4 blazing-fast receivers Steelers must target in the 2022 NFL Draft

Steelers take a flyer on talented Danny Gray

Danny Gray is one of the more interesting stories in the entire draft. He was forced to attend Blinn College after being named academically ineligible for Missouri, where he originally committed. After two productive years at Blinn, he committed to SMU for his final two college seasons. A strong senior season in 2021 put him on NFL team’s radar, including an invite to the Senior Bowl. After impressing scouts in Mobile, he earned an invite to the combine.

He made good on the opportunity, running the fourth-fastest 40 time (4.33) among all receivers in Indy. His frame and testing numbers happen to be very similar to another SMU receiver the Steelers are very familiar with: Emmanuel Sanders. I recently wrote about Sanders combine, and the numbers are eerily close: both measured just over 5’11 and 186 pounds, had elite 40 times, and had the same broad jump at 126’. That isn’t to say they are the same caliber of player, but it’s hard to ignore the similarities.

Gray isn’t the route runner Sanders was and isn’t as physical of a player, but he is exactly the type of receiver the Steelers select and develops into a valuable piece on offense. He is a true deep threat who has the potential to be more, and he may still be available when the Steelers are on the clock at pick 137. If the Steelers choose to focus elsewhere with their top 3 picks, Gray could be one of the steals of the draft and help bring the big play element back to the Pittsburgh offense.