The Pittsburgh Steelers made a last-second selection in the first round on Friday night when they drafted Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall. It was somewhat stunning because it was later revealed that the Steelers were going to draft star USC wide receiver Makai Lemon before the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in ahead of them to select him.
While Iheanachor was perhaps not the Steelers’ first choice, it certainly wasn’t a bad pick given their need at tackle. Now, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly believes this pick will look even better if the organization drafts a wide receiver with their next pick.
Plenty of WRs Still Available for The Pittsburgh Steelers
GettyWashington WR Denzel Boston earned All-Big Ten honors last season.
Here is what Kaboly had to say via social media on Friday about how the Iheanachor pick could look if the team were to draft a receiver on the second day of the draft:
“If the Steelers end up addressing the receiver position in the second round with one of the many talented receivers left on the board, then taking Iheanachor in the first round might have been the right decision, even if it wasn’t their first choice.”
If the Steelers were interested in drafting a wide receiver in the first round but missed out on the chance, odds are that they will be interested in addressing the position with one of their next few picks. Their next selection is slated to be at pick No. 53 overall.
Furthermore, as Kaboly noted, there are still plenty of pass-catchers left on the draft board. Washington’s Denzel Boston, Georgia State’s Ted Hurst, UConn’s Skylar Bell, Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, and Georgia’s Zachariah Branch are all still available as the start of the second round is fast approaching.
The Steelers Need a No. 3 WR
GettySteelers WR Roman Wilson has just 12 catches combined over his first two NFL seasons.
There is a major reason why the Steelers could be looking to draft a wide receiver with one of their early-round picks. They need depth at the position.
Last season, two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf was the only actual receiver to eclipse 500 yards. The team needs to find more production at the position. It is that simple. That is why they made the move to trade for two-time 1,000-yard wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. during the free agency period. But after Metcalf and Pittman, which could be one of the league’s best duos at the position next season, there isn’t much else.
Third-year pass-catcher Roman Wilson doesn’t even have 200 yards receiving in his career. Furthermore, veteran pass-catchers that were under contract last season, such as Calvin Austin III, Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Scotty Miller, are all either on new teams, retired, or still on the free-agent market. New head coach Mike McCarthy is used to having a deep wide receiver core as an offensive mind. This is where the team’s possible second-round selection of a wide receiver comes into play.
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