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.
Steelers second-best value
A pick I am more torn on not from a value standpoint but more from a fit, no one can say that DeMarvin Leal was a bad value in the third round. Once seen as a top prospect and potentially even a top-10 pick, Leal had some inconsistent tape that caused his stock to fall this season. That said, most expected him to be gone in the mid-second round at the latest, so the Steelers got good value here.
As a pass rusher, Leal has almost everything you want from a lineman. He has a wide array of pass rush moves that allow him to win from multiple spots along the line. He even saw some work at edge rusher, which further points to his ability to get after the quarterback. His burst, violent hands, and ability to react to other pass-rushing moves make him a potentially potent interior rusher.
His run defense is far less accomplished, as his size makes it hard for him to anchor and generate a lot of push. As well, he is slightly undersized, so one has to wonder how well he could play as a base end. That all said, the NFL is dominated by sub-package defense, and if Lean remains a great pass rusher, there is little reason to believe he won’t at least be playing 60-75 percent of the defensive snaps as a pass rusher. That kind of value in the third round is excellent.
Steelers best value
My favorite pick in the draft and the one I feel the most confident in, George Pickens could have arguably been the top receiver in this draft class had he not missed most of 2022 with an injury. He has the size and speed to be a matchup nightmare and he has some of the best hands in the class. He is a complete package and only fell as far as he did due to him missing most of last season.
While some will argue that value-wise, he shouldn’t be seen as the top pick here, but when you factor in his play and the potential it is hard to go with anyone else. Pickens has the potential not just to be a good starter, but to be a top receiver in the league. He can also line up in all three receiver spots, adding even more to the value that he brings.
While being seen as a late first-round pick potentially and falling to the mid-second round isn’t a huge tumble, his potential makes him the best value. Assuming the Steelers quarterback room is even average, Pickens has the potential to be great. He has the best potential of this draft class by far and the team should be praised for this pick on paper.
The Steelers draft was a relatively safe group, but there were some great values amongst this group. While some players are lacking superstar potential, these three picks are hard to argue against. All three of these players were quality picks as opposed to where many thought they would have been drafted.