Steelers' Calvin Austin III On A Mission To Make AFC North Rival Baltimore Ravens Rue An Interesting 2022 Draft Decision: "It's Personal"

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are excited to watch a number of new faces play for the black and gold in 2023. There is no doubting that guys like Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. are on that list. Patrick Peterson, among other new faces that came into town via free agency and the NFL Draft are also giving the team's roster a new look. One player who has been in the locker room for a year, but has yet to put on the pads for a professional game is wide receiver and speedster, Calvin Austin III. He appears to be almost 100% healthy after a foot injury cost him his entire rookie season.

The pass catcher out of the University of Memphis ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. The blazing speed wasn't enough to make him a priority for teams as he fell all the way into the fourth round and that's when the Steelers jumped on him despite having taken George Pickens just two rounds prior. The combination of the two could turn into a lethal duo for quarterback, Kenny Pickett.

Fast forward to the 2023 NFL Draft and division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, selected Boston College wide receiver, Zay Flowers with the 23rd overall pick. Flowers is smaller in stature at roughly 5'10" and 172 pounds. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at his respective combine. Flowers and Austin are very similar in size, but they make up for it with elite speed.

It came to light in 2022 after the draft that Baltimore wanted Austin with the 139th overall pick, but the Steelers had #138 and Mike Tomlin and co. ended up stealing him away. The Ravens clearly didn't think highly enough of Austin given the fact that they also had the 130th overall selection, but went on to draft punter, Jordan Stout instead.

Heading into the 2023 season, the Ravens' decision to take Stout can't be criticized. He had a solid rookie season that included 26 punts inside the 20-yard line. For Pittsburgh, Austin didn't make an impact and watched every game in street clothes. That doesn't mean that the second-year wide receiver won't prove Baltimore's front office wrong, though.

In a recent conversation with Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Austin discussed the AFC North rival's decision to pass on him with the 130th overall pick in the hopes that he would be there at #139. 

"Man, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been thinking about that,” Austin said to Batko. "It’s wild. It’s one of those things where you know, obviously, I’m blessed and I’m just so 100% glad that I came here. I’d be lying if I said that hasn’t been on my mind since the draft, since that came out."

Austin is referring to the news broke that the Ravens wanted to take him, but prioritized a punter and crossed their fingers that he would be around when they had their next pick.

Steelers' Potential Slot Receiver Austin On A Mission To Make Ravens Regret Decision

It was more than just a business decision for Austin. He admitted to Batko that being passed on for a punter in this situation back in 2022 is something he still thinks about as he prepares to play in his first true NFL season.

“It’s personal,” Austin admitted. “But that will all be settled out, Lord willing. This year and the times we see them. I just have it circled. Crazy. A punter, huh?”

It doesn't seem like Austin needs anything more to get him motivated for matchups against the Ravens. If the Steelers' speedster ends up outperforming expectations in 2023 and beyond, the Ravens will be kicking themselves for years to come. That would be an incredibly beautiful thing for Steelers' fans to watch transpire over the years.

Do you think Austin has the talent and potential to make Baltimore's front office rue the decision to take a punter instead of him? Let us know in the comments below!

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