Not impressed with Steelers’ draft
April 27, 2020

Not impressed with Steelers’ draft

By Mon Valley Independent

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

So after stewing over it for a couple days, I think I’m ready to give my thoughts on the Steelers’ draft.

I’ve looked at some game films and did a little research between my daughter flipping around our house, desperately in need of getting back to gymnastics classes.

Overall, I’m going to give the Steelers draft a low to mid-range C.

The Steelers added six players and were without a first-round pick due to the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal last year.

Overall, Pittsburgh won that trade considering Fitzpatrick’s contributions and what the Miami Dolphins got in return for those picks.

Starting in the second round with the 49th pick of the draft, the Steelers added Chase Claypool out of Notre Dame. He’s a big, physical receiver that can be a big target for Ben Roethlisberger in the red zone and a good down-field blocker. I think he was a bit of a reach in a very deep draft at receiver, but judging how well the Steelers develop wideouts, I can’t judge.

The team added OLB Alex Highsmith out of Charlotte in the third round (102nd overall) then added a pair of players in the fourth in Anthony McFarland Jr., a running back from Maryland, and Kevin Dotson, a guard from Louisiana-Lafayette in the fourth. Dotson could be the gem of this year’s class.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.

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