By Tim Clark / April 21, 2024 / Column, Tim's Two Cents
Tim

Two nights from now NFL teams will use the information they culled via scouting reports, game films, pro day workouts, interviews, and Combine data points ranging from 40 meter dash times to psych evals to select the next members of their football team.

Some of those picks will help teams improve their results, maybe even significant improvement.

Some of those selections will fail and get the GM fired.

It is far from an exact science, but it is still the best way for NFL teams to improve their roster on a consistent basis. Free agency is great, but it is more of adding the missing pieces rather than building a roster.

The most important position on the football field is the quarterback, and we could see a run on quarterbacks in the first round like we haven’t seen since 1983. Caleb Williams is going to Chicago. That much we know. Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Bo Nix, and Michael Pennix all could join Williams as first round selections.

If quarterback is the most important position, those that protect the quarterback are right behind. Offensive linemen are usually taken in bulk in the first round. This year should be no different. 

The other position that could dominate the early rounds of this year’s draft is wide receiver. The name of the game these days is passing, so a team can almost never have enough wide receivers. If you include sure first round pick Brock Bowers, a tight end, as many as 8 pass catchers could be selected in the first round.

Aside from Caleb Williams, the most likely sure thing is offensive tackle Joe Alt being drafted by the Tennessee Titans. Literally every mock draft I have looked at has Alt to the Titans at pick seven.

So what about the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Steelers go into their second draft under GM Omar Khan, with help from assistant GM Andy Weidl. Their first draft has to be considered a major success. First round pick Broderick Jones proved to be a very good offensive lineman. Plus, he played on the opposite side of the line from where he is most comfortable. Second round pick, Joey Porter, proved to be an exceptional cornerback. Keanu Benton, Nick Herbig, and Darnell Washington all played important roles for the Steelers as rookies.

Can Khan go two for two in the NFL Draft?

The Steelers were a playoff team a year ago, but just barely. This offseason Pittsburgh went all in at quarterback, while saving money. Russell Wilson was acquired for next to nothing and then Justin Fields was acquired from the Bears for the low, low price of a sixth round draft choice. The best move the Steelers made was admitting a huge mistake, and jettisoning cry baby quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Eagles.

The new quarterbacks probably have two requests of Khan in this draft. Wilson and Fields would probably like having another young target or two for passes to be thrown. They also would most likely enjoy staying upright, which means another offensive lineman —center or tackle or both— would be on their wish list.

The defense isn’t perfect, and could use another cornerback, safety, and defensive interior lineman.

Obviously a team can only fill so many holes in the draft. So, what should the Steelers do? Who should they pursue in this year’s draft?

Good news for you. I am here to give you my Two Cents. What? You want to listen to some hack like Mel Kiper?

Look, this is a difficult task for even guys like Kiper that make a very healthy living studying NFL drafts. Some team is going to make a shocking pick. It happens every year. More than likely, at least one team will try to trade up to better their chances of getting their targeted player. Some teams may trade down to get extra picks later in the draft.

It is one giant crapshoot, but it is still fun to try to predict what will happen.

Okay Steelers fans. Here we go.

First round(pick 20)

Wide receiver. Offensive lineman. Wide receiver. Offensive lineman.

Corner?

Nah, it has got to be a wide receiver or an offensive lineman. These are the clear cut two biggest needs. You don’t bring in Russell Wilson to not give him the best opportunity for success. So the names that are most likely on the Steelers radar will be on this list:

  • OL: JC Latham, Amarius Mims, Talise Fuaga, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Graham Barton, Troy Fautanu
  • WR: Brian Thomas, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy
  • Others: Jared Verse, Byron Murphy, Nate Wiggins, Kool-aid McKinstry

I am a firm believer in building a team from the inside out. To that point, I think the first round pick should be a center or offensive tackle. The Steelers have no center on the roster, and Dan Moore can not remain a starter. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Steelers select a receiver, considering the need at that position.

Two things lead me away from receiver in the first round. First, the Steelers have a legitimately great history at finding receivers later in the draft. Secondly, if LSU receiver Brian Thomas is off the board, I wouldn’t use the 20th pick on any of the other receivers. It is a deep position in this draft, and I would rather see them wait if Thomas is off the board.

Could the Steelers do something wacky? Sure. I think Khan has proven in his two years as GM that nothing is out of the question. With that in mind, could a draft day trade with San Francisco for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk be out of the question? Absolutely not. There has been a lot of smoke but no fire surrounding the Aiyuk rumors. The Steelers have some cash to use on their roster. I would say I don’t think it is going to happen, but I wouldn’t blink an eye if it did.

My choice: Amarius Mims

Going back to Georgia for another road grader of an offensive lineman seems like a great idea. Mims would allow Broderick Jones to move back to the left side where is he is more comfortable. I think Barton is in play here, as he is regarded by most as the best center in the draft. If Brian Thomas is still on the board he is definitely in play. Ultimately, the Steelers want to run the ball with Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and the newly acquired Cordarrelle Patterson, so Mims is the choice.

Round 2(pick 51)

I think the same positions are in play here as we’re in round one. Maybe if a specific defensive player was still lingering around it could change the game plan.

Here is a round two list of potential options:

  •  WR: Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, Jermaine Burton
  • OL: Zach Frazier, Roger Rosengarten
  • Others: Kamari Lassiter(CB), Max Melton(CB), Braden Fiske(DL)

I am not sure the receiver you get in the second round is significantly better than any you get in the third round. With that thought in mind, I think there is an obvious choice here if that player is still available. Some experts like Mel Kiper think Zach Frazier, out of West Virginia, is the best center in the draft. That would really solidify the offensive line.

Another cornerback is needed, and there will be some drop off if you wait. The Steelers also reportedly love Fiske, who could be Cam Heyward’s eventual replacement. This will be an interesting choice.

My choice: Zach Frazier

After ignoring the offensive line during the latter years of the Kevin Colbert era, Omar Khan seems intent on fixing that problem. Or maybe it is my hope that is his intent. Either way, I think Frazier, if available, would be a rather obvious pick here.

Round 3(picks 84 and 98)

Well, if my scenario comes to fruition offensive line will be off the table. At this point, one of these picks must be a wide receiver. Both picks here could actually be a receiver, but most likely some defensive help will be secured in this round.

Some of the names that could pop up here:

  • WR: Jalen McMillen, Roman Wilson, Brendan Rice, Luke McCaffrey, Bub Means, Jamari Thrash, Johnny Wilson
  • Others: Mike Sainristil(CB), Khyree Jackson(CB), Trevin Wallace(LB), Jeremiah Trotter(LB), Calen Bullock(S), Tykee Smith(S)

With two picks in this round, a round where the Steelers have done well, finding some useful players will be important. One of these picks is certainly going to be a wide receiver. Then I think it becomes the best player available. Will the Steelers target a slot receiver, or do they think Calvin Austin has done enough to hold that spot?

My choices: Roman Wilson and Trevin Wallace

I am not sure Wilson is still available here, so fingers crossed on that one. Otherwise, I would prefer Brendan Rice or Johnny Wilson. If it is a slot receiver the Steelers want, then maybe McMillan or Thrash are the better choices.

Wallace would give the Steelers a freak athlete in the middle of the field. Despite signing Patrick Queen and the expected return of Cole Holcomb from injury, the Steelers could still use some depth at the middle linebacker position.

I really wanted to pick a corner here, but most seemed like a reach. Khyree Jackson would be my preference, as he is a mini version of Joey Porter. Bullock is an athletic safety that might look good opposite of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

That is as far as I am going. Rounds 4 through 7 are even a bigger crapshoot. One player I would love to see the Steelers draft is wide receiver Tahj Washington. He would be the perfect slot receiver who plays hard every play. He quickly became Caleb Williams favorite target last year. Washington is most likely still on the board in round four. 

After Caleb Williams is drafted first, the fun could potentially begin. Runs on quarterbacks and wide receivers are a real possibility. Trades are bound to occur. 

The Steelers have plenty of needs. Omar Khan has given Steelers fans a real positive vibe. He has been bold so far, and is one for one in having good drafts. Bold would be Brandon Aiyuk in a trade. Having a second solid draft will look more like what I have suggested.

A GM’s job security can boil down to how your draft choices pan out.

Picking winners isn’t as easy as it looks.

Omar Khan made it look easy a year ago.

For a guy who writes a weekly column, this is just a fun time to pretend like I know more than an NFL GM. In some cases I think I just might.

Two Cent Takes

NFL

~As to the point of the draft being a crapshoot, the Jets have traded former third pick in the draft Zach Wilson to Denver. Wilson was the quarterback that would make Jets fans forget about the flop Sam Darnold. Instead, Wilson flopped, too, forcing the Jets to go out and sign Aaron Rodgers.

~This trade adds some more mystery to the draft. Will Denver still be interested in choosing a quarterback, or will the Broncos be satisfied with Sean Payton trying to, turn Zach Wilson’s career around.

~If I am the Jets I want nothing to do with the circus that is Aaron Rodgers. His latest diatribes always seem to somehow outdo his last one. 

 

 

NBA

~Has there ever been a team more dependent on one player than the Philadelphia 76ers? Without Joel Embiid, the Sixers are barely a playoff team. With him they were 31-8 and a challenger in the Eastern Conference. Embiid is nowhere near 100%, but is trying to will his team to the next round. The Sixers lost game one because they couldn’t grab a rebound to save their lives.

~In game two, the Sixers essentially had the game won. Then this series of events happened.

 


The Sixers are filing a grievance about the officiating in the first two games, which left Joel Embiid near tears in the locker room. Typical. Tyrese Maxey was fouled, probably twice and Nick Nurse looked like he was calling timeout. Still, this is an all time choke job. Embiid didn’t have one rebound in the second half. And I have never seen two superstars fall to the floor more than Maxey and Embiid. This looks like another typical Sixers playoff performance.

~Meanwhile, the Lakers blew a 20 point halftime lead to lose game two to the Nuggets on a Jamal Murray buzzer beater. 

NHL

~When you are really the only game in town, this what it looks like. Also, Canadiens are hockey fanatics. Also, NHL playoffs. Winnipeg puts a 7 spot on Colorado in game one. Fantastic stuff.

~Here is a rare example of replay being used correctly to obtain affirmation of a really close call.

 

 

 

 

Golf

~Scottie Scheffler is insane. A lot of great players had great weeks at Hilton Head, yet nobody got close to Scheffler. Someone better call Carl Spackler and have him cut the hamstring on the back of his leg so he can come through the ball. How much better than the rest of the golf world is Scheffler?

 

 

MLB

~The Pirates are suddenly unwatchable. Full column coming next week. Also a rant or two on this topic on my Musings podcast here at the site.

~Jared Jones continues to gem the lone bright spot for Pittsburgh. 7 more K’s in 6 innings. The stunning part there is he was allowed to pitch 6 innings.

~This may be the worst ejection ever, and did set a record for earliest ejection. Aaron Boone was ejected five pitches in to the game for —wait for it— something a fan yelled. To begin this fiasco, the first base umpire made a 50/50 call against the Yankees. This got Boone going. Then the home plate umpire, veteran Hunter Wendelstedt, got involved when Boone gave it to him. The rest is baseball comedy gold, and an embarrassment for baseball. But what else is new?

 


~The Phillies followed up the Rockies with the White Sox, and suddenly the Phillies have won 7 in a row. The starting pitching is lights out right now. Aaron Nola has the worst ERA at 3.16. Impressive.

~Speaking of the White Sox, they are 3-18 and are getting destroyed in most games. This has the potential to be an all time bad season. ‘62 Mets anyone? Weird for a team in a big market.

The Weekly Shiny Penny

This may be the best answer from an athlete when asked the standard “what went wrong” type of question. From Rays closer Pete Fairbanks:

 

 

A Penny For My Final Thought…

All but 11 power four —boy, that sounds weird— teams have completed their spring practices and games.

I remember a time when the spring game was a big deal, and teams actually played an honest to goodness game. It was fan friendly, plus you could actually take something away from the performance.

Today teams don’t tackle, use silly scoring systems, and generally turn it into a dog and pony show.

To add to the mystery of your favorite team, most are currently adding and losing players via the spring portal. Consequently, whoever you saw in the spring game may or may not be there in September.

All of this is not to say nothing has been learned from the spring practices and games.

Penn State fans learned they should continue to worry about the quarterback and the lack of receivers to which to throw the football.

Ohio State may very well lean on their running game, and a loaded backfield will make that an easier proposition.

Michigan still doesn’t have a starting quarterback, which could lead the Wolverines to be even more conservative on offense.

Notre Dame looks like they will be much more athletic than in previous years.

Georgia takes the spring game far more seriously than most, and they look to be loaded again heading in to 2024.

Alabama may have a new vibe under Nick Saban’s predecessor Kalen DeBoer.

Speaking of new vibes, USC should look way different on defense. The talent is there, but more importantly the new coaches have simplified things. USC’s spring game was on the Pac-12 Network, and by the next day the Big Ten Network was interviewing Lincoln Riley. So that is something new.

For college football fans, now is a down time. Well, other than hoping your favorite team can score a gem or two in the spring portal. Four weeks from tomorrow, the ball will be kicked off for the 2024 season. Spring practices still allow coaches to lay the groundwork for what is expected come late August.

College football has become a year round, lots of moving parts type of sport. Spring practices gives coaches and players a chance to build culture and work on skills as a team. It will have to hold fans over until it is time to get started with the 2024 season.

Maybe the nicest thing about spring football is that all fans think their team is going to either be better or be a true contender in late April. Four months from now reality will start to set in form many fans.

Until August 24, college football fans, enjoy the optimism, hope for some portal magic, and brace yourself for a whole new world in college football 2024. I mean, who isn’t excited about SMU joining the ACC?

Spring football ain’t what it used to be but the calendar is, and it still says we only have to wait four more months to wait on college football season.

Just my two cents…