After hitting a home run in the first round of the NFL Draft with Washington Offensive Lineman Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan set his sights on more ‘positions’ of need and he largely did that with the first two picks. His final selection of Day Two however has the potential to be “boom or bust”
As they did on Thursday night, the Steelers let the board fall to them. They were rewarded with West Virginia Center Zach Frazier who should literally be the definition of ‘plug and play.’ The four-time state champion wrestler not only has the toughness and aggressiveness necessary but he also possesses the athletic ability and agility to get to the second level.
Being a West Virginia grad will immediately endear him to much of the Steelers’ faithful but more importantly, he has the potential to be the guy they’ve been looking for since Maurkice Pouncey retired. Whether or not that happens we do not know but he has all of the tools to make it happen.
The first pick of the third round was the first of the back to back Wilson’s. This one in the form of Michigan Wide Receiver Roman Wilson. The newly crowned National Champion may not be the number two receiver many were hoping for but that won’t keep him off the field.
Wilson will likely fit perfectly into the slot but he will also be used in a wide variety of ways. Putting him in motion should be an immediate priority for Arthur Smith. Wilson is lightning quick and smart. He knows how to throttle down in zones and uses his speed on crossers that he’s likely to see a lot of. Wilson is small but he’s a willing and above average blocker as well.
The other Wilson, 
NC State LB Payton Wilson, is the one with the most risk. If you take away the devastating injuries he’s dealt with during his career, Wilson is likely a first round selection. If you aren’t aware, he’s the laundry list of his injuries.
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Back-to-back knee injuries in 2018 and 2019.
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Earned All-ACC honors while playing thru two separated shoulders.
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Played in just two games in 2021 then missed the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
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Played 11 games in 2022.
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Played 12 games in 2023 while winning the Bednarik and Butkus Awards.
If there’s a silver lining here it’s that Wilson has played largely without injury for the last two seasons. That said, the concerns over his health and his age (24) will likely never be far from him but he’s got the potential to be an absolute steal.
Wilson is a tremendous athlete and a free-flowing off-ball linebacker. He can play in man or zone coverage and goes sideline to sideline as well as any linebacker in the Draft. With Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen ahead of him, he will have plenty of time to get acquainted without having to play immediately. I suspect he’ll be a top Special Teamer from the outset. If he stays healthy, Wilson could see more action as needed and ultimately could become a real steal in this Draft.
