Hey Steelers Fans! Welcome to Monday.
The Kickoff
Kudos to the City of Pittsburgh, the Steelers and the NFL. Yes, there were some occasional issues with crowds waiting for public transit among others but overall, the response to the draft was highly positive. Say what you will about the NFL but they know how to do this stuff. The staging and lighting was incredible and not just at Acrisure Stadium. The bridges actually were lit up in the colors of the team on the clock and the massive projections on the side of a building (maybe the Westin, I’m not positive) overlooking Point State Park was incredible. For all of the hyperbole surrounding how awful this event was supposed to be, it went off so well that I do believe it will return some day. Next year, the draft moves to the nation’s capitol.
No Draft Grades
If you’re here looking for my “draft grade” then I’m sorry because I don’t do those. I have a hard time trying to put a grade on something I haven’t seen yet. In three years, when Max Iheanachor, Drew Allar, etc have had some time with this team, then I’ll be able to make a grade.
OK So What Did I think of the Steelers’ Draft
That’s probably a better question and there’s no doubt that this was a different feeling draft from the Mike Tomlin years. I like my first round guys to be on the field in their rookie seasons and I’m not sure that Max will be. I don’t see Allar playing in 2026 either which is why his selection reminds me so much of Mason Rudolph. Why burn a third on a guy who won’t see the field? Germie Bernard was easily their best pick of the weekend followed closely by Gennings Dunker. Do not be surprised if Eli Heidenreich makes the roster. I didn’t hate this draft as much as some, but I also don’t love it either.
Rodgers
I don’t think anything that they did with the exception of adding Bernard will make Aaron Rodgers sit up and say, “OK, now I have to return.” I think he still does but Omar Khan didn’t draft guys to appease him. That much was clear. And why would he? You don’t build around 42-year old quarterbacks.
Tomlin
We got our first comments from former Head Coach Mike Tomlin yesterday after he sat down with NBC’s Maria Taylor. I think Tomlin should be credited with walking away knowing that he couldn’t get over the playoff hump.
The Crop of UDFAs
As always happens after the draft, the Steelers signed a number of undrafted rookie free agents. Here’s the list as of right now.
Devan Boykin – DB Indiana
Lake McRee – TE USC
Kevin Jobity Jr. – DL Syracuse
Laith Marjan – K Kansas
Chamon Metayer – TE Arizona State
Random Reads
Some folks on social media like former Steelers Breiden Fehoko aren’t crazy about the trolling of Diego Pavia. The Heisman finalist went undrafted and people had a lot of jokes. Well, maybe if he hadn’t been such an arrogant ass at times people would have had more empathy… I find it interesting that Pat McAfee hasn’t said a word regarding the Mike Vrabel-Dianni Russini thing. That tells you the power of the ESPN upper management… I swear that literally every playoff basketball game this past weekend had a fight of some sort in it… Kaden Wetjen is an outstanding return man. I’m just not sure we needed to spend a fourth to get him… How significant is the 2027 draft? Very few teams were willing to part with draft picks for next year…
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