You don't judge roster strength by just what happened last year. What have the teams done to strengthen for 2022?
Pittsburgh
FA gains:
+LB Myles Jack
+G Daniel James
+C Mason Cole
+S Terrell Edmunds
+DT Montravius Adams
+CB Levi Wallace
+CB Ahkello Witherspoon
+OT Chukwuma Okarafor
+S Miles Killebrew
+ST/WR Gunner Olszewski
+QB Mitchell Trubisky
Say what you want about Trubisky, the Steelers have added a lot more players than the Patriots this offseason. Patriots kind of hamstrung by the cap, didn't make a lot of noteworthy additions except through the draft. Gotta give the free agency period to the Steelers.
So let's compare draft classes now.
2022 Steelers draft:
1st #20 QB Kenny Picket. Steelers might have gotten a steal for the future here in 1st round QB Pickett, that some even mocked as a top 3 pick in this draft class. Meanwhile the Patriots selected Cole Strange in the 1st. I wonder what position is more impactful? But oh yeah BB was 'forced' to pick a G this early because he gave away our starting G for a future 5th round pick.
2nd #52 WR George Pickens. Pickens looked like a man amongst boys in preseason and training camp. He's the most likely stud WR in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft pick. Remember that the Patriots had the chance to take this guy but took Tyquan Thornton, now injured, at #50 instead. You can say that there's a difference between bad draft decisions and bad injury, but the result on the field will be the same. We'll get a close look at Pickens in week 2, Thornton will be warming the bench after undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone.
3rd #84 Demarvin Leal DE. A possible impact pass rusher for the Steelers, they were surprise he was still around. This defender started 12 games and notched 8.5 sacks for the Aggies. Meanwhile the Patriots drafted Houston CB Marcus Jones who has the versatility to return kicks and possibly nickel corner. Pass rushers usually impact more on the field than corners, but the CB pick was sorely needed by the Pats as they lost pro -bowl CB JC Jackson in free agency due to being cheap.
Overall Pickett, Pickens, Leal > Strange, Thornton, Jones. Both in terms of immediate and possible long term impact. One team got their QB of the future, a possible stud very physical WR, and a pass rusher. The other team plugged a gap in the OL created by their own GM giving away a starting guard, drafted a young WR who won't see the field for another 6 weeks at the earliest, and a young CB who might help us in the ST game and hopefully at nickel slot.
Considering the Steelers bested the Patriots in free agency and the draft, I wouldn't consider our talent to be better on paper this year.
