Who did the Pittsburgh Steelers come away with in the 2022 NFL Draft?

The 2022 NFL Draft is now in the books, and it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers got quite the haul. Here’s a quick breakdown of all seven selections. 

I have to admit, I was really nervous about the choices the Pittsburgh Steelers were about to make in the 2022 NFL Draft. This offseason marks a huge transition phase for Mike Tomlin’s team. Thankfully, he and Kevin Colbert did everything in their power to make sure the switch to a new signal-caller goes as smooth as possible.

The draft started off with a bang when Pittsburgh selected a fan favorite and local hero. From there, things only seemed to get better. On paper, the Steelers got some excellent value — especially in the early-to-mid rounds. Here’s a quick breakdown of each selection:

Steelers round 1: QB Kenny Pickett

Initial reactions seemed to be split on the Kenny Pickett selection with the 20th overall pick, but it looks like fans are quickly starting to come around to it. There were an array of opinions on the QB class this year, but most believe Pickett has the highest floor of the group. He should bring an energetic style at the helm with his ability to extend the play and throw on the run.

Steelers round 2: WR George Pickens

George Pickens posed excellent value in the second round. Despite a surprisingly quick run on wide receivers in round one, Pickens was remarkably still available with the 52nd overall pick. The 6’3” receiver has excellent ball skills and should immediately slot in as the team’s third WR. His potential is much higher, however, as the 21-year-old has incredibly natural football skills.

Steelers round 3: DL DeMarvin Leal

DeMarvin Leal might have been my favorite value pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Though there were mixed opinions about him, this was a player who was considered to be a top-10 selection back in 2020. Leal played as a big edge defender for Texas A&M, but at nearly 290 pounds, he projects as an interior defender for Pittsburgh. His quickness off the snap and bend are remarkable traits for a player his size.

Steelers round 4 (comp): WR Calvin Austin III

Talk about an exciting pick. There were far worse receivers drafted significantly higher than Calvin Austin III this year, and I have a feeling some teams are going to regret that. Though Austin is very undersized (5’7 3/4”, 170 lbs), he’s both quick and fast — earning a 4.32 40-yard dash and 4.07 20-yard shuttle. Austin is also a natural football player and a good route runner who could help this offense early.

Steelers round 6 (via Chiefs): HB Connor Heyward

This pick was a bit head-scratching, as I’m not sure there’s a role on the team for both Connor Heyward and Derek Watt. However, he certainly deserved to be drafted by the sixth round. Connor is the younger brother of Steelers All-Pro defender, Cameron Heyward. He’s a versatile H-back who can block on the move, catch the football, and even take carries from the backfield.

Steelers round 7 (via Jets): LB Mark Robinson

We figured the Steelers would take a linebacker at some point in the NFL Draft, but we just didn’t know who. Pittsburgh’s brass was on hand at Ole Miss’s Pro Day, so Mark Robinson was on their radar. Robinson is undersized (5’11”, 230) and is just an average athlete by NFL standards. He will be fighting for a chance to make the roster as a reserve LB and special teams player.

Steelers round 7: QB Chris Oladokun

I wasn’t shocked when the Steelers selected a second quarterback in Chris Oladokun — a player they used a pre-draft visit on. The small-school QB won’t be competing with Kenny Pickett and may not make the roster, but he will likely land on the practice squad and eventually act as a scout-team quarterback.

Overall, I think the Steelers did a very good job with their seven selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. As always, there were a few things I might have done differently myself, but I’m especially pleased with the second-through-fourth round picks. I think Kevin Colbert will be stepping down on a high note.