Top to bottom, rookie class showed signs it could be cornerstone of bright future for Steelers

Six-year NFL veteran Chris Wormley’s smile revealed it was more a good-natured, ribbing generality than it was a commentary on the character of players who are in their first season in the league.

“Rookies,” Wormley said, “are knuckleheads.”

These knuckleheads, though — the ones who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past year — they’re not necessarily your normal knuckleheads. The Steelers rookie class contributed more than is typically expected, at least by the end of the season. And the collective of the seven-player group of youngsters, perhaps as much as anything, provides hope the Steelers’ return to Super Bowl contention might not be that far off.

“A lot of (rookies) had an opportunity to have roles and increasingly significant roles, and I’m thankful for their contributions,” coach Mike Tomlin said during his season wrap-up news conference earlier this month.

“We’ve got some quality play from some young guys, which is exciting, but boy, there’s a lot of meat on the bone (for continued improvement), and we’re excited about being a part of their process, too.”

Truth be told, how history views the Steelers’ 2022 draft was and is going to be entirely viewed through the lens of the first-round pick. Will Kenny Pickett, taken No. 20 overall, develop into the franchise quarterback the franchise so sought to be the successor to the retired Ben Roethlisberger?

If Pickett proves to be, like Roethlisberger, a perennial Pro Bowl performer who wins multiple Super Bowls, no one will care what happens with the rest of the Steelers’ current rookie class. Similarly, the crop could prove to provide a bevy of starting-caliber players — but if the first-round QB busts, it might not much matter.

That said, putting a promising first season from Pickett aside, early returns suggest the Steelers have a handful of significant contributors among their 2022 rookies:

• Second-rounder George Pickens flashed talent and playmaking that translate into a potential superstar receiver

• Running back Jaylen Warren was undrafted, but he became a regular part of the offense as a third-down back who was productive in spelling Steelers’ reigning rookie of the year Najee Harris

• Tight end Connor Heyward’s role in the offense gradually grew as the season went on to the point the sixth-round pick was third on the team in touches in the season-finale victory against Cleveland

• Third-round pick DeMarvin Leal showed versatility (he played defensive line and on the edge) and flashed production despite a stint on injured reserve in the middle of the season

• Seventh-rounder Mark Robinson was known to be raw and played defense in only three games, but for the final two of the season, he scaled the depth chart to start at inside linebacker

And none of this even counts the Steelers’ fourth-round pick, speedy receiver Calvin Austin III, who missed the season because of a foot injury suffered during training camp.

“Probably the hardest part, and the best part (of being on IR), was to see those (fellow rookies) out there balling,” Austin said. “Seeing Connor, ‘GP’ (Pickens), DeMarvin, Kenny, obviously, Mark … seeing everybody out there balling just made me happy to see.”

Projecting ahead to next season, Pickett will enter the season as the starter at the sport’s most important position. Pickens — the Steelers’ leader in receiving touchdowns with four — will try to develop further chemistry with Pickett.

Austin was showing signs during camp he can be a big-play spark plug for the offense, and Warren figures to contribute increasingly. Heyward displayed softer-than-expected hands and playmaking ability (two receptions of 27-plus yards).

Defensively, Leal was the highest-drafted defensive lineman by the Steelers since Stephon Tuitt — and Leal showed flashes he might be able to replace the recently retired Tuitt. Robinson almost certainly will go into training camp with a chance to win a starting spot as a second-year seventh-round pick.

“It’s really exciting,” Pickett said. “You have those conversations, it’s almost like when you’re a freshman in college, and you get to a new place, and you talk about how good you think you can be. I think we had those conversations when we were here. We got here early, and we think we can be something.

“That all sounds good. We’ve got to put it together. But I think if we continue to work together, the future’s bright for us. I’m excited for what it holds. But I think a lot of guys really (contributed) in a big way this season. We’re going to continue to do that … and see what happens.”

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