The NFL season has come to an end and the 2022 NFL Draft class saw their rookie seasons come to a close, as well. The Steelers draft class had mixed reviews directly after the draft concluded in April but, after a full season, how might those views have changed?
Most of the reviews centered around the team's first-round pick. With Ben Roethlisberger retiring, many expected the team to take a quarterback but many also felt it would be a reach in a weak class.
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Kenny Pickett, Round 1 pick 20 overall
Pickett's college career was not exactly stellar through his first four seasons throwing for a combined 672-of-1111 for 60.5 percent, 7,475 yards 38 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions in three seasons. It wasn't until the fifth season that he exploded on the scene completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
He received mixed reviews from scouts and analysts alike both before and after the Steelers selected him. Some felt he was the right selection and Pittsburgh had its franchise quarterback while others felt the team should have bolstered other areas of the team and waited to take someone in the 2023 draft.
Pickett started the season as the third quarterback on the roster behind Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. The team was expected to take things slow with him and only play him if necessary or he was undoubtedly ready.
He played well in the preseason and earned the number two spot and by week four he was thrust into action. The start to his career was rocky with turnovers and a 2-3 record as a starter before the bye week.
After the bye, Pickett started to show steady improvement resulting in the team going 7-2 over their last nine games. He finished with 7 touchdowns to 9 interceptions and 2,404 yards. He also ran for 3 touchdowns and showed good mobility, something the Steelers hadn't had from a QB since Big Ben's prime.
Overall, the 2022 season was filled with ups and downs for Pickett but, the rookie showed flashes of what he could be and seemed to improve with each week. He will have a full offseason to prepare for 2023 and take a step forward in his second year as a pro.
Grade: B+
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: George Pickens, Round 2, pick 52 overall
The Steelers have made a habit the last five years, taking a receiver in the second or third round in all but one draft. From JuJu Smith-Schuster to Chase Claypool the team has been all about replenishing the receiver room in April.
This year they got right back to that after taking a one-year hiatus from that strategy and selected George Pickens. He played his college ball at the University of Georgia.
Pickens had a couple of good years in college compiling 85 catches for 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He was expected to have a big junior year in 2021 before a knee injury knocked him out for most of the season.
If not for some reported character concerns and the missed season due to the knee injury, Pickens likely would have gotten himself into round one. The Steelers took him in the second and got extreme value for the talent he possessed.
Training camp was buzzing about the big-bodied receiver from day one and it translated into preseason games with big catches and physical play from the rookie. He kept that rolling into the 2022 season to the tune of 52 catches for 801 yards and 4 touchdowns and a rushing touchdown to boot.
Pickens made some huge, contested catches and displayed great body control and a great catch radius with exceptional hands. He needs to work on his separation and not try to make every catch a highlight but, overall, he looks the part of a stud receiver in the NFL.
The team really may have found their future number-one receiver in Pickens. With Diontae Johnson's struggles, Pickett and Pickens gained a rapport with each other and look to continue the connection well into their careers.
Grade: A
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Demarvin Leal, Round 3, pick 84 overall
The Steelers seemed to have an idea that Stephon Tuitt was going to retire when they entered the 2022 draft. They took Demarvin Leal in the third, leaving some to expect Tuitt to announce he was leaving the game soon after.
The retirement of Tuitt came on June 1 and left fans saddened at the loss of such a good player. Leal was looked at as a possible replacement for Tuitt but he was also seen as a "tweener" between the defensive line and outside linebacker.
Leal missed some time with an injury this season but he was able to get playing time in seven games. He did not make a huge impact but he showed that he had raw ability at both defensive end and as an EDGE.
The question with Leal is going to be where he and the team want him to fit as he goes into year two. He will need to bulk up if they want him to be a full-time lineman or drop some weight and play on the EDGE.
The Steelers need depth in both areas with Larry Ogunjobi, Tyson Alualu, and Chris Wormley's futures in doubt. All three are unrestricted free agents and there is a good chance none of them return for 2023.
The Steelers edge depth is also shaky behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The team will undoubtedly look to free agency and the draft to help infuse youth and quality depth in these areas.
Leal will have to make a decision on where he thinks he can make his mark best. The team would do well to support him wherever he ends up. Leal will have to decide on where he thinks he can make his mark best. The team would do well to support him wherever he can have the most value moving forward.
Grade: C+
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Connor Heyward, Round 6, pick 208 overall
It was only natural for Connor Heyward's name to come up with the Steelers in the 2022 draft. Connor is the younger brother of Cam Heyward and found his way onto several Steelers mocks leading into the draft.
Connor's lack of a true position in college both helped and hurt his draft stock at the same time. It helped in showing he had versatility to his game but it hurt him because teams may not know where to put him on the roster or how to incorporate him into their offense.
Heyward was somewhat of a hybrid in college playing both in the backfield and as a tight end. He moved to a full-time tight end in his final college season and put up 35 catches for 326 yards and two touchdowns.
Heyward displayed athleticism throughout his career both as a runner and a pass catcher. He showed he has good hands and catch radius pulling off some impressive catches for a player of his build.
Heyward's versatility and unique skillset got him drafted to Pittsburgh and he used it to carve out a roster spot out of training camp. Heyward got most of his snaps on special teams but he earned more looks on offense over the final month of the season and made some big plays with those opportunities.
The Steelers may have struck gold with Heyward as a potential second tight end behind Pat Freiermuth. His ability to run also creates another element for the offense to utilize, as they did against the Raiders to salt away that win.
Grade: B
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Mark Robinson, Round 7, pick 225 overall
Pittsburgh has always been a team known for its solid linebacker play but, as of late, that play has been subpar. The Steelers have been reeling since the Ryan Shazier injury and the retirement of Vince Williams was an additional blow.
The team thought they had found their guy for the next decade in Devin Bush but that quickly came to be false. Bush, after shining in his rookie season, tore his ACL in 2020 and has never been the same since returning.
With Bush likely gone in free agency this year, the Steelers knew they needed to replenish the linebacker depth in last year's draft. They addressed it later than many thought, or hoped, they would but they may have found a diamond in the rough.
Mark Robinson played running back at two smaller schools before walking on at Ole Miss in 2020. He did not play in 2020 and then switched to linebacker for the 2021 season.
The switch proved to be a good one as he piled up 93 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks in his only season there. These numbers are solid for a guy who just made the change from running back.
Robinson lasted into the 7th due to his limited experience as a linebacker and to being a one-dimensional player. His coverage ability is very limited and needs a lot of work but his run defense is on the other end of the spectrum.
Robinson is a thumper in the run game and was a key cog in the defense's ability to halt Baltimore's run game to just 120 yards in week 17 after giving up 200-plus in their first meeting. Robinson is their new Vince Williams and now all they need to do is find the lightning to his thunder to help rebuild the inside linebackers.
Grade: A-
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Chris Oladokun, Round 7, pick 241 overall
Pittsburgh selected Kenny Pickett in the first but, they made another quarterback selection with their final pick. South Dakota State quarterback Chris Oladokun was on their radar through the process and they picked him up.
With Mason Rudolph entering the final year of his contract and Pickett being selected as the future, the pick of another quarterback made sense at the time. After seeing what the Steelers did with him in OTAs and training camp, the pick made a lot less sense.
Oladokun never saw the field or got more than a few reps, if any, in training camp. The pick seemed to be wasted then and, even more so, now with players like Isiah Pacheco, Jaylen Watson, Brock Purdy, and Skylar Thompson going after they took him.
Hindsight is always 20/20 but this pick made less and less sense from the moment they made it. The fact he never seemed to have a shot at the roster makes this one a very puzzling selection.
Grade: F
Steelers 2022 NFL Draft: Calvin Austin, Round 4, pick 138 overall
You may have noticed I skipped over a draft pick when going through the class. This was due to their fourth-rounder, Calvin Austin III missing all of his rookie season due to a foot injury sustained in training camp.
Austin was expected to bring an explosive aspect to the Steelers offense as a rookie. He posted a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the combine which is among some of the fastest times at the scouting event.
While in college, he put up 16.3 yards per completion and back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2020 and 2021. He is a small guy at 5-foot 8-inches and 170 pounds so he relies on his speed to elude defenders and get chunk plays.
Unfortunately, the Steelers will have to wait until 2023 to see what he can bring to the offense but his addition will be a welcome one to an offense that needs all the weapons it can get to help Kenny Pickett succeed. This pick can't be graded at this time because we don't know what he will bring to the table just yet.
Overall, this draft brought the Steelers a lot of players who seem like they will develop into contributing starters in the future or provide good depth at the very least. The draft is where Pittsburgh loves to improve their team and they will need to have another like this one in 2023 if they want to take advantage of Kenny Pickett's rookie contract.
Overall class grade: B