NFL Draft 2022: Biggest Losers

87th Heisman Trophy Media Availability

4. Pittsburgh Steelers’ research team

After the Steelers' first-round pick, their next three selection were really good, bringing in a top-50 and another top-100 overall prospect at wide receiver: Georgia’s George Pickens and Memphis’ Calvin Austin III.

Between Pickens and Austin, the Steelers also got Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, who was projected to be a top-ten pick a year ago. But their 20th overall pick, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, earns them a place on this list.

Pickett is ideally a QB5 and if you really go into the tape rather than looking at the numbers, you end up with some serious concerns that are less “fixable” than some of the other players in this class who weren’t asked to make full-field reads. Apart from that we can all agree that the next three players who heard their names called are clearly more talented.

The reality is that Pickett will compete in a division with Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and (now) Deshaun Watson, who when available are all top-eight players at the position.

Philosophically, Pickett can not be the key to take the team through the AFC, which looks absolutely loaded. But there's a big gripe: the Steelers grabbed Pickett 54 spots before the next quarterback. If you’re this close to the rest of the league, there has to be some understanding of where the other teams stand on this group. You also have to question if your pick might have even been available a round later.