earlier in the draft so he might not make it to their selection but he is someone to keep an eye on nonetheless.
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Malik Willis is a wild card for this quarterback class. This positional class for the 2022 NFL Draft is not as strong as prior ones. Many expect Spencer Rattler out of Oklahoma to be the top guy but it could be someone else. This upcoming college football season is going to be huge for all of these quarterback prospects and Willis is no different.
Willis plays for Liberty which is a small program and they normally don’t play the strongest competition. However, he has put up monster numbers and that will make any NFL scout notice, no matter where you play ball. This is going to be a huge year for this player as he needs to show growth and consistency with his play. He is coming off his first year as a starting quarterback for this program and he will need to show the same production or better to rise up draft boards.
Willis is a super athletic guy and someone new offensive coordinator, Matt Canada would like. He moves around a lot and has a strong ability to throw. This player is something to watch on the football field. This will be another huge year for this guy if he wants to continue to get noticed and go in the first round.
Currently, he’s projected to go very late in the first round or sometime on day two. Ben Roethlisberger might be hanging up the cleats after this season and the potential to find a replacement in the draft for the Steelers will be there. Willis could be a potential option, so make sure to check out some Liberty games this year.
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Some might think the receiver position is a surprise selection for the Steelers but they might need one. JuJu Smith-Schuster will likely leave the team and James Washington has been rumored with a trade request. That request has since died down. However, wide receiver could still be a huge need for this team in 2022.
The Steelers know how to draft receivers and that has not changed. Drafting a receiver high in their draft class might be atop of their list when the 2022 NFL Draft commences in April. Many might not see it coming but this team could have a glaring hole there after this season’s conclusion.
Chris Olave is becoming a star for Ohio State with his big games during the college football playoffs. He has continued to get better and now it is time for him to make a case to become the best receiver prospect in this class. It is a decent prospect group for this position but Olave just stands out.
His production last year was off the charts for a shortened season and he has big-game experience. This is another huge year for this player and one that could make him a top-flight weapon in the NFL for years to come. He is a speedy and shifty guy that has excellent burst at the line of scrimmage. Olave is a playmaker that will catch the Steelers eye fairly easily. There is also that Ohio State to black and gold pipeline that continues to flourish.
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Joe Haden has asked for a contract extension from the Steelers but it would seem better off if the team neglected that option. Haden has been a great addition but his age is becoming an issue now as he starts to near his mid-30s. Steven Nelson is also gone so cornerback seems like it will be a major need heading into the offseason for this team.
Pittsburgh has not been the best talent evaluator when it comes to drafting cornerbacks. Time and time again, they have selected players that cannot adjust to the NFL level and are gone from the team sooner than expected. Why not replace Haden – a former Florida Gator – with a new one in Kaiir Elam?
Elam is a solid NFL corner prospect that has all the physical traits that every franchise is looking for. His frame at 6’2 and his youth of being a Junior will be a huge upgrade to his game. Drafting a player young and developing them is something the Steelers love to do and they can do that with this prospect.
Elam is also going into a big season as he can emerge as the top corner if he plays well. There are three top corner prospects right now and this Gator is one of them. Elam can find a way to get that top spot if he wishes but any of those other two prospects are worth mentioning to watch as well. Those two names are Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU) and Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati).
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder is coming off a big season with the Cincinnati Bearcats. He was able to help lead them to the Peach Bowl, where they lost by three points. That is still a huge accomplishment for a smaller program to go toe-to-toe with a big SEC school, and Ridder was a leading force with this team heading in a positive direction.
Ridder has had a solid career with some inconsistencies but last season showed his potential in the future. The Steelers need to find a replacement for Ben Roethlisberger when he retires and now might be the time. It is rumored to be his last go-around and Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins are clearly not the answer.
This prospect is still going to have a lot to prove throughout this season and leading to the draft. He has both a strong arm and extreme mobility, which are great assets to an NFL offense. Speed and dual-threat action are what many teams demand from young quarterbacks coming into the league. The pocket-passer has become a dying breed so Ridder will have an opportunity to become a starter at the next level.
Ridder seems to be a day two option now for most teams but he could become a first-round talent if he can build off of last season and grow his stats show more consistency with his throwing. If he can do that, then this will be a great prospect to pay attention to when the black and gold hand in their selection card on draft night.
The Steelers will have a lot of holes to fill in the 2022 NFL Draft. Some of these players could be potential draft selections when that time comes in late April.