2022 Steelers draft analysis: Colbert’s final draft ignores key needs

Overall grade for Steelers 2022 Draft and closing thoughts

I realize I might be coming across as a sourpuss but this is a very disappointing end for Kevin Colbert’s exceptional career. I’d be very surprised if any of these players, other than George Pickens, are with the team in five years.

I know I keep banging draft strategy but this entire draft is so flawed, it’s ridiculous. I really don’t know why the Steelers thought it was a good idea to have Colbert do this draft when they know a new general manager is going to be coming in right after him who will want to put his stamp on the team.

One of the first things a new GM likes to do is find ‘his guy’ at quarterback, so, Kenny Pickett will immediately be on shaky ground. The new GM will feel no loyalty to any of these players and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the bulk of them off the team within the next couple of years.

Everybody who endured the twenty years and thirteen quarterbacks between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger has to be concerned about the Steelers lack of a plan at quarterback. Mason Rudolph was drafted to be Ben’s successor. The team didn’t have confidence in him so they brought in Mitch Trubisky in free agency. They didn’t have confidence in Mitch so they spent a 1st Rd draft pick on Kenny Pickett.

Then, they obviously didn’t have much confidence in Pickett because they spent a 7th Rd pick on Nobody Nothing from Nowhere. I don’t know if a modern fan base can endure sifting through the seemingly endless line of QBs the likes of Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister, Mike Tomczak, Kordell Stewart, and Tommy Maddox. It looks, however, like that is the road Steelers management is preparing to go down… again.

As great as he’s been, I will not miss Colbert’s insistence on drafting players at the positions that have already been filled by free agents. Just about every GM in the NFL brings in free agents so they don’t have to target that position in the Draft.

That is a strategy that makes perfect sense. You can then use the Draft to fill other positions of need and make big improvements in your roster. I also wouldn’t be surprised if many potential free agents have steered clear of Pittsburgh because of Colbert’s insistence on this flawed practice.

The Steelers did nothing to fix their league-worst offensive line. Get ready for another year of the defense constantly being in the Steelers backfield. They did next to nothing to fix their league last rushing defense. There was no pick devoted to finding a successor for strong safety, Terrell Edmunds, should he decide not to return, next year. They didn’t do anything to shore up nickelback and will be going into the season with the under-performing Cam Sutton and Arthur Maulet as their primary options, there.

They are obviously intent on running Najee Harris into the ground before his rookie contract is up, as they failed to add a backup RB, even though there were plenty of prospects available deep into the Draft. There were too many picks of players who were rated as going undrafted. There were too many players picked who duplicated the skill sets of players already on the roster.

Ideally, when you do a draft all the players you pick should have a real shot at making the final 53. More than half of this draft will have to struggle, mightily, to make that happen. If they do make the roster they won’t be a marked improvement over the player who was already there.

In closing, nothing would make me happier than all of the players I’ve panned proving me wrong but I just don’t see it happening. Wide Receivers, George Pickens, and possibly Calvin Austin III may save this draft from being a total loss but it’s still pretty dismal. For strategy, I give this draft a D, for value a D, for the players selected a D.

Overall Grade for the Steelers 2022 Draft: D

Go Stillers!