The Steelers could have many outcomes in the first round and the Still Curtain crew gave their thoughts on who they will pick.
The Steelers currently hold the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They have been on the hunt for the next great player to wear the black and gold on Sundays. They have been looking closer at some positions than others.
Quarterbacks has been getting the most attention out of any position group in this draft. It is a group that has gotten a lot of criticism as many don’t think that there are any immediate impact players among these signal-callers. It seems more likely than not that this club will select a player at this position on night one.
Many things could change however between picks one and 20. Teams could trade up and down and before you know it, a special player drops in your lap. It has happened before, and a player could always slip more than what some mock drafts predict.
The Still Curtain crew has been covering the offseason for the Steelers up until this point with vast coverage. There has been lots of news and speculation coming out of Pittsburgh with many interesting tidbits that have leaked out. Getting a pulse for what this franchise might do seems easier this year than in past drafts.
The team has compiled their predictions about who will be the first-round selection by the Steelers. These predictions include trade options as well, not just strictly players that could have a legit opportunity to slide to pick 20. Some honorable mentions that didn’t make the list include Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell, and Matt Corral.
Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
Kyle Hamilton is a player that the Steelers brought in for one of their pre-draft visits. They have an interest in this player and have a small pipeline with the Notre Dame program during points in their history. Some have speculated earlier on that this safety might drop some in the draft, but that seems more unlikely by the day.
Many experts have been consistent with this Notre Dame product being a top ten lock in many mock draft scenarios. He has been that for the majority, but he did seem to drop some after having a slow 40-yard dash time. That could be concerning to some teams, but the tape doesn’t lie, and this is going to be a great player in the NFL.
Three of our writers would love for Pittsburgh to select this player. It would be tough as he will not make it to pick 20. It would likely need a trade-up to get a chance at taking Hamilton. He would be a great addition to pair next to Minkah Fitzpatrick, despite the recent re-signing of Terrell Edmunds.
One of our writers, Griffin Davies-Wocasek explained his opinion, “It’s realistic that the Steelers can get him at 20 but he will have to pass through Philadelphia and New Orleans twice for him to be at 20.” This would be the surprise of the night if this prospect fell all the way to 20. He is a great player that would have Pittsburgh forget about all the quarterback options if he was still available at their first-round pick.
Desmond Ridder, Quarterback, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder has been a prospect that has gotten a lot of attention going to the Steelers with their first-round pick recently. He has always been linked to the team since the conclusion of the recent college football season. This quarterback is a winner and helped turn around a bad Cincinnati Bearcats football program into a college football playoff team.
We know that the club has looked closely at each of these top five quarterbacks. They have shown that same interest in Ridder as the top brass went to his pro day and ate dinner with him. Those are two constant precursors to what the team prefers to do when they select a player, especially during the early portions of the draft.
It has become more common knowledge across the nation that this franchise is going to draft a signal-caller in round one. If they stay at 20, then Ridder might be their best option left on their board. He still needs a lot of work with developing his game, but he can take some time as Mitch Trubisky will be the starter.
One of our contributors decided on this prospect despite also acknowledging the interest in Malik Willis. This selection will all come down to which player will be an option once the selection comes time to put in a card. Willis probably won’t be there at 20, but the franchise seems like they will be comfortable enough to take Ridder.
Jordan Davis, Defensive tackle, Georgia
Jordan Davis was a very popular pick being mocked to the Steelers a little before the pre-draft process started. Many expected him to get some attention after the defense struggled to stop the opposing offenses run attack. You can blame lots of things on that issue happening and it should be fixed in 2022.
Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu should be returning and that will provide depth and immediate impact players back into the fold. Jordan Davis is a player that many expect to go before the black and gold make their selection at 20. He is a giant in the middle of the trenches that is a great disrupter.
One thing that teams are concerned with about this defensive tackle is his lack of availability in games. He doesn’t have an injury issue, but he is not able to stay on the field consistently and needs breaks. He is more of a pure nose tackle and that could drop his draft stock some. Will it be enough for him to be available at 20? Probably not.
This player is a great disrupter who would be someone that would turn Pittsburgh away from the available quarterback options in the first round. Mike Tomlin is also on record as saying they don’t think he will be available once their pick comes around. This team holds him in very high regard and would love to have an opportunity to pick this player if he was an option.
Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty
Malik Willis has been the poster child for the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many people have mocked him to the team throughout the process. The fit is there, and the club seems poised to try and find a way to get this player onto the roster.
He has the highest ceiling out of any prospect that shares his position in this class. Willis is a big gamble in round one, especially if the black and gold need to trade up to draft this player. He could turn into a Lamar Jackson that has a cannon for an arm. He could also become a bust and that is concerning to many fans.
This was the consensus pick by most of our Still Curtain writers. Four members of the crew have made the prediction of Willis being the guy that the franchise covets enough to take in round one. He has a great skill set that still needs to be ironed out as he continues to develop at the NFL level.
Many different reports are flying around now, and it seems like the Steelers will try and trade up. Kevin Colbert even dropped a hint to maybe trading up to the seventh overall selection from the New York Giants. Finding a new quarterback of the future seems like the sure-fire option for round one and our team thinks it will go that way based on what we have seen unless a great talent drops to 20.
The Steelers could have a bunch of different options during the first round of the draft. One of these four players could be the pick on night one.