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Yosh8 DRAFTING FOR THESteelers
Draft Selections
Draft Picks Received
PICK:
RND:
5
(IND)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
Draft Picks Traded
Players Gained
LaDarius
Henderson
OT
Players traded away
Patrick
Queen
LB
T.J.
Watt
LB
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall
D-
ValueB-
NeedB-
TradesF
FutureB-
The Steelers bled value on every deal, hence the D-. Some picks age like wine; Kaden Wetjen at pick 253 will need to, sitting 43 spots clear of his grade. The process wobbled, and the D- is where it lands.
The trade table is where this weekend went wrong. Spending an early pick on offensive lineman with edge rusher open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Ponds.
Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and edge rusher is still a hole.
Pick Analysis
Pick15
Rnd1
Makai Lemon
In the 15th pick they get a weapon on the perimeter. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick47
Rnd2
Gennings Dunker
No drama and no debate, Gennings Dunker went about where he belonged in pick No. 47. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick76
Rnd3
D'Angelo Ponds
You do not let a cornerback like D'Angelo Ponds reach the Round 3 slot and blink. They did not. The roster fit checks out.
Pick85
Rnd3
Domonique Orange
Nice patience on Domonique Orange, who had no business lasting to No. 85. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick99
Rnd3
Genesis Smith
Fair-plus on Genesis Smith, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick113
Rnd4
Bryce Lance
No edge and no loss on Bryce Lance in slot 113; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick120
Rnd4
Keylan Rutledge
A surprising call. With edge rusher still to address, they spent slot 120 on Keylan Rutledge, an offensive lineman they were not short of.
Pick135
Rnd4
Kyle Louis
A reach for Kyle Louis in Round 4, Pick 35; a little patience would have been rewarded. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick153
Rnd5
Drew Allar
Drew Allar slid further than he should have, and No. 153 is lovely value for the quarterback. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick199
Rnd6
Le'Veon Moss
Le'Veon Moss at the 199th pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick213
Rnd6
Eric McAlister
Eric McAlister at the 213th overall pick is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick214
Rnd6
Fa'alili Fa'amoe
A real head-scratcher, Fa'alili Fa'amoe in pick 214 is miles ahead of his ranking. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Pick224
Rnd7
Keyshaun Elliott
Keyshaun Elliott is a better player than pick No. 224 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick230
Rnd7
DJ Harvey
DJ Harvey at the Round 7 slot nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick236
Rnd7
Josh Cuevas
Josh Cuevas in No. 236 is fair value, right on his grade. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick237
Rnd7
Trey Zuhn III
Trey Zuhn III at pick 237 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick253
Rnd7
Kaden Wetjen
A big swing on Kaden Wetjen at the Round 7 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.