It is no doubt that Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to have arguably the best draft in the entire NFL. Their first four picks of Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, and Darnell Washington all had the potential to go in the first round. With that being said, the Steelers would not have a single rookie attend this year's NFL Rookie Premiere.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) participates in Steelers rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, May 12, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA.
No Steelers At This Year's Event
In years past, Pittsburgh would usually send multiple players to the Rookie Premiere. Last year, they sent George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, and Kenny Pickett.
It makes you ask the question of why? Why are there no Steelers at this year's event? Could it be that none of the players are exciting enough for the NFL standards? No matter the case, it has to be discouraging to have not one rookie at the event following what many believed to be a stellar draft year.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett makes a throw on the run during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
So that must beg the question of who there is better? Well, there isn't much that I believe is truly better than what we have. Quarterbacks Aidan O'Connell, Sean Clifford, and Stetson Bennett all made the event over the Steelers. Four other tight ends other than Washington went as well.
The NFL Players Association invited 45 players to its annual NFL Players Rookie Premiere event May 18-21 in L.A.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 4, 2023
The full list, from an NFL Management Council memo to clubs: pic.twitter.com/L5S63owkkX
The real spotlight on this topic however should be how little the NFL has done to represent the defensive players in the league. There would only be three players from the defensive side who would attend this year's Rookie Premiere. In a draft class that was fairly deep in defensive talent, they were only able to bring three players to this event. The fifth pick in the entire draft, Devon Witherspoon for the Seattle Seahawks wasn't even invited.
Sydney Laput / The Daily Illini
University of Illinois defensive back, Devon Witherspoon (#31) on the field during the second half of the game against MSU on Nov. 5.
This is just one of many instances where the NFL has gone out and disrespected the defensive players in the league. Look at it like this, Alan Page and Lawrence Taylor are the only two players who have ever won an NFL MVP. Two players in the entire history of the NFL! Players like T.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, Deion Sanders, and many more great players never got an MVP.
Even during an interview with CBS, Ben Roethlisberger made a plea for Watt to get more than just a Defensive Player of the Year Award after his stellar 2021 season.
"T.J. is seriously one of the best players I've ever played against, and I've played against some really good defensive guys." Roethlisberger then stated, "He should be recognized more than just [Defensvie Player of the Year]. He should absolutely get MVP votes as well because that's the type of player that he is."
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) celebrates after making a big play at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
So, what do you think Steeler Nation? Does the NFL's disrespect for the defensive position correlate to having nobody at this year's Rookie Premiere? Let me know in the comments below!
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