5 first-round mistakes the Steelers must avoid in the draft

Steelers draft Pickett

One of my biggest fallers in the draft, Kenny Pickett has seen his draft stock tumble as I have had the opportunity to watch more tape on him. He was never my top quarterback in the class, but my initial study into him did leave him as my second/third-ranked quarterback in this draft class. As of now, if I were in charge of the Steelers, I wouldn’t be touching Pickett in the first round.

While he is pro-ready and has some good film behind him, more than likely Pickett has reached his ceiling as a prospect. That isn’t always a bad thing, as it should lead to some instant success in the league, but long-term I don’t see Pickett being a top quarterback in the league. Taking him will likely mean the team is committing to a mediocre quarterback which isn’t a recipe for success in the league.

Even more damaging to his stock in my eyes is the likelihood that the Steelers would have to move up for Pickett if they wanted him. This would likely mean jumping the Panthers which would be an expensive move up for the team. Add in the fact I don’t rank Pickett very highly in this class and trading additional resources to draft him seems unwise. The team should look elsewhere at quarterback and keep Pickett off their first-round board.

With the draft almost here, the Steelers will have to make a good move with their first-round pick if they want to remain competitive in the league. Reaching for a need or targeting a poor fit will set this team back after an above-average offseason. Keep these first-round mistakes in mind as the Steelers prepare to make their draft selection.