Steelers Rookie Outlook

I’ve said it many times already, but I’ll reiterate it once again, I love what the Steelers did in the draft this season. They did a great job getting depth and filled lots of their team needs. They beefed up the trenches with first-round pick tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia and D lineman Keeanu Benton from Wisconsin. While also addressing the weak cornerback position with Joey Porter Jr out of Penn State and fellow Big Ten CB Cory Trice Jr from Purdue.

So let’s spotlight a few of the draft picks that I expect to make an instant impact in their first season in Pittsburgh.

1. Darnell Washington

The Tight End out of Georgia is a size and athleticism freak, standing at 6’7″ and weighing 265 lbs; he has the size of an NBA power forward and the 40 time similar to Larry Fitzgerald at 4.64.

Although he will be a backup to start because of the talented starting Tight End Pat Freiermuth, by the end of the season, I would love to see the Steelers go with a two-tight end formation, Washington has shown raw receiving skills with lots of upside, and he has also shown he can be a force in the blocking game.

If he improves on his raw talent and skills, Washington could be dynamic for the Steelers, a 6’7″ red zone threat could take the offense to the next level inside the 20.

Steelers CBs Cory Trice Jr (27) and Joey Porter Jr (24) – Joe Cammarota/Steelers Depot

2. Joey Porter Jr

The rookie I am most excited to see go to work this year is second-round rookie CB out of Penn State, Joey Porter Jr. The son of Steelers Super Bowl champion Linebacker Joey Porter, JPJ is a long, athletic man corner. He has had some issues with grabbing and being too handsy in coverage in college, but I love an aggressive corner in the Steelers man coverage they play so often, with Pittsburgh’s dynamic pass rush with Watt, Highsmith, and Cam Heyward, a corner that can bully and push receivers off their route will be huge for the defense.

Porter seems like a perfect culture and scheme fit for the Steelers, and with the mentorship from veteran Patrick Peterson, I would be surprised if Porter Jr isn’t a main part of this defense for this upcoming season and the number 1 corner for the foreseeable future.

Steelers OT Broderick Jones (77) – Associated Press

3. Broderick Jones

The last rookie that I would love to see make a quick impact is first-round rookie Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh traded up in the draft to select the Georgia tackle. It is a huge vote of confidence in Jones that they were confident enough to trade up to take him, the Steelers have needed a franchise offensive lineman for a few years now since the Pouncey and Decastro retirements, and I think Jones can be the guy.

He, much like Washington, is a raw, athletic talent but with good development, with his strength and size, Jones could be a cornerstone tackle for the future in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, he can be the main piece in the ‘Pickett Fence’ they want to build for the future and I’m excited to see how he turns out.

With signings like Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig from the Eagles and the help from Jones, the Steelers could have a much improved offensive line going into next season.

Recap

I am a big fan of what Steelers GM Omar Khan has done early in his tenure in Pittsburgh, and this draft gives me a lot of confidence in the future of the Steelers.

I have been very positive so far in terms of how I think the season will go for Pittsburgh, but the team has plenty of holes and flaws that they have to iron out before the season; this was a pretty average team for most of the season last year so expecting them to compete for super bowls right away just from a few draft picks in far-fetched, but the Steelers are definitely headed in the right direction if they develop all of this young talent they have acquired over the last couple offseasons, we could be a force in the AFC in the upcoming years.