Evaluating the Steelers' Draft Pickings

Rebooting the Steel City's Defense: An Unconventional Draft Analysis

Grade: C-

Top Pick: DT Derrick Harmon, No. 21 overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2022 NFL Draft was a head-scratcher, maintaining the franchise's signature toughness but lacking finesse and addressing essential needs. Let's dissect their draft strategy, backed by some insights from the 2025 season.

What Worked: In a nutshell, big, strong men were the order of the day. The addition of Harmon and Yahya Black adds a quick fix for one-tech and three-tech defensive tackles, potentially boosting the performance of edge rusher T.J. Watt and linebacker Alex Highsmith. Kaleb Johnson, a powerful runner, resembles the strength and vision coach Mike Tomlin admires, a trait seemingly absent in Najee Harris. The players picked seem to align well with the Steelers' standards.

Uncertain Areas: The draft does not seem to tackle the Steelers' issues head-on. Addressing the quarterback position, despite numerous chances to add a starter-level player (e.g., Shedeur Sanders), and ignoring the need for nickel competition or pass-catchers until day three, feels like a missed opportunity. The team appears to have veered too hard into "best player available," sacrificing essential ingredients along the way.

Contextualizing the 2022 NFL Draft (With a Peek into the 2025 Season)

Though the available data doesn't provide insights into the team's 2022 strategies, let's take a brief look at some findings from the 2025 season. In 2025, the Steelers prioritized value picks across various positions, including defensive line, quarterback, and running back. Post-draft roster decisions could influence veterans as new draftees create competition. Head coach Mike Tomlin emphasized that uncertainty around Aaron Rodgers would not affect their draft strategy for 20251.

Despite the lack of direct 2022 insights, the Steelers' 2022 draft reflects a focus on physical prowess, though perhaps at the expense of addressing pressing needs. Nonetheless, we'll have to wait and see how these new acquisitions pan out on the field in the upcoming season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2022 NFL Draft centered around the addition of players with physical prowess, as evident in the drafting of DT Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black.
The pick of Kaleb Johnson, a powerful runner, exhibits traits admired by coach Mike Tomlin, who seems to have found a comparable player to Najee Harris in terms of strength and vision.
The Steelers' draft strategy in 2022, however, did not address crucial positions directly, such as the quarterback position and the need for nickel competition or pass-catchers.
The Steelers prioritized value picks across various positions, including defensive line, quarterback, and running back in the 2025 season, suggesting a shift in focus from physical prowess to more diverse talent.
Post-draft roster decisions could create competition among veterans and new draft picks in the 2025 season, potentially influencing the team's performance.
In the upcoming season, it will be interesting to observe how the new acquisitions, selected with a focus on physical traits in 2022, perform on the football field in American-football, specifically in sports like NFL and Steelers' football.