Pair of Steelers projected to land on 2022 Offensive All-Rookie Team

Pittsburgh loaded up on offense early in the NFL Draft. Here’s why NFL.com thinks that two Steelers will make the Offensive All-Rookie Team in 2022.

It’s that time of year when NFL media outlets are starting to make their predictions for the upcoming 2022 season. As usual, most are once again projecting T.J. Watt to be a top-3 Defensive Player of the Year candidate again this year. But what about potential future honors for members of the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie draft class?

Recently, NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter projected the 2022 Offensive All-Rookie Team ahead of training camp. Reuter believes that two members of Pittsburgh’s rookie class will do well enough this year to make the cut.

The first (unsurprisingly) is Kenny Pickett. Pickett is an easy choice to land on the All-Rookie team, as he was the only quarterback selected inside the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Because of this, most assume that Pickett is going to get the best shot to start early in his career.

While he does have to do enough to beat out Mitch Trubisky for the job at some point, it’s much more reasonable to assume that he will do so as opposed to a third-round pick who is less NFL-ready like Panthers Matt Corral or Titans Malik Willis.

Of the rest of the field, perhaps Falcons QB Desmond Ridder will have a chance to supplant Marcus Mariota at some point, but because Pickett was the 20th overall selection by the Steelers, he clearly stands the best shot of seeing the field early and earning All-Rookie Team honors.

Steelers WR could join Pickett on All-Rookie Team

The second Steelers player Reuter projected to land on this list surprised me a bit: second-round rookie receiver, George Pickens. This isn’t because I think that Pickens isn’t a great prospect coming into the NFL Draft or that he’s not necessarily NFL-ready, but because there were so many talented receivers entering the league this year.

Joining Pickens on this projected list of First-Team All-Rookie players is Chiefs WR Christian Watson. Reuter believes these two second-round picks have a better shot at cracking the list by the end of the season than all six wide receivers drafted inside the top-20 picks this year.

These receivers include Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, Jahan Dotson, and Treylon Burks. In all, there were ten receivers drafted ahead of Pickens, so it’s remarkable that Reuter believes he will make this list.

Pickens did land on a great franchise with a history of developing day-two receivers. However, targets may be difficult to come by early. The Steelers still have Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool who are sure to carve out much of the market share this year, while Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris could see increased usage in the passing game as well.

In a draft class loaded with wide receiver talent near the top, Pickens is going to have to play early and play well in order to become one of two receivers who ultimately lands on the Offensive All-Rookie Team.

If the Steelers can finish the season with two representatives on this list, it either means that Pickett and Pickens performed well or that they were given the opportunity because players like Mitch Trubisky and Chase Claypool were demoted. Either way, these two rookies stand to have a big role in the future of the team.