Madden Monday: Steelers' solid draft won't yield a spike in win total

According to Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE, the Pittsburgh Steelers checked some important boxes when it comes to the NFL Draft.

Specifically, adding a lot of talent up front on offense by drafting Washington tackle Troy Fautanu and West Virginia center Zach Frazier.

“I think they did a good job,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “They got two offensive linemen who should come right in and start — unless they stick to their dumb tradition of having to blend rookies in slowly like they did last year with Broderick Jones. But Frazier and Fautanu should start right away. If they do that, they have a good offensive line. If they do that, they can run the ball.”

That said, Madden isn’t expecting a dramatic boost in the Steelers’ win total from the 10 they posted in 2023.

“Despite the gains I think they made in the draft, I don’t think they’re a team that’s going to win any more games,” Madden said. “I think you need a better quarterback to do that. I think you need a better receiving corps to do that.

“I think what they are now is (they are) equipped to play football like they prefer to, and (how) you could win in the ’70s. Pound the ball on the ground and play good defense. I think they’ll beat bad teams — usually — playing that way. But you’re gonna beat Joe Burrow? You’re gonna beat Josh Allen? You’re gonna win a playoff game? I don’t think so.”

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When it comes to that topic of the receivers, the Steelers did try to add to that room by drafting Michigan’s Roman Wilson in the third round. But as Madden said, that’s not going to be enough.

“At best, he is a No. 3 receiver. They still lack a No. 2,” Madden said. “They should pursue (Denver receiver) Courtland Sutton.”

In terms of which side of the line Fautanu should play (if he is allowed to start over Dan Moore Jr.), Madden says there is room for debate because the Steelers also have to decide what to do with Broderick Jones. He was last year’s No. 1 pick and ended up playing on the right side while Moore occupied the left, even though Jones’ natural position is on the left side.

As for Fautanu, he was also a left tackle at Washington.

“It would probably be more continuity to leave Jones at right and Fautanu at left. But I think that Jones is considered the better of the two, even though both are first-round picks,” Madden said. “So my tendency would be to put Fautanu at right and Jones on the left. Then again, there’s some who say Fauntanu is a bit too small to play tackle and would be more likely to play guard. But I don’t think that’s going to happen in his first year. I think that would be a fallback if he doesn’t play satisfactorily at tackle.”

Also in the podcast, Madden and I discuss Cameron Heyward’s contract situation, the ripple effect of drafting Mason McCormick, the NHL playoffs and the Pirates’ fade below .500.