A 5-step guide to a quick and successful Steelers rebuild

Steelers fourth step: Go the best player available in the draft

The Steelers claim that every year they attack the draft with a “best player available” approach, yet they are almost always drafting to fill a designated need. Next year should be different though. The team won’t be in a position to draft a top player in the draft, so they should instead see who falls to them and try and grab the best player on their board.

Normally, with a team that wants to win immediately, the draft should be used to fill any remaining needs. More than likely though, the Steelers will still have a plethora of needs to fill by the time the draft rolls around. If that’s the case, the picks the team has should be used on the players that they feel have the best shot at having a great career, even if it isn’t at a position of top need.

Obviously, this method does have some exclusions. The team shouldn’t use a pick on a top running back due to Najee Harris nor should they spend a top pick on a pure free safety since Minkah Fitzpatrick has that job locked down. The same could be argued for a tight end, although that is less secure. Looking at the draft as it is though, neither of these positions are top first-round talents though.

Outside of that, every position can and should be on the board in the first round. A great interior lineman falls; Snag him. A top defensive lineman; draft him. Edge rusher, receiver, defensive back, off-ball linebacker; easy picks. At this point, this draft shouldn’t be centered on filling immediate needs. It should be crafting as talented of a base roster in order to field a rookie quarterback and address any remaining needs in 2023.