Steelers 2020 Draft Class Is A Clear Example Of Sustained Failure At Roster Building

The Pittsburgh Steelers were at a crossroads after the 2019 season. The Steelers had lost an aging Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending elbow injury. Kevin Colbert resorted to trading the Steelers’ first-round draft pick for the first time since 1967. Somehow, Mike Tomlin cobbled together an 8-8 record with Mason Rudolph and Devlin “Duck” Hodges and nearly made the playoffs.

The Steelers knew Roethlisberger was going to attempt to return in 2020, and he did. The surgically reconstructed elbow of the future Hall of Fame quarterback produced a division title in 2020 and a Wild Card berth in 2021. Unfortunately, both resulted in first-round exits in the playoffs. Roethlisberger was roundly criticized as washed up during the last two seasons of his career, while Colbert largely escaped his horrible recent draft record.

The 2020 NFL Draft was a pivotal moment for the organization. An ever-thinning roster needed to be rejuvenated and the Colbert-era Steelers built through the draft. A fair assessment of any draft should take place when the first-round picks have reached eligibility for their options to be exercised. The 2020 draft class options have all been exercised, so let’s look back at how the Steelers' picks panned out.

Round 1

Colbert made a bold move by becoming the first Pittsburgh general manager since before the NFL-AFL merger to trade a first-round pick. The Steelers traded what would have been the 18th pick in the draft for Minkah Fitzpatrick. It was a massive win for the Steelers. He is arguably the best safety in the league and better than any defensive player in the 2020 draft class.

Justin Jefferson was available at pick 18, but Pittsburgh rarely spends first-round draft picks on wide receivers. Pittsburgh is built on defense, but it would have been very interesting to see what Jefferson and Roethlisberger would have looked like as a duo. Grade: A

Round 2

Chase Claypool was the 49th pick overall out of Notre Dame. Initially, this pick looked like a great find. Claypool scored 11 touchdowns as a rookie and was a big redzone threat for the Steelers. His rookie season was as good as it would get for Claypool, there is no disputing his raw potential. But that is all it was at this point.

Trevon Diggs was selected as the very next pick by the Dallas Cowboys, further enhancing Colbert’s reputation for evaluating cornerbacks incorrectly. Omar Khan corrected Colbert’s mistake and turned it into Joey Porter Jr., but the player himself was a bust. The trade is the only positive. Grade C- only because of Khan’s wheeling and dealing.

Round 3

Alex Highsmith was the 102nd pick in the third round out of Charlotte. Highsmith was the best selection in this draft by the Steelers and has established himself as a bona fide edge rusher in the NFL. He started slowly in years one and two which lowers his grade slightly. In year three, he proved he was a dramatic upgrade from Bud Dupree and the Steelers are working to extend his contract.

Colbert and Tomlin got this pick exactly right. Highsmith is the most productive edge rusher in the 2020 class, and no one selected after would have filled a bigger need. Grade: B only because his contract is unresolved.

Round 4 (2 Picks)

Anthony McFarland Jr. from the Maryland Terrapins was the 124th pick in the first of two fourth-round picks for the Steelers. McFarland has tantalizing speed and has a small chance to remain on the roster as the third back behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. The NFL believes you can find productive running backs in the middle rounds, but unfortunately, McFarland has not been one.

Gabriel Davis was selected by the Buffalo Bills just four picks later. The Steelers could have found a more consistent and productive wide receiver in the fourth round than Claypool was in the second. They also would have had Diggs as the foundational cornerback they have been looking for since Ike Taylor retired. Grade: D

Kevin Dotson was the 135th pick and the second selection in the fourth round by the Steelers. The Dotson pick is hard to grade. He has started 30 games in three years at guard. A fourth-round pick who becomes a consistent starter is normally a win for the organization, but it isn’t quite clear in Dotson’s case.

The organization has likely moved on from Dotson entering his fourth season. They signed Isaac Seumalo who Dotson will not beat out at left guard. He may remain on the roster for depth, but his disparaging comments in the media have likely earned him a one-way ticket out of Pittsburgh. Grade: D+

Round 6

Antoine Brooks Jr. was the 198th pick in the sixth round by the Steelers. He was the second Maryland player drafted in this draft. Brooks did manage to appear in 4 games during his rookie season for the Steelers, but was relegated back to the practice squad in early December. He was released by the Steelers in the final round of cuts just one year later. Grade: F

Round 7

Carlos Davis from the Nebraska Cornhuskers was the 232nd pick in the seventh round and the last selection in this draft by the Steelers. Davis did play in seven games during his rookie season. It briefly appeared that he could be a quality depth piece for the defense. Injuries cost Davis most of the 2021 season and he spent nearly all of 2022 on the practice squad. Davis was signed earlier this month by the Atlanta Falcons. Grade: C-

Steelers Fans Might Be Blaming Mike Tomlin For Kevin Colbert's Mistakes In The Draft

The Steelers’ drafts from 2017 to 2020 by Colbert are absolutely horrific. Out of 30 draft picks, by the end of this training camp, they will likely retain just 6 of the 30 draft picks during that period. One of those six is the recently returning Rudolph. The Steelers in the kindest measure of these drafts are hitting on just 20% of their picks.

Is it any wonder that Khan, Andy Weidl, and Tomlin have aggressively refurbished this roster? The pressure on Tomlin to deliver a playoff victory is immense. It is worth noting that the front office did not provide him with much help for at least half a decade.

Tomlin and the Killer B's produced precious few playoff victories and imploded spectacularly. The 2023 roster looks to be the best the Steelers have fielded in quite a while, and Tomlin is up for an extension after this season. Pittsburgh needs to get back to winning playoff games, the question is if that is still the standard.

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you shocked about how poorly the team drafted under Colbert? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.

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