There’s likely a reason he lasted that long, a reason that won’t be revealed to us until he gets to training camp and has to start practicing football in pads. Pittsburgh selected a potential diamond in the rough in round seven. The Steelers selected a potential backup outside linebacker in the fourth round, a player who should quickly double as a special teams demon-if a linebacker with a “high motor” can’t excel on special teams, shame on him for six weeks. Pittsburgh picked a stud offensive lineman in the first round, a stud cornerback in the second round, a defensive lineman later in the second round and the Mount Washington of tight ends in the third round. The Steelers selected seven players in the just-completed 2023 NFL Draft, and it’s hard to find a shiny new toy anywhere in the box. You can argue that the Steelers certainly needed to upgrade themselves at the receiver, running back, tight end AND CERTAINLY the quarterback spot in recent years, but the cry for help in other areas, but especially in the trenches, was quite audible. Where was the real commitment to the foundation of any team, the trenches? What about cornerback or outside linebacker? They’ve been lacking a true stud at the former position for quite a while, and they’ve seemingly needed depth at the latter position for years. The Steelers were even accused of the new toy syndrome in 2022 when they selected quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round, receiver George Pickens in the second round and receiver Calvin Austin in the fourth round. You can also throw in the selection of punter Pressley Harvin III because the drafting of a punter or kicker never has a good ending if he doesn’t turn into an elite player. Pittsburgh was definitely criticized for its shiny new toy fetish after selecting running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth in the first and second rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Steelers were accused of that in some circles when they selected receiver Chase Claypool in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That’s what the Steelers have been accused of drafting the past few years.

A Shiny New Toy by M.J. O'Shea