The Pittsburgh Steelers season is over, and here are the final grades for the team’s 2022 rookie draft class.
The Steelers couldn’t find a way to sneak into the playoffs, and with the offseason officially here, I wanted to take some time to deliver final grades for the rookie class from the team. This team got a lot of snaps out of this class, and while everything wasn’t perfect, there are some key pieces that can be built off of.
My grading system is skewed based on draft projections. For example, a seventh-round pick is expected to make the roster. If he does that, he earns a C (as he meets expectations). A first-round pick should be at least an above-average starter in year one, that is how he earns a C. Anything above or below that change grades naturally. As well, Calvin Austin is not graded here as he missed the entire season with a foot injury.
Here are the final grades for the Steelers rookie class.
Steelers missed on Oladokun
Initial Grade: D+
Final Grade: F
Criteria: Makes the roster
Looking back, this pick was about as predictable as they come in terms of results. The Steelers wanted to land a fourth quarterback and chose to draft a small-school prospect with some intangibles, but not much else. It was infuriating to see him get no snaps in camp and never have a chance to prove anything. He was released before the final round of cuts.
Oladokun did latch on with the Chiefs reserves, but he failed to live up to any draft hype that he may have had. Even worse is that Brock Purdy went after Oladokun, and he has gone on to help lead the 49ers into the playoffs. This was a bad pick no matter how you shake it, as the team clearly should have gone in a different direction with their last pick.
Steelers may have something in Robinson
Initial Grade: C-
Final Grade: B
Criteria: Makes the roster
The first of the Steelers two seventh-round picks, I wasn’t very high on Mark Robinson during the draft. Undersized and a new convert to the position, I expected him to need to grow a lot and possibly spend the first season on the practice squad. He flashed in camp though and earned a roster spot once the regular season opened.
From there, it was pretty quiet, as he only saw action in four total games, the first of which not coming until week six. That said, he ended the season on a high note, starting the final two games and putting up some decent tape. He is an aggressive player that needs to hone in on the nuances of the position, but he has a lot of potential heading into his second season.
Had he played some more, Robinson easily would have cracked the “A” range of grades, but his lack of snaps hurts him. That said, he blew expectations out of the water, and heading into year two, he is the only linebacker I would deem as safe to stick around. The future is bright for Robinson, and he showed that off in his first season despite limited playing time.
Steelers got a chess piece in Heyward
Initial Grade: C-
Final Grade: A-
Criteria: Special Teams player
A player who blew my expectations out of the water, Connor Heyward looks like the real deal. When he was initially drafted, I figured he would be a fullback type of player, and frankly, I figured special teams would be his only real contributions if he had any as a rookie. Initially, that seemed to be the case, but Heyward’s play really excelled late in the season.
He totaled 174 offensive snaps to go along with 284 special teams snaps. On coverages, Heyward was consistent and made some impact tackles, totaling nine total on the season. That alone would have earned him a high “C” grade, as he was an impact player there from the get-go.
The Steelers got him involved on offense though, and he added 178 total yards and a score to his resume. For once in what seems like forever, the team actually used an atypical player well. He saw carries and was used in the vertical passing game. While Heyward will never be an elite offensive weapon, he has the makings of a core special teams player that can be a factor elsewhere. That is great value in the sixth round.
Leal still has some work to do
Initial Grade: B+
Final Grade: C+
Criteria: Rotational player
DeMarvin Leal was a relative surprise as a third-round pick, but looking at his tape, it was clear why the team targeted him. While not a traditional lineman in the Steelers system, Leal was a great pass rusher in school with elite athleticism. He needed to bulk up a little and work on his run defense, but he could easily be a situational pass rusher for this team.
Early on, Leal struggled as the team was using him along the edge in place of T.J. Watt. Once he returned from an injury though, he was back along the inside and flashed some positive traits. While his final stat line isn’t anything special, he became a key reserve who provided some pressure on the quarterback.
While the occasional good snap is something to build off of, he needed to make some more impact plays in order to get out of the “C” range of grades. I think a full offseason in this system will do him a lot of good though, as Leal could become a talented interior pass rusher. It was only an average rookie season though.
Steelers have a star in Pickens
Initial Grade: A
Final Grade: A-
Criteria: Average Starter
Welcome to the NFL George Pickens! The rookie had a slow start to his career despite showing out in training camp, but in the few chances he got, he excelled. His hands set him apart, as he would make some incredible grabs multiple times every week. Add in his elite body control on the sideline and Pickens looks like an elite receiver already.
The only reason he didn’t grade out as an elite player was his overall production. 825 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns are great, but he would have needed to produce a little bit more to receive a perfect rookie grade. One could easily blame this offense and the lack of passing production as the only reason Pickens didn’t score perfectly on my list.
Pickens has the brightest future of anyone in this draft class. He could refine his route running still (although I personally think he grew there as a rookie), but other than that, his game isn’t missing much. I expect huge things from him going forward, as he should be viewed as a top receiver in 2023.
Steelers Pickett still has a lot to prove
Initial Grade: D+
Final Grade: D+
Criteria: Below average starter
It was a very hot and cold rookie season for Kenny Pickett, and he left me wanting a lot more from him heading into year two. While the offense around him was far from perfect, he also struggled in a lot of the aspects of his game. His early performances featured far too many interceptions, but even after he cleaned that up, he still wasn’t doing enough as a quarterback.
The Steelers focused on the running game in the second half of the season, which was the biggest aid in Pickett’s play. He wasn’t counted on like before to constantly move the ball. In turn, he only threw one interception after the bye week. That said, he also only threw for over 200 yards twice in that span.
Add in a lot more accuracy issues than I thought we would see and it wasn’t a great first year for Pickett. The team needs to build around him aggressively in the offseason, and while I do expect to see improvements, Pickett didn’t show me enough in his rookie year. His grade reflects that, as I was left wanting a lot more from the team’s top draft pick.
The Steelers saw a lot of production from their rookie class, and they should continue to step up in year two. While there were some duds from this group, there were also a lot of pleasant surprises. Overall, this group did well despite the Steelers mediocre season