Steelers 2022 mock draft emphasizes offensive needs

The Pittsburgh Steelers will soon be on the clock. Here’s why I think they will go against the grain with a balanced approach in 2022.

I’ve been doing NFL Mocks for over ten years. In that time, I’ve heard and read a lot of ‘draft gurus’ and have been trying to figure out why some of these ‘analysts’ don’t seem rooted in watching game film and doing actual scouting.

The NFL Network’s Peter Shrager gave me part of the answer when he admitted he never watches film or does any analysis. He said he watches media trends and bases his mock draft on that. Given how totally undeserving players (mostly quarterbacks) get hyped into the first round almost every year that was an ‘ah-hah!’ moment for me. I’m pretty sure Shrager isn’t alone in this practice.

Another problem is groupthink and conformity. I was watching Daniel Jeremiah on ‘Mock Draft Live’ and he had a mock where no quarterbacks were taken in the 1st Round. He was practically browbeaten over this. He’s since caved and in his 3.1 Mock put Kenny Pickett back in. At least it wasn’t Malik Willis.

The final thing I’ve come to realize is most ‘draft gurus’ are not in the talent evaluation business. They are in the NFL Draft hype business and nothing hypes a draft better than quarterbacks. Almost every year the so-called draft gurus hype a lousy QB into the first round. Blake Bortles, Blaine Gabbert, and Jordan Love are recent examples. This year they’re hyping more than one.

And on that note…