The Steelers are a franchise historically known for drafting well and developing/retaining their own talent. Recent history hasn’t been that kind to the team though, as the last handful of Kevin Colbert draft classes have been mediocre at best. This is evident by the busts that we currently see on the roster.
For a team that prefers to build through the draft, you actually need to hit on your draft picks to make that work. Since 2018, this team has failed to consistently hit on picks, and most of the draft class finds its way off the roster quickly. That said, there are still some holdovers whose futures don’t look bright. Here are four Steelers who are heading towards the bust status.
Steelers bust #4: Pressley Harvin
More often than not, it is hard to classify a seventh-round pick as a bust. This is especially true when they have been a starter for multiple seasons. The issue with Harvin is that despite his stretch as a starter, his play was poor most of the time, and even when he would nail a good punt, he would follow it up with a shank.
Unlike the other names on this list, Harvin’s status as a bust is also official. The Steelers cut him already this offseason among a few other cap-saving moves. The team didn’t even want to carry him through the offseason, it was that bad. While his time in Pittsburgh is over, his stretch as the team’s starting punter was miserable, and his release has locked him into the bust category.
Steelers bust #3: Calvin Austin
Everyone had high hopes for Calvin Austin entering this season. The former Memphis product was an early darling from fans in his first training camp. His speed was on display, and that was something this offense had been lacking for a while. He didn’t see the field as a rookie though as injuries kept him off the field.
He settled into the fourth receiver role for the offense early last offseason. The plan seemed to be to mix him into both the slot and outside receiver mix as well as have him field punts. The special team's work was fine, but nothing exceptional. His impact on the offense was minimal despite him having some opportunities with Diontae Johnson missing some extended time.
The issue with Austin isn’t as much his problem. He was a cut-and-dry player coming out of school. Extremely small, but extremely fast. Pittsburgh prefers their outside receivers to have more weight on them, and the Steelers have famously used their small slot receivers as nothing more than gadget players. Austin would benefit from a more vertical offense, but the team doesn’t have a good plan for him there.
I don’t think an Arthur Smith offense is going to help him. This scheme is seemingly shifting to more multi-tight end sets, meaning playing time will be harder to come by. That could be the nail in his coffin, and a few additions to the receiver room could see him buried on the depth chart. His best bet is to earn his keep as a returner, but even then, it might not be enough to keep him from being a bust.
Steelers bust #2: DeMarvin Leal
There was a lot of intrigue with DeMarvin Leal coming out of school. While not the perfect fit in the Steelers scheme as an end, he was an extremely productive player in college. For a defensive line that featured an aging Cameron Heyward and not much else, there was hope that Leal would be able to develop into a starter down the road given his third-round billing.
His rookie season was a mixed bag. Injuries left him on IR for a stretch, but when he was healthy, he wore a lot of hats. He played traditionally along the line, saw snaps as an edge rusher, and even lined up as a hybrid off-ball linebacker for a few plays. While the Steelers wanted him to settle in at defensive line this past year, that versatility was a welcome sight.
He started this year off strong, serving as a core rotational defensive lineman for this defense. As the season went on though, Pittsburgh clearly wasn’t thrilled with his play. His role regressed and he went from playing 30-45 percent of the defensive snaps to just a handful. By the end of the year, he had been jumped by Armon Watts and Isaiahh Loudermilk and was a weekly inactive.
While defensive linemen can take a few seasons to get their footing, it doesn’t look good for Leal. His roster spot is far from a lock this year, and he has a long way to go before he is back in the defensive rotation. He needs to get his act together and get out of the Steelers doghouse to avoid the bust label.
Steelers bust #1: Kenny Pickett
Things certainly haven’t gone Kenny Pickett’s way since being drafted in the first round. Post-Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers were desperate to find the face of the franchise. Even with a bad quarterback class, Pittsburgh forced themselves to take Pickett in the hopes that he could be ready enough to keep this team stable and competitive in the AFC.
That hasn’t been the case, and Pickett has looked like one of the worst quarterbacks in the league regularly. This isn’t just statistical either (although those numbers are ugly). Pickett has looked lost in the pocket, can’t progress through reads, and struggles to make routine passes. Sure, he has had some bright spots when the game is on the line, but he hasn’t consistently been a good player through two seasons.
While Pittsburgh hasn’t completely given up on him, they are certainly running out of patience. He was essentially benched after his injury, as the team found more success with Mason Rudolph at the helm. It will be telling how they view Pickett with what they do this offseason.
While the change in coordinator will give Pickett a better chance, Smith failed to get anything out of fellow 2022 rookie Desmond Ridder. He isn’t your traditionally quarterback-minded coordinator either. That said, Pickett will be given every chance to prove himself as a starter, but as of now, he looks like the biggest bust on the current roster.