An early re-drafting of the Steelers 2022 NFL draft class

With the Steelers shifting gears to rookie and training camp, I wanted to take a stab at re-drafting the Steelers 2022 class.

With the Steelers offseason slowing down and the focus now shifting to camps, I wanted to take a stab at re-drafting the 2022 class for the team. Yes, there is an immense amount of power in hindsight, and while I do understand that none of these players have even taken a snap yet, this is how I would have targeted the drat looking back on it.

This is meant to be a lighthearted activity! Share your thoughts on my redraft below and post your own in the comments.

Steelers round 1

Original Pick: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

My Pick: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

The first round really didn’t shake out that well for the Steelers. The initial run of receivers left that position scarce at pick 20 and some of the top defensive talent that were rumored to fall didn’t. I’m not sure much of that mattered though, as the team seemed set on taking a quarterback, and they got their guy in Kenny Pickett. If it had been up to me though, I would have gone Andrew Booth.

While quarterback is undoubtedly the most important position on the field, the potential that Booth possesses over Pickett is immense. Booth excelled while at Clemson and was a top defender in a talented ACC. He has the size you want in an outside cornerback and has the ability to play both man and zone defense. He slipped into the second round likely due to injuries that limited him during the pre-draft process.

That all said, he was my second-ranked cornerback in this class, and I think he has the makings of a consistent and tough-to-beat cornerback. I would take that over Pickett, who I just don’t see the same type of ceiling in. Yes, the Steelers have struggled at taking cornerbacks, but Booth has better tape than some of the other corners they have taken before. This defense has a slew of good second options at cornerback. Booth would have given them a top-end starter.