Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers' draft focus should be on scoring, quarterback, not defense

The NFL Draft takes place April 24-26. Since we’re going to debate ad nauseam whom the Pittsburgh Steelers should pick from now till then, here’s two early suggestions.

• Don’t take a defensive player in the first round.

Sure, the Steelers badly need help on the defensive line.

But the Steelers had the highest-paid defense in the NFL last season, forking out $137.2 million on that side of the ball.

But that defense still wasn’t elite. (Twelfth in yardage, eighth in scoring.)

Defense is always important. But in today’s NFL, what’s paramount is scoring more points faster. Forcing rock fights is getting the Steelers nowhere.

Draft a wideout in the first round.

• Select a quarterback in the second or third round.

Do that every year till you get your long-term answer.

Maybe, at some point, the Steelers pick high enough in the first round of a draft flush with quarterbacks to get a sure thing. (Or semblance thereof. Not Kenny Pickett.)

But until then, throw excrement at the wall and see what sticks.

Because that problem isn’t going away and can’t be patchworked.

If a few picks are wasted on quarterbacks who don’t turn out, that’s OK. Until you get a legit QB, the Steelers’ other shortcomings don’t matter. Nor do their strengths.

The Steelers are nowhere close to a Super Bowl. Or to winning a playoff game. Not in a conference overrun by star quarterbacks.