Almost instantly, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2023 draft was hailed by many as a slam dunk success. If you didn’t know any better, you would think that the class the Steelers just assembled will one day rival Pittsburgh’s fabled 1974 rookie class that yielded five future Hall of Fame players.
OK, it’s safe to say that the Steelers’ recent draft class won’t rival the ’74 class in terms of gold jackets worn and championships won. But they may very well add to the franchise’s collection of Super Bowl hardware when it’s all said and done.
A nine-win team the past two years, the Steelers appear to be poised for their first season of double-digit wins since 2020. Pittsburgh’s rookie class, a group headlined by first-round pick Broderick Jones and second-round pick Joey Porter Jr., will surely play an integral role in a potential playoff run for the black and gold this season.
Now that the dust has settled, here’s a closer look at what the Steelers didn’t do in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as the one thing GM Omar Khan and Co. definitely got right.
What Steelers didn’t do
- No skill position players drafted
That’s right. For the first time since 1985, the Steelers did not select a running back, a quarterback or a receiver during the draft. Pittsburgh did sign former Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan and former San Diego State running back/receiver/returner Jordan Byrd as undrafted free agents.
As Mike Tomlin noted during his post-draft presser, the team’s recent acquisition of former Pro Bowler Allen Robinson made receiver less of a priority leading up to the draft. Allen is now part of a solid receiving trio that also includes former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson and last year’s rookie standout George Pickens. Byrd, who scored touchdowns at four different positions in college, will try to earn one of the last spots on the roster while competing against Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski and Cody White, among others.
The Steelers’ running game could have used some new blood via the draft. Injuries limited third stringer Anthony McFarland to just three games over the past two seasons. Master Teague, who recently re-signed with the Steelers, is also coming back from an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. Jason Huntley, the only running back currently on the roster, hasn’t played in a regular season game in two years.
While the Steelers’ depth at…
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