PITTSBURGH — When the Steelers were seemingly hopeless and helpless at 2-6 heading into their bye week, Mike Tomlin was criticized for everything. There's a shock, right? Tomlin was roasted for his choice of offensive coordinator. His choice of offensive line coach. The team's play calling. The disappointing play of his defense, highest-paid in the NFL and one he had promised would be "dominant." His failure to build a quality team with Kevin Colbert through the draft and free agency.
All of the heat seemed legitimate at the time.
Not so much now.
Especially that team-building thing.
Have you looked at the Steelers' past two drafts? They are looking better and better every day. So are the offseason signings of veteran free agent offensive linemen James Daniels and Mason Cole and running back Jaylen Warren, an undrafted rookie. So is the Chase Claypool in-season trade. That deal might be their best move of all.
Start at the top of the 2022 draft with Kenny Pickett and George Pickens. I wanted to see more from Pickett before anointing him the Steelers' next franchise quarterback, but he showed it to me in the past two games, leading last-minute touchdown drives under great duress and great pressure to beat the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. Pickens makes plays every time he gets an opportunity. I just wish he would get more. I'm not saying Pickett-to-Pickens will be as good as Roethlisberger-to-Antonio because that was one of the best pass-catch combinations in NFL history. But it has a real chance of being special for many years.
Now, look deeper at that 2022 draft. The Steelers took DeMarvin Leal in the third round and Mark Robinson in the sixth round. Each played at least half of the snaps Sunday night and helped to hold the Ravens to 240 total yards. The team took Connor Heyward — Cam's younger brother — and he has been solid on special teams and has made a few plays on offense. Fourth-round pick Calvin Austin has missed this entire season with a foot injury but has promise as a slot receiver and return man.
Pickett alone will make the 2022 class a huge success if he turns out to be great.
The 2021 class also has made big contributions to the Steelers' 6-2 streak, which has kept them relevant in the playoff chase until the season's final weekend.
Najee Harris was picked No. 1 and keeps improving. He ran harder than ever Sunday night, picked up 111 punishing yards on 22 carries and caught the winning 10-yard touchdown pass from Pickett on a third-and-8 play.
"Najee wants it," Tomlin said. "He wants to be the focal point. He likes the tough circumstances. It's good to have young people who are running to it as opposed to from it. We got some young people that run to the action. That's a good thing."
Pat Freiermuth, who was picked in the second round in 2021, is another of those young people. I thought a tight end was a luxury in that spot, but Ben Roethlisberger saw enough of him last season to predict stardom for him. Freiermuth has become a star for Pickett, catching a critical pass in the winning drive against the Ravens and three in the winning drive against the Raiders.
The Steelers missed badly with Kendrick Green in the third round in 2021 but found a two-year starter at offensive tackle with Dan Moore Jr. in the fourth round. Moore has continued to improve, although the team could do better in the 2023 draft. Daniels and Cole also have improved under line coach Pat Meyer. Tomlin and Matt Canada made more of a commitment to the run game at the bye week, and it has paid off. The Steelers ran for 198 yards Sunday night — a surprising number against the Ravens' stout defense — with 76 yards coming from Warren. He might be the team's best offseason pickup.
And that Claypool trade in November for the Chicago Bears' second-round pick in the 2023 draft?
Can you say steal?
The Bears are 0-8 since the deal and could wind up with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. That would mean the No. 33 overall pick for the Steelers. Claypool has done nothing in Chicago — 12 catches for 111 yards and no touchdowns. He threw an Antonio-like tirade on the sideline Sunday during the 41-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. He had no catches and was targeted just one time.
Congrats to Tomlin, Omar Khan and Andy Weidl for making that trade.
Isn't it nice to think the three will be able to keep things going in the 2023 draft?
