While the Steelers will be looking for starters in the top three rounds, these day three potential prospects would all make sense for the team to fill out the depth chart.
The Steelers have a relatively set up roster ahead of the 2022 NFL draft. While they can still use some good talent across the board, they shouldn’t be relying on all of their picks right away to be impact players. Thus, the day three picks can be used on potential laden players that can grow into a roll.
That all said, here are ten-day three prospects that the Steelers must be keeping an eye on.
Steelers must watch Heyward
Anyone that follows the team should see this name and instantly think of Cameron Heyward. While he is a supreme talent, his brother is set to enter into this draft class, and while not a premiere player or position, he could wear a lot of hats for a team. While he was used as a tight end at Michigan State, Connor Heyward’s size easily makes him a fullback at the next level.
While in school, Heyward wore a variety of hats for the team. He could serve as a blocker, a receiver, and a runner as he was lined up in a variety of ways. While he will become more limited as a player in the pros (his size won’t make it impossible for him to line up as a traditional tight end), he can still become a useful fullback.
He can handle some short-yardage carries and chip in on rollouts and short passes in order to accumulate yards. He can also hold his own in space as a blocker. On top of all of this, he has the makings of a good special teams player in this league. He will never be dominant in one field, but he should be able to contribute to a team in a variety of ways for a long time.
Steelers must watch Robinson
While the Steelers have two capable edge starters and a well-vested veteran in Genard Avery backing them up, using a day three pick on a developmental pass rusher is never a bad idea. You can never have too many pass rushers as a defense. While he will need some work to refine his game, Dominique Robinson looks the part of a capable reserve on tape.
Hailing from Miami of Ohio, Robinson actually began his career as a quarterback in high school before signing to Miami as a receiver. He played two seasons there before he made the switch to defense. His tape as a pass rusher is extremely limited, as a COVID shortened season and his senior tape are all we have on him getting after the quarterback, but he has the makings of an impactful edge defender.
He will need quite a bit of time at the next level to develop into a capable role player. His pass-rushing moves are extremely raw and he benefited from being a great athlete in college as opposed to being a technician. Some time on special teams and even potentially the practice squad could be required, but in a few years, he has the makings of a capable edge presence for the Steelers.
Steelers must watch Hines
While there is a real chance that the Steelers pass on drafting an offensive lineman altogether, a late-round option that makes sense is Chasen Hines. The LSU interior linemen can play along either side of the line and could learn the center role in due time. He has the makings of a versatile backup that may ascend into a starting role later on.
What stands out initially about Hines is his stocky frame and long reach. While he is just a tad under 6’3, he reportable played at around 350lbs while with the Tigers. He weighed in lighter at the combine, which is good as he can keep his weight down, but for a man his size, he does well enough as an athlete. Add in his physical nature you have a guard that is fun to watch.
His issues stem from his pass blocking, as he isn’t effective at holding his own against technical pass rushers. His run blocking is great, and it could lead to him getting a helmet relatively early in his career. He should be a versatile interior backup early on and down the road, assuming he gets better as a pass blocker, could be a decent starter. If the team is looking for a lineman, Hines makes sense.
Steelers must watch Moon
Brian Flores has a certain type when it comes to linebackers. He does really well when working with oversized frames that can blitz through the gaps and get after the quarterback. The Steelers don’t really have that type of player under contract right now, but Jeremiah Moon out of Florida could certainly fit the bill as that kind of a versatile linebacker.
Moon has been in the Florida program since 2016, but due to various injuries and COVID, he has stayed there for six seasons. In that time, he mostly served as an edge rusher with litter fanfare or NFL potential. He moved to more of a full-time linebacker role last season though and flourished there. He moves well at his size and was an effective two-down linebacker that could get after the quarterback.
His coverage skills are a notable weak spot, but he is a veteran with a lot of experience that could offer the team a Vince Williams style of a linebacker. He won’t ever become a top name, but he could be a valuable role player and a decent special teams option. He makes sense late on day three for a team looking to fill out their defensive depth chart.
Steelers must watch Haskins
The need for a backup running back is becoming a well-documented issue with the Steelers. While Najee Harris is an absolute workforce of a back, expecting him to be able to consistently handle 350-400 snaps a season seems unwise. With the team’s offensive shift this offseason to being run-focused, having a capable backup seems like a necessity.
While there are a slew of capable reserve backs in this year’s draft class, a name that makes a lot of sense is Michigan’s Hassan Haskins. Beyond just the Steelers inherent interest in Michigan’s pro day, a good sign for drafting prospects, Haskins fits the mold of what the team looks for. No, he isn’t a great athlete, but he has the size and ability to handle a full workload.
Assuming Haskins makes it to the sixth round or later, he should be a viable option for the team to take late. On top of his powerful rushing ability, he is also a capable receiver and a fine pass-blocker, further adding to his value. Haskins makes a lot of sense for the team as a whole. If he lasts later into day three, Haskins makes a lot of sense for the team.
Steelers must watch Goodrich
While the Steelers could certainly go after a cornerback earlier than this, waiting until day three is still a likely scenario for the team in terms of this draft. Either a slot or outside corner could be the target, but there are few indicators as to when a cornerback will be drafted. If they wait this long, adding Mario Goodrich would be a smart addition.
Goodrich comes from a Clemson defense where he had to wait for his opportunity. He handled a full load last season across from Andrew Booth, a likely first-round pick, and he more than held his own. He has the size to be a capable outside cornerback and excel in either man or zone coverages. He could be a little more physical, but he is a solid developmental cornerback.
Given his lack of elite athletic traits, Goodrich will likely only be a second option long-term for a defense. Getting a player like that in the fourth round is fine value though. Goodrich needs to work on his initial reactions on his physicality at the line of scrimmage. A season working special teams and as a reserve could yield a decent starter later on down the road.
Steelers must watch Allen
Of all of the needs on the team, tight end is far from one of the biggest. Pat Freiermuth is going to handle the starting duties for the next few years and Zach Gentry took some major steps forward as a blocker last season. The third tight end is far from set, but that isn’t exactly a vital need heading into this draft.
That said, a player like Chase Allen would go a long way in fiving the Steelers three capable tight ends. Allen played second fiddle to Charlie Kolar, but he has served as a viable seam threat and blocker during his time at Iowa St. He lacks the traits to ever be an elite or consistent starter, but there is no reason he can’t excel as a top backup for a team.
Allen has great size and decent speed for a player like himself. He lacks the agility to make big plays, but he can serve as a possession target. His blocking will need some work at the next level as he takes on bigger and more athletic defenders, but he has the want to when tasked with blocking. Considering he will likely go later in the draft; Allen has a lot of what you want in a depth tight end.
Steelers must watch Peevy
A name that has just recently entered my field of view, the Steelers are pretty standard when they look to draft defensive ends. Tall with long arms, a player can get drafted to this team due to their size even if their college production wasn’t great. One just has to think of Isaiahh Loudermilk. He wasn’t seen as an elite prospect, but his size was exactly what the team wants.
Another name in this class that fits that mold is Jayden Peevy. He is a perfect size to serve as an end for this defense, and considering the long-term uncertainty of the group, he could be a fit. On top of just his size, Peevy had Karl Dunbar at his pro day and met with the team at the combine. There is some clear interest here, and he could be a viable late-round pick because of it.
Peevy would need some work at the next level, as his pass rush skills are virtually non-existent. As well, while not an elite athlete, his playing speed can significantly slow down as games go on, meaning there may be a conditioning issue there. That all said, he has some developmental traits to become a decent backup in this system and could likely be had with one of the round seven picks if the team wanted him.
Steelers must watch Ross
With the addition of Miles Boykin, the Steelers in theory have three starting receivers to work with. That said, there is still a really good chance one gets drafted relatively early. However, if they decide to wait until day three, a name that makes a lot of sense is Clemson’s Justyn Ross. The physical receiver had an up and down career with the Tigers but could rebound in the NFL.
During his first two seasons of college, Ross was a dynamic threat for Clemson. He was a viable short and deep threat that knew how to utilize his size to make big plays. Unfortunately, a back injury nearly cost him his career, and his return tape was slower and less impactful than before. Ideally, as he heals, some of that athleticism could return.
The Steelers sent the house to Clemson’s pro day as well as receivers coach Frisman Jackson. If they believe Ross is healthy and can contribute to the team, he could be in play sometime after round four. At one point in time, Ross was looking like a top-ten pick before his injury slowed him down considerably. He needs to keep on healing, but in time Ross could be a viable, physical receiver.
Steelers must watch Blount
A name that blew up his pro day and then went to the Steelers for a visit, Joey Blount fits a lot of prerequisites for what the team looks for in a strong safety. Good size, explosive athleticism, and a physical nature make up the brunt of Blount’s game. He struggles in coverage though, and the deeper he plays the worse the results are typically.
He does have some notable positives in his game though. He uses his speed well in the box, reading plays and attacking the line of scrimmage. Blitzing through gaps is second nature as well for Blount. While he is limited to being a strong safety and likely only a box safety long term, he could develop into a capable starter in time.
The other primary issue with Blount has been his health but considering he will likely be taken somewhere on day three, the injury risk is worth it. Blount could sit behind Terrell Edmunds for the season and try to sharpen his skills as a coverage player. If he can stay healthy and flash early, he could be a strong candidate to start somewhere down the road.
The Steelers need to get some instant impact players early in this draft class but finding some key depth players in the mid to late rounds will be just as important. In particular, these ten prospects all are projected to go somewhere on day three and each of them would make a good deal of sense for the Steelers. Keep them in mind once the draft gets underway as potential fits for this team.