No matter your thoughts on the Steelers rookie class as a whole, you can’t deny the team got steals with these four players.
The Steelers had a pretty straightforward draft with few surprises as they targeted players that they clearly had an interest in. While some can easily argue that there were players taken that weren’t great value, the team did well in this draft to target falling players. In particular, here are the four steals that the Steelers got out of the 2022 draft class.
Steelers WR Austin
It was a mild surprise when Calvin Austin fell to the later portion of the fourth round of the draft. He was a dynamic playmaker in college who used his speed and sharp routes to get open. His size was what seemingly knocked him, as teams opted for more traditional receivers over the smaller Austin when they were on the board.
This could end up being one of the team’s better picks in this draft though. The team has never had a receiver like Austin on the roster. In the slot, he can provide a player that can take short passes and make big plays out of them. As well, he can use his speed to become more of a downhill threat from the slot, something this team has lacked in recent years.
There is some risk with this pick. Austin’s size is a concern even if smaller receivers are becoming more practical in modern offenses. As well, the Steelers have failed in the past to use undersized receivers from the slot, so they will have to find a way to properly utilize Austin’s skillset. That said, the potential he has makes him a steal from this recent draft class.