Pittsburgh Steelers: The 2018 NFL Draft Report Card
By Erik Lambert
2nd Round: James Washington (WR, Oklahoma State) – B+
No team is better in the NFL at drafting wide receivers than Pittsburgh. Just look at their track record since 2000 for an idea. Last year it was JuJu Smith-Schuster in the 2nd round and now they go again with James Washington. Some people knock him for his running back build but there’s no denying the kid’s production. He gashed defenses every week with down-the-field ability. If the Steelers are buying in, then the rest of the league made a mistake.
3rd Round: Mason Rudolph (QB, Oklahoma State) – B
How fitting that a pick after they grab Washington, they get his quarterback too. Admittedly it feels like taking Mason Rudolph is another way for the Steelers to dance around their main problem, which is finding a successor to Ben Roethlisberger. That said, Rudolph is probably their best attempt yet. He’s a big body with a good arm and probably the most accurate deep thrower in the class. He fits the type of offense Pittsburgh runs. He’ll learn a lot from Ben.
3rd Round: Chuks Okorafor (OT, Western Michigan) – B
The Steelers offensive line is still in good shape. So any pick they make can be geared less towards starting right away and more on talent and development. That makes Chuks Okorafor perfect for them. He’s not ready to play in the NFL but his physical gifts are worth getting excited about. He’s big, powerful, violent and more athletic than one would think. His problems are all fixable, mostly due to experience and lack of honed technique.