Steelers/NFL category, Page 261
Tim Benz: You know who the Steelers got in the NFL draft. Let’s talk about what they didn’t get
It’s time again for the column you hate to love: “What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft.” Well, I love this column. My readers seem to hate it. But you sure do fill up my inbox and Twitter mentions to tell me as much. So you must at least...
Steelers complete draft with 7th-round choices QB Chris Oladokun and LB Mark Robinson
The Pittsburgh Steelers completed their 2022 draft by taking two players who competed for three different college programs each. Linebacker Mark Robinson and quarterback Chris Oladokun were selected at Nos. 225 and 241 overall during the seventh and final round Saturday. Robinson played in 2021 at Ole Miss and Oladokun...
Steelers NFL Draft bio on brief: Chris Oladokun
Chris Oladokun Seventh-round, No. 241 Quarterback, South Dakota State 6-1, 213 Stats: Completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,164 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his lone season at South Dakota State. He also had two rushing touchdowns. … At Samford in 2019, he completed 62.1% of his passes...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Ole Miss LB Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson Seventh-round pick, No. 225 overall Linebacker, Ole Miss 5-foot-11, 235 pounds Stats: Had 92 tackles during his only season at Ole Miss, including 79 over the final nine regular-season games. Added 8 ½ tackles for loss and three sacks. Hometown: Lessburg, Ga. Tidbits: Ranked 11th in the SEC...
Steelers draft Cameron Heyward’s brother, Connor, a Michigan State tight end
Call the Pittsburgh Steelers the team of brotherly love. With their sixth-round pick, the Steelers made it four sets of brothers on their roster by taking Michigan State tight end Connor Heyward with the 208th overall pick. Heyward is the younger brother of Steelers All-Pro defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. At...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Connor Heyward
Connor Heyward Sixth-roundpick, No.208 overall Tight end/fullback, Michigan State 5-11, 233 Stats: Played in 49 games with the Spartans from 2017-21. He started 28 times, including 13 in 2021. His first 15 starts were at running back, the remaining ones at tight end following a position switch. … Finished career...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Calvin Austin III
Calvin Austin III Fourth-round pick, No. 138 overall Wide receiver, Memphis 5-foot-8, 170 pounds Stats: Aggregate 2020-21, Austin had 137 catches for 2,202 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns in 23 games. Adding in a rushing touchdown and two more on punt returns, he had 22 touchdowns over his final...
Steelers grab another WR, drafting Memphis’ Calvin Austin III in 4th round
The Pittsburgh Steelers showed they were serious about upgrading the wide receiver position in the NFL Draft, taking two pass catchers in a span of three picks. In the fourth round Saturday, the Steelers used the No. 138 overall selection to take speedy Memphis slot receiver Calvin Austin III. He...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: DeMarvin Leal
DeMarvin Leal Third-round pick, No. 84 overall Defensive linemen, Texas A&M 6-foot-4, 283 pounds Stats: As a junior this past season had 58 tackles, 12 1/2 for loss with 8 1/2 sacks, and two pass breakups in 12 starts. Was second on Texas A&M in QB hurries during both his...
Steelers address defense in 3rd round with lineman Leal from Texas A&M
After taking a quarterback and wide receiver with their first two draft picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned their attention to defense in the third round Friday night. DeMarvin Leal, a 6-foot-4, 283-pound defensive lineman from Texas A&M went to the Steelers with the No. 84 overall pick. The Steelers selected...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: George Pickens
George Pickens Second-round pick, No.52 overall Wide receiver, Georgia 6-3, 195 Stats: In 24 career games at Georgia, he caught 90 passes for 1,347 yards, averaging 15 yards per catch, with 14 touchdowns. After tearing his ACL in spring practice a year ago, he missed all but the final four...
Steelers take Georgia WR George Pickens with 2nd-round pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers have developed a pattern for building their wide receiver corps. They stuck to that script Friday. The Steelers chose Georgia’s George Pickens with their second-round pick, marking the fifth time over the past six drafts the Steelers took a wide receiver between the Nos. 49-66 selections. One...
Tim Benz: We’ve established Kenny Pickett’s ‘high floor,’ how high can his ceiling be?
When it comes to writing a sports column or hosting a sports talk show, there should be no easier topic to formulate a hot take about than the local NFL franchise drafting a first-round quarterback for the first time in 18 years. So, here’s mine as it relates to the...
Consensus among Steelers fans is Kenny Pickett is a good pick
On a sunny Friday afternoon on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, where folks were congregating not far from Heinz Field, it was just about impossible to find a Steelers fan whose disposition didn’t match the weather the day after the first round of the NFL draft. Among those from around the area...
No need for a tour guide as Steelers introduce ‘pretty special’ 1st-round pick Kenny Pickett
When Kenny Pickett arrived at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, he was ushered inside a part of the joint practice facility that was foreign to him. For the past five seasons, when he was a quarterback at Pitt, he would walk through the door on the right side of...
Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett doesn’t close the Steelers’ gap among AFC North quarterbacks
When Mike Tomlin got hired to coach the Steelers in 2007, he inherited Ben Roethlisberger. Until now, he’s never replaced his quarterback. You can tell. He doesn’t know how to do it. Kenny Pickett turns 24 on June 6. He started 49 games during his Blutarsky-esque tenure at Pitt. If...
First Call: Cameron Heyward already jabbing Steelers QB Kenny Pickett; Lamar Jackson unhappy with Ravens trade
Friday’s “First Call” features Cameron Heyward starting early with some online rookie mockery of new Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is unhappy with the trade of an offensive weapon. The Capitals keep losing which (theoretically) helps the Penguins. A Pittsburgh area hockey prospect is part of a...
Ben Roethlisberger recalls his draft day, suggests Steelers offensive line change, explains why a comeback won’t happen
On the morning of the NFL Draft, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined WDVE to reminisce about his own draft day back in 2004. You know, the last time the Steelers drafted a quarterback in the first round. Much like the 2022 edition, that year’s first round was marked with...
Tim Benz: Let’s not kid ourselves about what the drafting of Kenny Pickett means for Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
Congratulations to Mitch Trubisky. His career as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback has ended without any losses, sacks or interceptions. Or any actual starts. Let’s be honest. Kenny Pickett is going to be the new starting quarterback for the Steelers. He will be the successor to Ben Roethlisberger. He has...
Who will be on Steelers’ radar on 2nd day of draft? A look at top WR and D-line candidates
After getting their quarterback of the future, the Pittsburgh Steelers will seek players that perhaps can be immediate impact players on the second day of the NFL Draft. General manager Kevin Colbert said that in the team’s business model, the top three draft picks need to develop into starters. With...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett First-round pick, No. 20 overall Quarterback, Pitt 6-foot-3, 217 pounds Stats: Broke Pitt’s career passing records for yardage (12,303), completions (1,045), passing touchdowns (81), overall touchdowns (102) and QB wins (32). Last season alone, Pickett completed 67% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions....
Steelers take Pitt quarterback Pickett in 1st round of NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers had their pick of the quarterback litter when it was their turn in the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Or should it be, their Pickett of the litter? The first quarterback off the board was Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, who went to the Steelers with the No. 20...
First Call: Steelers assistant coach tips hand about interest in QB; potential Baltimore trade may impact Steelers
Thursday’s “First Call” advances some late draft rumblings from Steelers headquarters. A potential Ravens trade may influence the Steelers’ draft options. And we are keeping an eye on a possible first-round playoff opponent for the Penguins. Second-hand endorsement This will make Poison singer Bret Michaels happy. According to NFL Network...
NFL Draft Guide 2022: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers select a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time in 18 years tonight? Ben Roethlisberger, a future Hall of Famer, retired after the 2021 season, fueling speculation the Steelers might draft a signal-caller on the first day for the first...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans’ pre-draft complaints; Pens fans’ pre-playoff concerns; Pitt fans have Kenny Pickett angst
It’s a “Draft Day” edition of “U mad, bro?” So, of course, Steelers fans are a little riled up. Pitt fans are, too, since Kenny Pickett is in play for the hometown NFL team. And Penguins fans are starting to think about the draft as well — before the playoffs...
