The Steelers three best value picks in the 2022 NFL Draft

With the Steelers draft officially over, these three selections are clearly the best value that the team got out of the entire class.

The Steelers draft class was a relatively predictable group. The team got the quarterback they so clearly wanted, added names that they had links to, and went for a relatively high floor, low ceiling type of players. That said, there was some good value found in this draft. In particular, these three picks represent the best value that the team got from the 2022 draft.

Steelers third-best value

The only name in the draft that the Steelers hadn’t shown express interest in, Calvin Austin makes sense as the second receiver addition for this team. While already possessing a lot of size and outside ability, Austin will have to make a move inside full time if he wants to have a shot at NFL success. He is a far different type of slot receiver though, as he wins with his speed and quick route changes.

Austin was an electric college weapon that won all over an offense. He had the speed and route running to win along the outside, earned snaps in the slot, and even carried the football. While a move to a more permanent slot role may take some adjusting, he can offer this team a different flavor there than they had been used to. He can take short passes and make big plays, but he also has the ability t be a vertical threat from the inside.

My only caveat with Austin, besides him being a small receiver, is that the team hasn’t had great success with players like Austin. While both are significantly worse options than Austin, Ray-Ray McCloud and Ryan Switzer never became consistent threats for this offense. Assuming the team uses Austin better and has him running more routes down the field though, there is little reason to believe he can’t become a good starter. He was a great value that late into the fourth round.