With the Steelers now fully focused on the upcoming draft, here is a look at the top 20 offensive options for the team to choose from this year.
With the draft getting ever closer, the Steelers are likely finalizing their draft board. While the draft is far from a science, Pittsburgh has a long track record of consistent things to look for when they select someone. Using the criteria the team normally cares about, I have compiled a 20-player board of offensive players that are realistic selections for the team in 2022.
What does this Steelers study look like?
The basics of this study are simple. Eight criteria were used which included: Senior Bowl and Combine visits, scouts/coaches at the pro day, pro day dinners, and actual team visits. That left me with an initial list of 43 offensive targets that met at least one of those criteria.
From there, likely first-round picks that neither Tomlin nor Colbert were present for at their pro day were taken off the list due to the track record of one of the two needing to be there for the Steelers to select someone in the first. As well, quarterbacks are excluded from this list due to them all fitting the necessary criteria. If you wanted a list of 25 prospects, you could add the five top quarterbacks to this list above every other name.
Finally, a player either had to have met three of the necessary criteria outlined above or had a “notable two” criteria reached. This would mean that the Steelers had a coach at their pro day along with something else, meaning there is a slightly better chance that the team targets them. With all of that said, here are the 20 likely offensive targets for the Steelers in the 2022 draft.
Steelers offensive prospect #20
Arguably the biggest name on this list also happens to be one of the more unlikely options of the names on this list. No one can argue that Jameson Williams isn’t a supreme prospect as a receiver. He has the route running, speed, and hands to become a top receiver in the league. Even with the injury he suffered late in the college season, he is still the favorite to be the first receiver off the board.
Williams only scored a two on my list, as the Steelers had their scouts, Kevin Colbert, and Mike Tomlin present at the Alabama pro day. Because of this, Williams can be considered a first-round prospect for the team. It would require him to fall to pick 20, which isn’t likely right now, but if he did fall that far he should be a prime target.
The reason Williams is at the bottom of this list is due to the fact I find it hard to believe that the Steelers are going to draft a receiver in the first round. Thus, Williams doesn’t make a lot of sense due to his top billing. He qualifies for this list though, and thus he opens the list of the least likely of the 20 prospects.
Steelers offensive prospect #19
While a lesser receiver than Williams, Reggie Roberson makes some more sense. The SMU target is far less dynamic as an athlete, but he has some versatility as to where he can line up and what he can do for an offense. He is also squarely a day three pick, and likely a late day three pick given the depth of this receiver class.
He earned a two on my scale due to receivers coach Frisman Jackson being present at SMU. While a lot of that may have had to do with their other receiver prospect (more on him later), Robinson also may have caught his eye. His best traits are his quick feet and ability to get open. No, his straight-line speed isn’t there, but he has great agility that allows him to exploit defenders.
His ability to get open due to his quick moves is reminiscent of Diontae Johnson. Unfortunately, Robinson has quite a few issues in his game as well. His route tree was extremely limited, and he struggles making contested catches. As well, Robinson has struggled to stay healthy for most of his career. That said, late in the draft, the Steelers could take a risk on a receiver they followed this closely in the pre-draft process.
Steelers offensive prospect #18
A name that has seemingly lost some interest in the draft community as the draft process went on, Minnesota’s mountain of a tackle Daniel Faalele scored a two on my criteria list. Similar to the names above, he gets the nod here due to positional coach Pat Meyer being present for his pro day.
Faalele is notable for his size, which is insane. He’s 6’8 and weighs in at an immense 384 pounds. His athletic testing looks bad on paper, but he actually has some burst considering his size. He will need to drop some weight as a professional, as he likely won’t be able to sustain that weight for an entire career, but he could come in and eventually be a huge right tackle.
The issue with Faalele is his mechanics. He mostly won due to his size in college, but when he faced off against more refined pass rushers, Faalele regularly got beat. He will need a lot of work before he can be counted on to start. As well, he will likely cost a day two pick, given his potential and size. If the Steelers are targeting a mid-round tackle though, Faalele could be a developmental player that could use his rookie season to begin refining his technique.
Steelers offensive prospect #17
Back to the receivers, who will dominate this offensive list, Kevin Austin has everything you want in an outside receiver. He is a height-weight-speed freak that finally found some footing at Notre Dame after a lot of inconsistencies early in his career. He was suspended and suffered through injury to start his career, but he finally broke out last year.
He scored a two on my list but qualified due to Colbert being present at his pro day. Austin has seen his stock soar throughout the pre-draft process due to his insane athleticism. That speed was apparent on tape as well given his ability to win deep. He would slot in well as a developmental Z receiver in the league.
The issue with Austin is his lack of time on the field. The off-the-field issues that led to his full-season suspension and his foot injury that cost him even more playing time make him a big risk in the draft. That said, if the Steelers wanted to use one of their last picks in the draft to obtain him, he would be a high-risk, high-ceiling player.
Steelers offensive prospect #16
John Metchie is seen as “the other” Alabama receiving prospect, as he lacks the top tier potential of Williams, but he has more versatility as both an inside and outside receiving prospect. Like Williamson, Metchie suffered an injury that slowed down his last season with the Crimson Tide. That said, he is a solid receiver when healthy.
Like Williamson, Metchie scored a two on the criteria for the same reasons as his teammate. He ranks higher on this list for two main reasons. The first is Metchie’s ability to play in the slot. While he could line up in the Z if needed, his best fit at the next level is inside as a speedy and shifty slot receiver. That is the Steelers’ biggest need at receiver, as they currently are lacking a true slot option.
The other reason he ranks higher on the list is because of where he is projected to go in the draft. Metchie will be available on day two and may even fall as far as the team’s third-round pick. To get a capable starting slot receiver that late is a bonus. If the team misses out on the first few waves of receivers early, landing Metchie in the third would make a lot of sense.
Steelers offensive prospect #15
The Steelers have casually looked into quite a few running back candidates this offseason, and that makes sense given the lack of depth behind Najee Harris. A name that the team hasn’t shown inherent interest in but has been seen by the top brass of the team is Tyrion Davis-Price. The running back out of LSU wasn’t a huge workhorse, but he fits the size that the team wants in a running back.
While Davis-Price had some solid production during his time with the Tigers, his usage as a running back by committee hampered his overall production. Because of this, he will likely be a late-round pick and could potentially go undrafted. He scored a two on this scale and due to Tomlin and Colbert being present at LSU’s pro day, he gets the nod here.
What Davis-Price excels at is using his deceptive straight-line speed to burst through holes and gain yards. He runs best north to south, as he is tough to stop when he gets a full head of steam. For a team that is lacking any sort of a rushing threat behind their starter, adding a limited albeit talented at what he is good at backup in Davis-Price makes a lot of sense.
Steelers offensive prospect #14
The last of the two’s to make this list, Cincinnati receiver Alec Pierce benefited from his team having a lot of talent around him which attracted the Steelers brass to their pro day. Because of this, Pierce got to put his talent on display in front of a slew of coaches. Add in his great athletic testing and Pierce could be a fit for what this offense needs.
Pierce has great size and impressive speed. Add in the ability to get off the line and win deep makes him an intriguing fit as a Z receiver. He could also move inside and serve as an oversized slot if need be as well. While not his best fit, he could also play the X role in a pinch if needed. His versatility makes him an appealing option for a team that lost so much depth in the room.
In a normal receiver class, Pierce would be a safe day two pick. With this draft so flush with receiving talent though, he will likely go somewhere between the third or fourth round. He would be a great versatile addition for a team that needs some help at receiver in this draft. He may never ascend into a team’s top target, but he can be a great second or third option for any offense.
Steelers offensive prospect #13
A name I honestly hadn’t heard much about before this study, Snoop Conner is a name that actually makes some sense for the Steelers. As mentioned before, this team needs a better backup running back, and Conner fits the mold of what this team likes. He is a stout and thickly built power back. His athleticism isn’t great, but he shows good bursts through lanes to pick up some tough yards.
One of the best aspects of Conner besides his traditional fit with what this team looks for in a back is his lack of heavy usage. Despite being a power back, he only has 336 touches through his time at Ole Miss, meaning there should be plenty of tread on his tires. He won’t be a dynamic back that breaks off long runs, but he can be an efficient backup that runs hard when called upon.
To be clear, the reason he made this list was due to the Steelers being so interested in Matt Corral which led to them sending the house to the Ole Miss pro day. That doesn’t mean that they will avoid Conner though. He is likely to be a late-day-three pick and he may even go undrafted. Keep his name in mind late though as he would be a good fit for what the Steelers like in a running back.
Steelers offensive prospect #12
It seems like almost a certainty that the Steelers draft a receiver early in this class. That said, there is an equally good chance that the team double-dips at receiver given their huge need to replenish the depth at the position. A limited name that does only one thing right, Braylon Sanders could be a potential second drafted receiver for the team or even a top undrafted target.
To be clear, Sanders is an extremely limited receiver. He caught a grand total of 69 passes over five years at Ole Miss. In that span though, Sanders averaged an impressive 21.1 yards per catch. He lacks any refinement as a route runner, but he excels at winning deep. He doesn’t have burner speed by any means, but he does well when tasked with running straight.
His style of play is reminiscent of a slightly slower and less potential-filled Mike Wallace who came out of Ole Miss as a similar prospect. No, Sanders won’t become the threat that Wallace was, but he can serve as a fourth or fifth receiver on a roster that helps stretch a defense. For a seventh-round pick or an undrafted option, the Steelers could be buyers.
Steelers offensive prospect #11
Unlike some of the names mentioned on this list that benefited from a quarterback bringing the Steelers top names to their pro day, the LSU pro day wasn’t that. Although it isn’t unusual to see Pittsburgh all over LSU given the high number of NFL caliber names that they produce, a name that was connected was interior offensive linemen Ed Ingram.
While having the top names at his pro day help, important to note is the fact that the Steelers also met with Ingram at the combine. It isn’t hard to see why they would be interested. Ingram has prototypical size and great athleticism to match. Add in his good length and nasty demeanor as a blocker and he should be a strong starter for a team for the next few years.
The issue that keeps Ingram farther down this list is that I find it hard to believe that the Steelers will draft an interior lineman on day two as that is where Ingram is projected to go. After investing in Mason Cole and James Daniels, there is more of a need for a developmental tackle. Ingram has impressive tape, but he may be a tad too rich for the team. That said, there is good reason to see why the team would have an interest in him.
Steelers offensive prospect #10
The other, more notable receiver from Ole Miss, Dontario Drummond is a classic big slot type of weapon that will have plenty of limitations as a pro. He is extremely limited as an athlete, something that both his testing and his tape back up. That said, he can serve as a physical presence for an offense in a pinch.
Drummond worked well in the Ole Miss RPO offense. He would benefit from getting targeted on short passes and using his physicality and ability after the catch to gain some additional yards. He is limited on deep routes as he is forced to make contested catches due to his lack of speed, but for a short option out of the slot, teams could do worse.
Because of his limitations, he likely will be taken in the backend of the draft. If the Steelers target a more traditional deep threat early to play on the outside, they could double dip and land Drummond to be a slot option. His lack of speed limits his potential, but he could be a fine physical option in an offense. With the team so tuned into Ole Miss, landing one of their receivers would make sense.
Steelers offensive prospect #9
Justyn Ross is one of the more intriguing names in this upcoming draft process. After an early pair of dominant college seasons at Clemson, Ross suffered a significant spinal injury that nearly ended his career. He did get back on the field though, but he looked notably slower and less effective than before. Add in Clemson’s regression as a whole and Ross now is a much lowlier prospect than many thought he would have been.
The Steelers had their top names at Clemson for their pro day. As well, the Steelers sent their receivers coach there to scout Ross as well. He will likely need at least a season before he can be counted on to fully start, but in time he could get back to his pre-injury ways. If he does, he should be an effective receiver for a team that drafts him.
Even if he never gets back to how he used to play, Ross can still serve as an effective slot receiver for an offense. Similar to Drummond, he would be a “big slot” and would win with physicality as opposed to savvy route running. If his ability on the outside returns, he would be a natural Z receiver, but early on expect him to serve as a slot receiver.
Steelers offensive prospect #8
If you want a throwback, nasty type of guard, Chasen Hines is the prospect for you. Hailing out of LSU, Hines is a shorter prospect with a thickly built lower half. He uses his frame to generate a lot of power in run blocking. That said, he can get a bit over-aggressive and lose initial battles with better technicians.
Surprisingly, Hines actually tested as an above-average athlete despite not looking the part on film. There is a hope that he will be able to be used more on the move at the next level. While he is an accomplished run blocker, his pass blocking lacks finesse and technique. This will make him a limited prospect early in his career.
The reason he is higher up than a similar prospect in Ingram is for two reasons. The first is that Hines is projected to go somewhere late on day three. The team will be far more likely to take a guard there than earlier. As well, Hines has the potential to play either guard spot or center as a pro. Even if he doesn’t become a true starter, he should become a versatile backup at multiple interior positions.
Steelers offensive prospect #7
While all of the names to this point have obvious connections to the Steelers, the next seven names really make a lot of sense, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of the team’s draft picks to come from this list of options. The first of the final names on this list is the burly Hassan Haskins out of Michigan.
Haskins fits the traditional mold of what the Steelers look for in a running back. He has tremendous size and is a proven commodity after a heavy workload while in school. He chooses his lanes quickly and hits the hole hard. He doesn’t have the athleticism to hesitate much, which limits his effectiveness when there isn’t a clear opening to run through, but he is a fine north-south runner.
The issue if the team wanted to select Haskins is his lack of variety as a runner. While Harris is the better running back, he and Haskins are very similar as runners. Neither are dynamic athletes, and both excel when they can explode through holes. That said, Haskins makes sense for the team if they want a capable backup to Harris.
Steelers offensive prospect #6
A last name that all fans should recognize, Connor Heyward is the younger brother of current Steelers superstar Cameron Heyward. This Heyward lacks the size of his older brother, but he plays with similar tenacity. His role will be far more limited than what his brother’s has been so far, but he can wear a lot of hats as a pro.
While technically listed as a tight end, Heyward will likely serve as a fullback and special teams player for whomever he plays for. He has some decent tape in that role as well, as he served as a utility player for Michigan State and played essentially wherever they needed him to play. This led to him being a surprisingly effective offensive weapon despite his size limitations.
While Derek Watt is still under contract for another season, Heyward can still be added and used in a variety of ways. Once Watt’s contract expires, Heyward can take on a more traditional fullback role. The Steelers are likely hoping that he goes undrafted, but there is a chance one of the seventh-round picks could be used on him. The team has met with him multiple times, so don’t be surprised if he lands with the team either late in the draft or right afterward.
Steelers offensive prospect #5
Another receiver finds his name on this list, and now these prospects are going from late-round double-dip candidates to higher-round potential starters. Danny Gray has some limitations for sure, but he does well as a deep threat. For a receiving room that is lacking a lot of pure straight-line speed, adding a name like Gray makes a lot of sense.
Gray excelled as a traditional deep threat for SMU, using his blazing speed to blow past defenders and gain chunks of yardage. His route tree is limited at this point, but he can run some basic plays beyond just streaks and vertical routes. Long-term, if his route running gets better, Gray could also shift into the slot.
Why he lands so high up this list is because the Steelers had their receiver coach at SMU to see their receivers. This means that Gray has to be squarely on their radar. He will be a more expensive option for the team, as he will likely require a third or fourth-round pick to land him, but Gray would add a lot of speed and potential to this group if added.
Steelers offensive prospect #4
The last of the three scores in this class, one of my favorite names has become North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson. He was an absolute freak as a tester this offseason, and as a result, it has caused his stock to climb extremely high. It isn’t hard to see why though, as 6’4 receivers rarely have the ability he has to win deep with his elite speed.
He excels at winning deep, naturally, but Watson also runs a relatively complete route tree. He can be an effective receiver from all over the field despite his natural tendency to try and win deep. He would be best served as a team’s Z receiver, as his size and speed could be best utilized in that role on an offense.
Watson isn’t a perfect prospect by any means. He comes from a small school and also has a relatively pronounced drop issue. That said, he does come from an offense that runs some pro concepts, meaning he wasn’t benefiting from a simple offense. He has unlimited upside as a prospect and the Steelers would be lucky to land him in the second round of the draft.
Steelers offensive prospect #3
The first of the top three candidates on this list due to them scoring a four out of eight in this study, Jamaree Salyer has all of the makings of an above-average guard in the league. He flashed in a productive and relative pro-style Georgia offense, and he helped pave the way for a dynamic ground attack for the Bulldogs.
He is a sound blocker in both pass sets and running sets, which makes him a viable day two candidate that could start relatively early in his career. He does have some limitations though, as his size isn’t ideal and his testing misses the mark. It seems like a good possibility that Salyer becomes a starter in the league, but there are serious questions if he will ever transcend past just an average stater.
The real issue with the Steelers taking him will be his cost. He will likely go somewhere on day two, which is a significant investment in a guy that won’t be penciled in to start anytime soon. That said, the team has been all over him so far this offseason. With so many scouts at Georgia’s pro day as meetings at the combine and Senior Bowl, Sayler seems to be on the team’s radar.
Important to note that the reason Salyer scored as high as he did was thanks to the Steelers sending the house to Georgia for their defensive prospects. That said, the pair of meetings at the combine and senior bowl stick out. If the team is planning for more of an interior player earlier in the draft, Salyer makes a lot of sense.
Steelers offensive prospect #2
Almost through this list, the best-fitting running back also happens to benefit from his quarterback having the Steelers interest. That said, Ty Chandler also has a lot of quality traits that would make him a good fit in this backfield. Given the strengths that Harris has as a power back, Chandler would counter that with more precision as a runner.
Chandler finally got his chance to be the lead back this past year with North Carolina after transferring from Tennessee. As more of a traditional lead back, Chandler took advantage of the opportunity and showcased his smoothness as a runner and ability to make plays in the passing game. Add in his solid testing and Chandler has the makings of a good back to add to a committee.
The reason Chandler is so high on this list is due to the slew of coaches that watched him at his pro day. While that was mostly for Sam Howell, it wouldn’t be unthinkable that he impressed some of the staff members there. Add in his meeting with the team at the combine and there is some interest between the two sides. For a day three pick, Chandler would provide the team with a capable runner to take some pressure off of Harris.
Steelers offensive prospect #1
The name that stood out the most on offense was Georgia receiver, George Pickens. This should come as a surprise to no one since the team was all over him at his pro day and should like the combination of size and speed he possesses. What really set him over the edge though was the team’s receiver coach running him through drills, a huge sign that Pittsburgh is interested in Pickens.
Watching his tape it isn’t hard to see why. The former Bulldog has a strong get-off and uses his size and speed to win deep. He runs a decent route tree coming out of Georgia’s pro-style offense too, meaning he shouldn’t have a huge transition to the pros. Add in his tenacity as a run blocker and you have a receiver the Steelers obviously like.
The main issue with him was his lack of college production. That mainly stemmed from an injury that derailed most of his 2021 season though, which hampered his total stats by the season’s end. That said, he has enormous potential and would be an obvious target for the team in the second round. The team has linked themselves to him numerous times now, so don’t be shocked to see him end up with the team by the end of the draft.
While the Steelers have obviously looked at more than just these twenty names in the draft, these offensive options make the most sense. As the draft draws nearer, keep an eye on any of these 20 names for an offense looking to reinvent itself, as the Steelers have been all over these names so far in the pre-draft process.