One bold prediction for each of the Steelers draft picks

Steelers Pickens

My personal favorite pick from the draft, George Pickens is a first-round talent that got pushed to the second round for a variety of reasons. The main two stem from the ACL injury he suffered before his junior season (which made him miss almost all of that year) and the fact that this receiving class was extraordinarily deep. He was a great value in the mid-second round.

While the Steelers already have some intriguing starters, the expectation is for Pickens to make an impact right away. He will likely take most of his snaps at the Z spot (although he could be mixed into the X as well considering that is where he mostly played in Georgia) and should see a healthy dose of playing time.

For a bold prediction, I think Pickens will have a better rookie season than Chase Claypool did. While he will likely need a few weeks to get up to speed, I genuinely believe he was one of the best receivers in this class. If he establishes an early connection with whoever is throwing the ball, it could become a potent pairing. Claypool had a huge impact as a rookie, but I believe with Pickens being the superior talent, he ends 2022 as the best Steelers rookie receiver ever.