Initial grades for all 7 of the Steelers 2022 draft picks

Steelers pick 148

Grade: B

To be clear, these next three picks are the highlights of this class. Without them, this class would easily have been graded far lower than what I perceived it. In the fourth round, the Steelers landed Calvin Austin out of Memphis. The value was certainly there, as most projected him to go somewhere on day two, and he fills the void at slot receiver.

Known for his game-breaking speed, Austin flies around the football field and is hard to cover. Add in his sharp routes and good hands and you have a strong receiver. His issue is his size, as he is under 5’8 and only weighs 170 pounds. That didn’t stop him at the college level, but it could limit him as a pro.

While I like a lot of Austin’s game, I’m not quite sure what his fit will be in the Steelers offense. The team hasn’t done extraordinarily well with these small gadget slot receivers, as most of their routes came at or behind the line of scrimmage. That would be a waste of Austin’s ability. If they can use him as a down-the-field slot weapon though in this offense, this move could pay dividends. The team just has to prove that they have a plan for him.