The Steelers had plenty of draft capital to add youth on a veteran roster, so how do their real-life selections compare to would-be selections using our board?

 

Actual selections

1.21: OT Max Iheanachor

2.47: WR Germie Bernard

3.76: QB Drew Allar

3.85: CB Daylen Everette

3.96: G Gennings Dunker

4.121: WR Kaden Wetjen

5.169: FB Riley Nowakowski

6.210: DL Gabriel Rubio

7.224: S Robert Spears-Jennings

7.230: RB Eli Heidenreich

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.21: CB D’Angelo Ponds

2.47: WR Germie Bernard

3.76: CB Jermod McCoy

3.85: G DJ Campbell

3.96: CB Keionte Scott

4.121: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

5.169: DL Zane Durant

6.210: QB Jalon Daniels

7.224: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

7.230: WR Deion Burks

 

Thoughts

There was plenty of drama about the Steelers getting leaped by the Eagles for Makai Lemon in Round 1, but we would argue things ended up working out better for them with Germie Bernard available in Round 2 as the steal of the draft. Before that, the team pivoted to Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall, so Pittsburgh added a starter at right tackle and wide receiver to boost the offense in the first season for Mike McCarthy as head coach.

 

Overall, we would have been moving around the board like crazy based on how the values/needs lined up for the Steelers, but staying put and taking best player available would have led to D’Angelo Ponds in the first round and Bernard in the second round. Things get unbalanced after that with Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, and Jalen Ramsey locked in as the starters at cornerback, but Jermod McCoy is essentially a lottery ticket based on his talent, and Keionte Scott has the skillset to play safety. Plus, Ramsey can obviously play safety as well, and Dean has had some durability issues. Realistically, it would have made sense to move up, down, and/or trade for future picks; but looking ahead to the future, Porter and McCoy on the outside with Ponds in the slot would be quite the trio.

 

With the other selection in the third round, we would have taken DJ Campbell, while Pittsburgh went with Drew Allar as a quarterback for Mike McCarhty to develop, Daylen Everette as a long cornerback on the perimeter, and Gennings Dunker as a tough offensive lineman with tackle/guard versatility.

 

In the fourth round, the Steelers were criticized for taking Kaden Wetjen because of “consensus” rankings, but that’s right around where we had him on our board—and the Iowa product should be an impactful returner as a rookie. We would have opted for Harold Perkins Jr. there, though, and Pittsburgh could use some more speed/explosiveness for a veteran group.

 

Next, the Steelers took who we thought was the clear best fullback in the class with Riley Nowakowski, and it’s easy to imagine him being a staple there for the next decade. After defensive additions Gabriel Rubio and Robert Spears-Jennings, Eli Heidenreich finished off the class as a very intriguing offensive weapon out of Navy, and we thought he could have gone as early as the fourth round.

 

Our final choices would have been Zane Durant, Jalon Daniels, John Michael Gyllenborg, and Deion Burks—with Durant being in the best position to contribute depending on how much Pittsburgh would want to rotate guys to stay fresh up front.