Steelers Rookies Not 'Excelling'

Obviously he had a hell of a rookie campaign, I just couldn't remember if he got it.

I still remember reading an article in either SI or USA Today after Ben's first season that rated QBs taken in the past couple of drafts with between 1 and 5 stars for their futures in the NFL. The only guy that got five was...Jay Cutler.

 

Ben?

 

Also appropriate to mention Jerome Bettis who won it in 1993 but for the Rams.

 

Iamaleava reminds me of Colin Kaepernick so much as a player. I'm not sure that he is ever going to be an NFL caliber player if you take his legs away, but you never know.

 

Iamaleava not interested in him at all.

 

It sounds like the Steelers scouts have been to quite a few of Arizona State games.

 

Going to a lot of games:

https://steelersnow.com/wait-a-year-steelers-scout-potential-top-2027-nfl-draft-quarterbacks/

 

The title of this article is straight poop. We have a good rookie class. It is very early, but Harmon has flashed pro bowl stuff. Sawyer and Black have played wel is spots.

 

If I am Allar's agent, I tell him to get the heck out of Penn State for 2026, and find some better coaching ( Head coach and OC ) and pick a school who uses their wide receivers to suit his talents.


I disagree though Howard is a better runner than Allar. Allar has the better arm. It is a 9 out of 10, while Howard's arm is merely better than average about a 7 out of 10.


But there's a lot more that goes into a QB. I like Howard's accuracy, ability to read a defense, and leadership better.

 

Allar is in his final year of eligibility, he can't go back to college next year.

 

Hines Ward's opinions count apparently?

 

Where we pick every year---lower 20's-----we're getting the talent that you would expect.

The players to fall that far have some concerns :
injury (Harmon)
or it's a bad year for that position (Pickett)
or character concerns (Pickens, second round)
or position neglected that year (Najee)
or lack of reps/young (Broderick)

......something. Ravens got lucky with Lamar.

About a year ago or two, I went back thru the last 15 years of drafts and compared Steeler draft picks with two teams that also picked in the low 20's like us, I think it was the packers and I think Vikings, and found the results were similar. Almost the same number of Pro Bowlers, signed to second contracts, and used other similar measures of a successful draft pick.

It made me feel a little better, because my gut was telling me we stunk completely since the only really home run of a 1st round pick in the last 15 years was TJ Watt.

 

I think along those lines too. Playtime. Steelers seem to like sprinkling rookies in during the freshman year. Don't know if that is good or bad. We have zero starting rookies.

That could mean they are not good enough, the Steelers have the luxury to do that, or that for the development of the player/team the Steelers prefer doing it that way.

And on the other side, a lot of those top players are in starting positions. That gives them those reps and the experience to make that list. Are they so good that they commanded that starting spot or were they thrust into that role because of necessity? It does point to drafting to fill holes if they were starters from day 1 whereas I think the Steelers are drafting for depth and the future which is a better spot to be IMO. The only spots where I think that the Steelers are in a must draft to fill a hole is at WR and maybe QB. Yes, there are other spots that the Steelers need to fill, but WR is the only one that is truly in trouble and can't be filled in FA. QB might be there, but a lot depends on Howard. Is he capable of carrying the team? He doesn't have to be the next Big Ben, but if he is solid we can work with that.

 

Rumor mill.... Steelers have done some due diligence and inquired about Saints WR Chris Olave.
Speculation is the Saints will be moving some pieces before the trade deadline and Olave may be the most prized. Several teams have checked in on a possible trade for Olave.

 

Cam ward?

 

I said same thing
Cam Ward?

 

"He's the only rookie QB with enough of a sample size to rate"

Article says he's mediocre at best. Not much else to choose from.

 

No thanks. Too injured too often.

 

Speaking of rookies Gabriel and Judkins are looking great today for the Browns.

 

Hopefully they got a close look at Allar.

 

Not really a concern after 4 weeks when you look at it individually.

Harmon hasn't played enough yet still got honourable mention.
No second.
Johnson is concerning so far and has a long way to go to see the field.
Sawyer drafted as a fourth stringer and still honourable mention
Black a fifth rounder who we only started to notice after the PS started - still honourable mention.
Howard drafted to be 3rd string QB so zero expectations at this point.
Bruener a STer seventh rounder and still honourable mention.
Kent who?

 

It's a buy-low strategy. The concussions are a concern, but considering that he's only played in like 16 of the team's last 38 games and his $15M in base next year is guaranteed, the cost should be lightened.

If a team believes the past two years were an outlier, they could pick up a WR1 for the cost of a couple of Day 3 picks, then extend him in the offseason to reduce the $15M cap hit.

 

Some Steelers podcaster said they have been checking on Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers FWIW.