The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a good draft class to transform the roster. While they were coming off a trip to the postseason, it was a quick exit. The 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs showed just how far away Mike Tomlin and his unit was. It was known that general manager, Kevin Colbert was going to retire, but he wanted to stick around for one final draft process. He did just that, as he was the GM through the 2022 NFL Draft. So far, it's shaping up to be one heck of a way to go out.
Steelers fans certainly recognized the talent from this year's rookie class, as evidenced by the number of snaps the guys played. NFL.com and others around the league have recognized it as well, as they gave 2022 NFL Draft grades for each AFC North team after one season. The Steelers sat atop the division with a B+ grade, tied with the Baltimore Ravens. Nick Shook acknowledged the success of nearly every player that Colbert selected in 2022. The Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals tied with C+ grades.
Of course, starting in the first round, Kenny Pickett looks like he at least has the potential to be the team's next franchise quarterback. That was a big concern for fans after the 2021 campaign, as 18-year quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger officially retired. Any draft that potentially brings back a franchise quarterback is already a success. That's just the start for Pittsburgh's 2022 class though, as the second-round pick was quite possibly the most productive rookie.
What was the Steelers' best pick from the 2022 NFL Draft?
That would be wide receiver George Pickens, who was picked 52nd overall out of the University of Georgia. In his rookie year, Pickens was fourth amongst rookies with 52 catches and 801 receiving yards. His four touchdowns were tied-for-third, and some of those were quite clutch. The most notable one came in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders, where his touchdown ended up being the game-winner. Of the rookies with at least 30 catches in 2022, Pickens' 15.4 yards per catch was the best.
DeMarvin Leal missed several games due to injury, which plagued his progress as a rookie. When he was on the field though, he flashed plenty of promise. He earned rave reviews from the coaching staff, so he should see more playing time in 2023. As the third-rounder, Leal is probably the X-factor of this draft class moving foward. Seventh-round linebacker Mark Robinson didn't get too much playing time after a phenomenal training camp, but he started to come around at the end.
The same can be said for sixth-rounder Connor Heyward, who could very well take over the No. 2 tight end spot in 2023. Not only was Robinson a special teams contributor, but he began to make some plays at linebacker in the final few weeks of the regular season. Like Leal, he could be a guy that sees an uptick in playing time in his sophomore season. While it may not directly correlate to any of the team's six draft picks, Jaylen Warren may be the biggest steal of the off-season.
Picked up as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, he finally gave the Steelers a legitimate backup running back. That was needed, as Najee Harris racked up 381 touches in his 2021 rookie year. Thus far, quarterback Chris Oladokun seems to be the only inexcusable draft pick from Colbert. While the Steelers needed some bodies at quarterback, they have been fine with Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and someone else. Colbert likely thought they would eventually trade Mason Rudolph, but that doesn't make the pick any more bearable.
Will this class shape up to be one of the best in Colbert's career? Do you agree with the B+ grade after one season?
More must-reads: