Steelers Daily Links: Pickens Top Rookie WR; FA Landing Spots

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Steelers are set up to have a great draft haul. “I think they’re really set up well. Talking about them just a little bit ago, when you look at the needs of offensive line, corner, you know, maybe even some pass rush, I think where they’re positioned with their picks, 17, 32, 49, and 80. Those are four picks — you got four starters. I think you can get four starters with those four picks,” Jeremiah said during a pre-NFL Combine Q&A.

NFL.com: The Steelers’ 2022 rookie draft class was ranked the sixth-best in the league by Nick Shook and Eric Edholm. “It’s hard to not love the top of this small class for Pittsburgh. The Steelers selected the local hero, Kenny Pickett, then allowed him to learn behind Mitch Trubisky until it became clear Pickett was likely their best option at quarterback,” Shook wrote. “Down the stretch, Pickett sorted out the turnover issues we saw early in the season, impressing onlookers with his decisiveness and composure and leading many to believe he could become the long-term answer at the position. His knack for clutch play sent the Steelers into the offseason with plenty of optimism. A big reason why Pickett’s future is so bright is the inclusion in this class of George Pickens, a stud receiver who turned heads in camp and made multiple highlight-reel grabs in 2022. It’s now easy to understand Pickens’ frustration with a lack of early-season opportunities: He’s a game-changing, playmaking artist who is destined to become Pittsburgh’s No. 1 receiver.”

Pro Football Focus: George Pickens had 16 catches on 20+ yard throws last season. No other rookie had more than seven.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: According to Gerry Dulac, the Steelers have the most diverse coaching staff in the NFL. Of the 15 positions on Mike Tomlin’s staff (including himself), the Steelers have 11 coaches who are Black — a 73.3 percentage that is easily the highest in the league and well above the estimated league average of Black assistant coaches (35% to 40%).

CBS Sports: Bryan DeArdo ranked the Steelers as the fifth-best landing spot for eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner. “The Steelers will be looking for someone to replace former first-round pick Devin Bush, who is slated to test free agency. If they could get him, the Steelers would have one of the best starting linebacker units in the NFL in Wagner, fellow inside linebacker Myles Jack and outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith,” DeArdo wrote. “This scenario largely comes down to whether or not the Steelers would buck from their recent trend of bargain buying in lieu of spending more money on a prized free agent.”

CBS Sports: Cam Sutton came in at No. 28 on Pete Prisco’s top 100 free agent rankings. “He can play inside and outside and is coming off an impressive season on the outside. That will give him a nice market at the age of 28,” Prisco wrote. Larry Ogunjobi (No. 48). Chris Wormley (No. 62) and Terrell Edmunds (No. 99) also made Prisco’s list.

STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

Steelers Draft Digest: Jeremiah Sees Pittsburgh Targeting OL, HBCU Combine Interest

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt DE Deslin Alexandre was named the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins hit rock bottom with a 7-2 thrashing by the Edmonton Oilers marking their fourth consecutive loss.

West Virginia Sports Now: WVU has opened as an early 1-point favorite for the Backyard Brawl against Pitt this fall.

Nittany Sports Now: Jalen Pickett once again powered Penn State as the Lions upset Ohio State, 75-71.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Like always, there’s optimism around Pirates spring training.