> I am amazed that what I wrote about the Steelers in 2022 still applies. They are drafting at a point where available talent doesn’t really meet need. They have some pieces, but the roster is more tin foil than steel curtain. I don’t need to reach for offensive line help; there will be opportunities later. Pittsburgh holds 12 draft picks (more than anyone else).
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> What Pittsburgh needs is a quarterback. A first-round pick gives the team as many as five years with a player, which is especially helpful when developing a quarterback. I think the Steelers should stop playing footsies with Aaron Rodgers and move on. Ah, but the trouble is the remaining quarterbacks carry third-round grades. And I’ll have three third-round picks. But, I did consider Drew Allar and Carson Beck here.
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> Mike McCarthy is the fourth head coach Pittsburgh has had since 1969. The other three all wear a championship ring. Will McCarthy bring the Lombardi trophy to the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers? Not this year. He might as well build a defense that can last, gamble on a quarterback in round three, fill in gaps along the way, and shoot for 2027 and beyond.
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> As for my pick:
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> Cameron Heyward is 37 years old. He has been the heart and soul of the defense for a long time. This draft looks like a great opportunity to replace him with Peter Woods from Clemson. Here is a high-character person who has posted good to great numbers every stop along the way. His weaknesses relate to technique and schemes, both of which are a function of coaching. His strengths are first-step explosiveness and strength, which cannot be taught. He benches 490 pounds and squats 700 pounds. He’s gonna need that—Pittsburgh will be putting a lot on him