Estimating the impact each Pittsburgh Steelers rookie will have in 2022
By Tommy Jaggi
Pittsburgh could be counting on much of their draft class to contribute early. Here are the projected impacts of each Steelers rookie in 2022.
It’s a new era in Pittsburgh and the Steelers are set to have one of the youngest offenses in the league in 2022. With additional roster turnover this offseason, young players will have to step into significant roles early.
A few of these could be filled by rookies, as draftees around the league are being asked to contribute from the gate much earlier. But which Steelers rookies will have a big impact in the 2022 season and which players seem destined for a small role this year? Here’s a look at the projected impact of each Steelers rookie in 2022:
Kenny Pickett: High impact
Assuming Kenny Pickett sees the field as a rookie — and I believe he will — it’s hard not to call a quarterback a high-impact player. NFL team’s typically live and die by the quarterback position, and how Pickett plays will dictate how successful this team could be in 2022.
Mike Tomlin has been vocal about leaving the QB competition open, but one of the things the Steelers liked about Pickett when they drafted him was his experience and pro-readiness. As a 24-year-old rookie, Pickett seems likely to see the field sooner rather than later.
Whether he plays terrific or poorly when he does get the chance to start, Pickett’s performance is sure to impact the overall play of the Steelers greatly. If he gets on the field, there probably won’t be a higher impact player on the team.