WalterFootball.com: NFL Draft Grades - Pittsburgh Steelers

2023 Pick 17. (R:1 P:17) - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon A+ Holy s**t, I got a Patriots pick correct! If the site didn't suck tonight, I'd be so happy right now. Christian Gonzalez has fallen because some teams believe he has no toughness. However, he is super talented and fills a big need for New England. Gonzalez could have easily gone No. 7 overall, so I love this pick.

2023 Pick 32. (R:2 P:1) - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State A+ An A+ grade to kick off Round 2. This is amazing value. Joey Porter Jr. was under consideration for the Steelers' No. 17 overall pick had one of the top four offensive linemen not been on the board. Porter fills a huge need, and he should continue his father's great legacy in Pittsburgh.

2023 Pick 49. (R:2 P:18) - Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin B+ The Steelers have had issues stopping the run ever since Ryan Shazier suffered a brutal injury. This is not a linebacker pick, but Keeanu Benton will certainly help the team's efforts to stop the rush. Benton is a nose tackle with upside, so I like this pick for Pittsburgh.

2023 Pick 80. (R:3 P:17) - D.J. Johnson, OLB, Oregon
C+ Carolina's pass rush was weaker last year because it lost Haason Reddick. D.J. Johnson could help in that regard. He's a raw player, but has very explosive ability. I love the upside, but I don't see why the Panthers needed to trade up for him. He easily could have been available in 13 selections.

2023 Pick 120. (R:4 P:18) - Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
B- The Jets get their high-upside tackle, albeit much later than originally planned. Carter Warren needs improvements in his game, but he has the ability to eventually become a starting tackle in the NFL. He could have been obtained a bit later, but at least the Jets traded down.

2023 Pick 234. (R:7 P:17) - Jason Taylor, S, Oklahoma State
B+ Jason Taylor was one of the top performers at the combine among the safeties, both in the workout numbers and on-field drills. Thus, I'm shocked he fell this far. The Rams won't complain, as they had to find a replacement for Taylor Rapp. I like this value.

2023 Pick 241. (R:7 P:24) - Cory Trice, CB, Purdue
B+ Cory Trice is a tall, lengthy cornerback with upside. However, he has a dubious injury history, which is why he fell to the seventh round. The floor is low, but there is definite upside.

2022 Pick 20. (R:1 P:20) - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh D- Grade
I have to wonder if the owners called this one in because they regretted passing on another Pittsburgh quarterback, Dan Marino, back in the early '80s. This makes no sense otherwise. Pickett didn't generate any interest from anyone else in the first round, and he doesn't have the mobility the Steelers want from the position. He'll also have massive fumbling problems with his small hands once the calendar flips to December and January. Yuck.

2022 Pick 52. (R:2 P:20) - George Pickens, WR, Georgia A- Grade
I have to wonder how Kenny Pickett will have any sort of time in the pocket. Receiver wasn't a big need for the Steelers, but they lost JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason, so I understand it. Pickens is a top 15-caliber talent, but some major character issues have sunk him. He's a great value here, so I like this pick.

2022 Pick 84. (R:3 P:20) - DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M A Grade
Everyone knows the Steelers needed to bolster their offensive line, but they also had to add to their defensive front as well. The Steelers have an old defensive line, so they really needed to get younger there, especially after they were steamrolled each week. I had Leal going to the Steelers in the second round, so I love this value.

2022 Pick 138. (R:4 P:33) - Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis A- Grade
I'm surprised Calvin Austin lasted this long, as I've had him in the third round consistently. He's a very small receiver, but he's incredibly fast and explosive. Given the receiving talent already on Pittsburgh's roster, Austin will likely settle in as the return specialist.

2022 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2022 Pick 226. (R:7 P:5) - J'Atyre Carter, OT, Southern
B+ Grade
Ja'Tyre Carter is a very athletic offensive lineman with nice upside, so I'm a fan of this pick in the final round. The Bears, once again, have major blocking issues, so perhaps Carter can eventually make his way into the starting lineup.

2022 Pick 242. (R:7 P:21) - Kalon Barnes, WR, Baylor
A+ Grade
Wow, what a steal! I had Kalon Barnes in the fourth round. Leave it to a former Seahawks executive to obtain a high-upside cornerback in the late rounds. Kalon Barnes is extremely fast, so at the very worst, he'll contribute on special teams.

2021 Pick 24. (R:1 P:24) - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama D- Grade
I hate this pick. I'm not going to flunk the Steelers because I think Najee Harris will be a good player in the NFL. This grade has almost nothing to do with the player, but rather the position. Running backs grow on trees, so there's no point in taking one in the first round. Seriously, when is the last time a team succeeded because they spent their first-round pick on a running back? I talked to one team ahead of this draft that needed a running back, and they said, "We can just get one in the fifth or sixth round." That is the correct mentality as far as running backs are concerned.

2021 Pick 55. (R:2 P:23) - Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State C+ Grade
The Steelers are basically like a beautiful car with no engine. They've added two talented play-makers so far, but their offensive line is garbage, so how is their offense going to function? Pat Freiermuth is a talented tight end who will upgrade Eric Ebron, so I don't hate the pick, but Pittsburgh really needs to address its blocking.

2021 Pick 87. (R:3 P:23) - Kendrick Green, , Illinois
B Grade
I can't criticize this pick too much because the Steelers needed to address their offensive line more than anything. It's nice that Kendrick Green is versatile enough to play guard and center, as both spots are big needs. I had Kendrick Green in the fourth round, so this is only a very slight reach.

2021 Pick 128. (R:4 P:23) - Dan Moore Jr., OT, Texas A&M
A+ Grade
I was critical of the Steelers selecting a tight end over an offensive lineman, but someone should have told me that they would get a second-day prospect toward the end of the fourth round. This is terrific value and potentially fills a huge need.

2021 Pick 140. (R:4 P:35) - Buddy Johnson, ILB, Texas A&M
B+ Grade
The Steelers have a declining defense, so they needed to address every level of it, including the linebacking corps. They're getting a highly athletic player in Buddy Johnson, who has immense upside. He's a bit undersized, which is why he was a fourth-round pick, but I've had him in this range.

2021 Pick 216. (R:6 P:32) - Quincy Roche, 3-4OLB, Miami A- Grade
Quincy Roche needs to bulk up for the pros, but the talent is there. I had Roche in the fifth round, so I like this value. It's also nice that Roche could fill a need with Bud Dupree gone.

2021 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2020 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2019 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2018 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2017 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2016 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2015 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

2014 Pittsburgh Steelers - Prospect:TBD

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