Category: Pittsburgh Steelers

This class could be very special

Never in my lifetime have I seen a Pittsburgh Steelers draft class that has looked quite as good as this.

With a combination of great drafting, luck, and the football gods smiling upon them, the Steelers went 4-for-4 with making excellent draft picks over the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, and they didn’t have to trade up for any of them.

Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu fell to Pittsburgh at No. 20 in the first round. West Virginia center Zach Frazier was there waiting at No. 51 in round two. Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson slid out of the second round and into the middle of the third for the Steelers to grab him at No. 84. And finally, the consensus No. 1 linebacker in this class, Payton Wilson out of North Carolina State, fell all the way to No. 98 for the Steelers to close out the first two days of the NFL Draft with a potential all-time draft class.

It wasn’t long ago when the Steelers’ offensive line looked like this:

• LT: Dan Moore
• LG: Kevin Dotson
• C: Mason Cole
• RG: James Daniels
• RT: Chuks Okorafor

That’s also without mentioning the sprinkling of Kendrick Green and Trai Turner in 2021. Now, the offensive line is completely revamped and looks like this:

• LT: Broderick Jones
• LG: Isaac Seumalo
• C: Zach Frazier
• RG: James Daniels
• RT: Troy Fautanu

Omar Khan deserves a ton of credit for cleaning up the mess that Kevin Colbert left behind.

Not only did the offensive line get completely revamped, Pittsburgh addressed almost every position of need with their first four picks. Roman Wilson is one of the best receivers in this class who can be boundary and slot versatile. Remember, the biggest question about Justin Jefferson coming out of LSU was he was a slot receiver and many believed he wouldn’t be able to play outside. That’s not to say Wilson will be Justin Jefferson, but he has the tools and skillset to be the Steelers’ boundary receiver opposite of George Pickens.

Payton Wilson was a player I never even imagined would be an option for the Steelers. He was very easily the top linebacker in this draft class. His injury history definitely caused him to fall, as he has had multiple knee injuries that plagued him in college. However, he was the best coverage linebacker in the nation last season, picking off three passes and allowing a passer rating less than 50.

The Steelers were able to add a consensus top 10 player in Fauatnu at tackle, arguably the most versatile and reliable center in the draft in Frazier, a high-end versatile receiver in Roman Wilson, and the top linebacker in Payton Wilson. If all four even come close to reaching their respective potentials, this will be a draft class that goes down in Steelers’ history as one of the best ever.

Brace yourselves, Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Pro Football Focus is here, and they’ve got some positive feedback for their third-round selection of Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson, naming him one of three “elite” picks in Round 3.

This past season, Wilson accounted for 12 of quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s 22 passing touchdowns. A smooth route runner with the ability to separate, Wilson’s exactly the type of player the Steelers will love with uber-reliable hands, tallying just a single drop in the 2023 season. An explosive athlete with 4.3 speed, Wilson can be a Day 1 impact player out of the slot as a threat in the short, intermediate and deep passing games.

Wilson’s relationship with HC Mike Tomlin dated back to the Senior Bowl, where Tomlin egged Wilson on for 1 v. 1 reps against one of the draft’s top cornerbacks, Quinyon Mitchell.

As you can see, Wilson faired pretty well against one of the draft’s top defensive backs. How he fell to the third round is a mystery.

In summary, the Steelers continue to dominate value within the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Steelers add a big-name linebacker who falls to the third-round

What a draft it has been for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they complete what was a grand slam in their first four selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After adding Zach Frazier and Roman Wilson, the Steelers closed out their day by taking North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson with the 98th overall pick.

Wilson was a guy who some had going as soon as the late first round. However, medical worries led to a big slide to late in the third. Ian Rapaport noted that one of Wilson’s legs doesn’t have an ACL in it.

However, while in Mobile for Senior Bowl week, multiple folks I spoke with said that Wilson is the smartest defensive player in this class, and one of the smarter linebackers they’ve seen in quite sometime.

In 2023, Wilson had 92 tackles, and was one of the best coverage linebackers in the nation, intercepting three passes and allowed a passer rating of just 47.2 when he was targeted. He also had 41 run stops.

The Steelers had a lot of questions of the health and return of Cole Holcomb, and lacked any sort of depth behind Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen- they now have a guy who, if he stays healthy, will be a future starter and anchor of the Steelers’ defense. This is a pick with tremendous upside should Wilson reach his potential.

Final Grade: A

A massive, high-upside bargain pick for Omar Khan & Co. after having fallen due to medical concerns.

With the 98th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State linebacker Payton Wilson — the third player with the surname “Wilson” that they’ve added to the roster over the past two months.

Wilson was one of two linebackers available in Day 2 that the Steelers had hosted on a top-30 pre-draft visit. As has been the case with most of Pittsburgh’s picks so far, it seems that the board fell to them perfectly, with Wilson having ranked 53rd overall on Marcus Mosher’s NFL expert consensus draft board ahead of Round 1. Despite his high upside and productive career at NC State, totaling 402 tackles over six seasons (48 for a loss), as well as 15 sacks, 1 forced fumble and seven interceptions, Wilson fell due to medical concerns.

Dane Brugler outlined that lengthy history in his draft guide, “The Beast”:

medical history is a bright red flag after double -digit surgeries since his senior year of high school — missed the second half of his senior year of high school after tearing the ACL in his right knee (October 2017), requiring surgery; reinjured his right knee during summer of 2018 and required another surgery, sitting out his first season at NC State; underwent surgery on both shoulders after the 2020 season and sat out 2021 spring practices; missed most of the 2021 season after suffering his third shoulder dislocation (September 2021), which required surgery (Bristow procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews) to repair shoulder blade issues (battled complications from the surgery, including infection)

Though the medicals are a tough thing to look past, Pittsburgh managed to draft a potential Round 1 talent thanks to that medical asterisk, and despite that history, he’s coming off a full season where he led the ACC in tackles and earned both the Chuck Bednarik Award, honoring the top defensive player in college football, as well as the Butkus Award, honoring the top linebacker in the FBS.

The Steelers received the 98th pick, originally a compensatory selection belonging to the Philadelphia Eagles, along with two 2025 seventh-round selections, in exchange for 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett and the 120th overall pick.

The Steelers address receiver in the third round

The Pittsburgh Steelers address their biggest remaining offensive need in the third round, taking Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson with the 84th overall pick.

I can’t put into words just how perfect the board has fallen for the Steelers. Wilson was a guy that was a projected mid-second round pick that may not even be there for the Steelers at 51. Instead, he slips to No. 84 and Pittsburgh snags him in the third round.

The Steelers lineup of receivers now looks as follows:

• George Pickens
• Roman Wilson
• Calvin Austin III
• Van Jefferson
• Quez Watkins

And don’t be surprised if the Steelers aren’t done making moves at wide receiver to strengthen that room.

Wilson was terrific in 2023 with the Wolverines. His 12 deep catches were amongst the most in the nation, and he is tremendous at beating man coverage. While he played predominantly in the slot at Michigan, he will be a guy who transitions to the outside seamlessly, and will still be utilized in the slot. The Steelers were able to land three of the biggest names linked to them, and they did it all without trading any capital. This has been a phenomenal draft by Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and Co.

Final Grade: A

The Steelers grab a WR with their first pick in the third round.

With the 84th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson.

Wilson is the Steelers’ first pick in the draft at a skill position. The Steelers took Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and West Virginia center Zach Frazier with their first two picks. Now, with their offensive line set heading into the upcoming season, the Steelers turn to improving their wide receiver room.

The 5’11, 185-pound senior recorded 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns in a National Championship-winning season with the Wolverines in 2023. Wilson ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine.

The Steelers showed pre-draft interest in Wilson in the pre-draft process, with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin challenging Wilson and first-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell to go against each other at the Senior Bowl. The team also reportedly met with Wilson at his pro day. Now, Wilson looks to fill in as the Steelers’ WR2 behind George Pickens in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers still have one pick left in the third round, No. 98, after trading up from the fourth to the third when they dealt quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Steelers’ second-round pick might be the toughest player in the draft.

For many football players, a broken leg can crush draft dreams. In the case of Steelers’ second-round pick Zach Frazier, it cemented his place as one of the draft’s top linemen.

In his final game as a Mountaineer, Frazier suffered a broken leg as West Virginia drove down the field for a winning score in the final minutes of a matchup vs. Baylor. To preserve the clock with no timeouts left, Frazier crawled and jumped on one leg off the field to save time. His actions helped WVU drive down the field and score the game-winning touchdown with seconds left.

Frazier’s toughness and grit certainly made an impression on NFL coaches and scouts, with the Steelers selecting the WVU center with the 51st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith brought up that exact play in his draft press conference following the Frazier pick. Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Smith stated, “That’s who he [Frazier] is and that’s who his resume is. It wasn’t trying to just do some dramatic shot for the camera. I mean, that’s his history and his body of work. One of the tougher guys I’ve seen on film. It reminds me a lot of Ben Jones — a real toughness to ‘em.”

A local player at West Virginia who is already familiar with the Steelers’ legacy at center, Frazier will be the next tough-as-nails offensive lineman to helm the interior of the Steelers’ offense.

Omar Khan continues his investment in the trenches.

Just two rounds through his second NFL Draft as the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager, Omar Khan has completed the rebuild of the team’s offensive line with offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier.

Per Gerry Dulac, this marks just the second time in Steelers franchise history drafting offensive

That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh isn’t done with their evaluation process, still with a decision to make regarding the configuration of the offensive line.

After drafting Broderick Jones at left tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft, he slid over to the right side of the line in place of Chukwuma Okorafor, who was benched as a starter in Week 9 before eventually being released earlier this offseason. Fautanu, who’s been touted as a potential starter at all five spots on the offensive line, has played the entirety of his career at Washington on the left side of the line, including 29 starts at tackle and two at guard.

Assuming they slide Broderick Jones back to left tackle and trial Fautanu on the right side of the line, here’s what the new and improved Steelers offensive line looks like:

• Left tackle: Broderick Jones
• Left guard: Isaac Seumalo
• Center: Zach Frazier
• Right guard: James Daniels
• Right tackle: Troy Fautanu

Prior to the start of 2023 free agency (when Khan also made the addition of Isaac Semualo at left guard), the Steelers were starting Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, James Daniels and Chuks Okorafor. Steelers fans can undoubtedly sleep well knowing that the future of the trenches is very bright in Pittsburgh.

The Khan artist works his magic once again.

8:10pm: The Steelers have also shown interest in Samuel, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He adds, though, that Pittsburgh was unwilling to meet San Francisco’s asking price in a trade. The 49ers’ receiver approach will remain a key storyline to watch with a notable market obviously existing.

Pittsburgh has, of course, long been considered a candidate to pull off a trade at the receiver spot. Dealing away Diontae Johnson created a vacancy in the starting lineup, and to date the team has focused on offensive line (rather than wideout) prospects in the draft. The Steelers may circle back to Samuel if the price were to come down, but in any case they will be a team to monitor.

12:55pm: Passing on a chance to upgrade their receiving corps late in the first round, the Bills have received some attention for being part of trades that allowed the Chiefs and Panthers to made wideout investments. The Bills may have a bigger name in mind.

Buffalo joins New England in being interested in Deebo Samuel, according to the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. The Bills are in dire need at the position, having traded Stefon Diggs and having let Gabriel Davis walk (to the Jaguars) in free agency. Samuel appears a live candidate to be moved, even as Brandon Aiyuk trade talks took place Thursday night.

Samuel was also part of that pre-draft report, and Giardi adds it is now more likely the 49ers move the versatile playmaker than Aiyuk. This would make sense given Aiyuk’s age and superior durability; the 2020 first-round pick is two years younger than Samuel, who turned 28 earlier this offseason. But Samuel is tied to a $23.85MM-per-year contract that runs through 2025. Aiyuk is on a fifth-year option, and an acquiring team would likely need to prepare an extension.

The Patriots discussed Samuel with the 49ers on Thursday, but the team held onto both its wideouts. John Lynch said post-draft a trade should not be ruled out. The 49ers are believed to have asked for a mid-first-round pick for Aiyuk; nothing beyond a second-rounder came back in an offer. It is possible the team is now pivoting to a Samuel trade push, which comes two years after rumblings of a deal impacted the 49ers’ 2022 draft. The 49ers hung onto Samuel then, despite two notable offers (from the Jets and Lions), and extended him. As Aiyuk has proven worthy of a big-ticket extension, the team has a decision to make.

As the 49ers — with a Brock Purdy extension on the horizon — contemplate how to handle their increasingly complex WR situation, the Bills need impact players. In an AFC arms race that has seen the Chiefs separate over the past two years — despite Buffalo’s regular-season success at Arrowhead Stadium — the Bills have watched the Chiefs add Marquise Brown and first-rounder Xavier Worthy to their wideout group. The Bills dealt Diggs to the Texans. With Davis’ second contract coming from the Jags, the Bills are down to the likes of Khalil Shakir and UFA pickup Curtis Samuel. Samuel has proven to be in a much higher class.

Still, it will be interesting to see if the 49ers — given where their contention arc resides — bail on the Samuel-Aiyuk pairing a year before they have to. The team would have the option of franchise-tagging Aiyuk in 2025, though Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey will be in contract years by then. Rather than unloading Aiyuk now or contemplating a tag-and-trade transaction in an effort to keep the band together for one more season, the 49ers — who drafted Florida wideout Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 — are clearly exploring compensation options for a WR now.

The Bills hold the No. 33 overall pick, while the Patriots sit at No. 34. Buffalo also has its own second-rounder (No. 60). A second-rounder emerged as the prize in the Diggs trade; Samuel is more than two years younger. While Samuel earned All-Pro acclaim in 2021, he has one 1,000-yard season on his resume. The electric run-after-catch performer missed nine games in 2020, four in 2022 and two due to injury (leaving two more contests early) last year. Will the 49ers end up making a preemptive strike tonight?

Overload Edition

Round 3, Pick 84:

Round 3, Pick 98: