The Pittsburgh Steelers ' round-pick is locked in, as the team went with Derrick Harmon to help rebuild this defensive line. The pick is solid, one that fans saw coming, and it fills arguably the biggest positional need.
That said, a surprising name could have swayed this team to look elsewhere.
Rumors have been swirling that the Steelers are trying to trade George Pickens. Fuel was added to that fire when Pickens unfollowed Pittsburgh ahead of the draft. Even if the two don’t split right now, this seems like his final season with the team.
Surprisingly, Matthew Golden was still on the board at pick 21. Arguably the top receiver in the draft, Golden can make a legitimate case that he will be a true top target at the next level. Pittsburgh could have added him and traded Pickens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may regret passing on Texas WR Matthew Golden
Golden was a top prospect at the position for good reason. He has blazing speed that can be seen on his tape. This makes him a potent deep threat.
He isn’t only a fast option, though. He runs an advanced route tree and can win all over the field. When he gets the ball in his hands, he is dynamic and can turn short passes into huge gains.
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While the defensive line is the bigger need, I see a higher ceiling with Golden. He was clearly viewed as one of the top picks, as he only fell two more spots after the Steelers passed on him, and the Packers ended up drafting him.
Adding Golden makes Pickens immediately expendable. You more than likely net a day two pick, somewhere late in the second or early in the third, and with the defensive line so deep, you could have landed a viable player there.
Again, you can’t dislike the Harmon pick, as he is a great fit for the defense, but Golden was a tough player to pass on. Given the need for weapons and the lack of clarity with Pickens, passing on Golden carries some risk.