Terrell Edmonds, Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandatory credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s take a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent draft history, and re-rank each pick from the last five seasons
The recent NFL draft history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is interesting. It includes a lot of big twists and some glaring mistakes. They’ve also managed to impress players like Alex Highsmith and Diontae Johnson mid-draft.
Without further ado, let’s break down every Steelers draft pick over the past five years.
2018 Steelers NFL Draft Ranking
2018 Steelers first-round pick: S Terrell Edmunds – C+
Edmonds was a solid shareholder in the Steelers. He has participated in 73 matches over the past five years. His best season came in 2019, when he racked up 105 combined tackles. So why does this check get the c +? Frankly, Edmunds isn’t a bad footballer, but his 28th overall finish is simply hard to justify. In particular, considering Lamar Jackson, Nick Chubb, and Shaquille Leonard, they were all named to the following 10 selections.
2018 Steelers’ second-round pick: WR James Washington – D.
Washington never developed into the wide receiver that the Steelers envisioned, when they selected him in the second round. As a junior, he had Fourth worst catch percentage in the NFL (42.1%). Washington has improved over time. He peaked with 735 yards in 2019, but he also had a below-average catch percentage of 55.0% and a passer rating on targeting of 72.7. Washington is no longer with the franchise. To make matters worse, DJ Chark and Michael Gallup were the next wide receivers to come off the plate. Both players have posted 1,000-yard seasons.
Grading Steelers 2018 third-round pick: QB Mason Rudolph – D+
Rudolph started 10 games for the franchise, but he also couldn’t hold onto the starting job for a team that was desperately looking for a starting quarterback. The Steelers would have been wiser to target the best player available here. Gallup, Mark Andrews, and Orlando Brown Jr. walked off the plate soon after.
Steelers Ranking 2018 Third Round Pick: OT Chukwuma Okorafor – B-
With their second pick in the third round, the Steelers swung at offensive tackle. Okorafor was a key player for the Steelers starting in 50 total games. In 2021, he allowed two sacks in 1,078 offensive snaps. Penalties were a recurring problem for him, but he still played well enough to earn a three-year contract extension.
Steelers Ranking 2018 Fifth Round Pick: S Marcus Allen – B
Expectations are lower for a fifth-round pick. With that in mind, Allen was a good choice. He has appeared in 48 games and recorded 57 combined tackles. He has emerged as an important player on special teams. Allen recorded 746 special teams snaps for the franchise.
Steelers seed 2018 fifth-round pick: RB Jaylen Samuels – C.
Samuels played an important role for the Steelers early on. In three seasons with the Steelers, he rushed for 459 yards and a touchdown. He also averaged 3.5 yards per carry. He was waived by the Steelers in 2021.
2018 Steelers seventh-round pick: DT Joshua Frazier – F
This is not an indictment of Frazier. This is because the Steelers waived him before he even played once. Subsequently, they did not get any productions from this selection.
The 27-year-old was recently drafted by the XFL’s Orlando Guardians. He could get another chance in the NFL in the future.
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