Steelers: Re-grading every draft pick of the last 5 years

Let’s take a look back at the recent draft history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, re-grading every pick from the last five classes

The recent NFL draft history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is interesting. It includes a lot of big swings and some glaring misses. They have also been able to land players like Alex Highsmith and Diontae Johnson in the middle of the draft.

Without further ado, let’s break down every Steelers’ draft pick over the last five years.

Grading the Steelers 2018 NFL Draft

Grading Steelers 2018 first-round pick: S Terrell Edmunds – C+

Edmunds has been a solid contributor for the Steelers. He has started 73 games over the past five years. His best season came in 2019, when he racked up 105 combined tackles. So, why does this pick get a C+? Honestly, Edmunds is a not bad football player, but it is simply hard to justify taking him 28th overall. Especially, considering Lamar Jackson, Nick Chubb, and Shaquille Leonard were all selected within the next ten picks.

Grading Steelers 2018 second-round pick: WR James Washington – D

Washington never developed into the wide receiver that the Steelers envisioned him being, when they selected him in the second round. As a rookie, he had the fourth-worst catch percentage in the NFL (42.1%). Washington did improve as time went on. He peaked with 735 receiving yards in 2019, but he also had a below-average catch percentage of 55.0% and passer rating when targeted of 72.7. Washington is no longer with the franchise. To make matters worse, DJ Chark and Michael Gallup were the next wide receivers to come off the board. Both players have posted 1,000-yard seasons.

Grading Steelers 2018 third-round pick: QB Mason Rudolph – D+

Rudolph has started 10 games for the franchise, but he has also been unable to hang out onto the starting job for a team that was desperately searching for a quarterback. The Steelers would have been wiser to target the best player available here. Gallup, Mark Andrews, and Orlando Brown Jr. came off the board shortly after.

Grading Steelers 2018 third-round pick: OT Chukwuma Okorafor – B-

With their second third-round pick, the Steelers took a swing at offensive tackle. Okorafor has been a key player for the Steelers starting 50 total games. In 2021, he allowed two sacks in 1,078 offensive snaps. Penalties have been a recurring problem for him, but he still played well enough to receive a three-year contract extension.

Grading Steelers 2018 fifth-round pick: S Marcus Allen – B

Expectations are lower for a fifth-round pick. With that in mind, Allen was a good pick. He has appeared in 48 games and recorded 57 combined tackles. He has emerged as an important special teams player. Allen has logged 746 special teams snaps for the franchise.

Grading Steelers 2018 fifth-round pick: RB Jaylen Samuels – C

Samuels did play a significant role for the Steelers early on. In three seasons with the Steelers, he rushed for 459 yards and a touchdown. He also averaged an underwhelming 3.5 yards per carry. The Steelers waived him in 2021.

Grading Steelers 2018 seventh-round pick: DT Joshua Frazier – F

This is not an indictment on Frazier. This is because the Steelers waived him before he played a single snap. Subsequently, they got zero production out of this pick.

The 27-year-old was recently drafted by the Orlando Guardians in the XFL. He could have another NFL opportunity in the future.