The best first round draft strategy for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Predicting what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do in the 2022 NFL Draft is nearly impossible. That's because no one really knows how the first round is going to play out. That's obviously true every year, but it feels like this year's draft is even more difficult to predict, thanks to a lack of consensus top […]
Predicting what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do in the 2022 NFL Draft is nearly impossible.
That's because no one really knows how the first round is going to play out. That's obviously true every year, but it feels like this year's draft is even more difficult to predict, thanks to a lack of consensus top players.
The Steelers need a franchise quarterback. But is there a franchise quarterback in this draft class? Will one of the quarterbacks that Pittsburgh likes (Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, or Desmond Ridder) fall to No. 20?
It seems unlikely at this point, with too many teams ahead of Pittsburgh that also need a quarterback.
The best strategy for the Steelers might be to trade down a few spots, add some extra draft picks, and then draft Michigan safety Dax Hill, who has been falling to the end of the first round in recent mock drafts.
Pittsburgh has a clear need at safety. Hill is a versatile defensive back who can play at cornerback if needed.
The extremely athletic Hill would not only fill a need for the Steelers, but he'd also help protect Pittsburgh against mismatches. The former Michigan standout is athletic enough and big enough (6-foot/192 lbs) to cover tight ends or smaller slot wide receivers. That kind of versatility is invaluable in the NFL.
I know Pittsburgh needs a quarterback. But there aren't any quarterbacks in this draft that make sense for the Steelers to trade up for (at least not trading up into the top 10).
Pittsburgh doesn't want to waste a first-round pick on a quarterback who isn't significantly better than Mitch Trubisky. They need an impact player who can immediately contribute. Trading down to grab Hill and adding additional draft picks is a move that Pittsburgh definitely wouldn't regret.
Featured image via Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
