NFL Draft Dish: Steelers' Zach Frazier, Bucs' Bucky Irving shining as value draft picks

The 2024 NFL Draft has already produced mid-round gems, with Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving standing out as great value picks. Frazier, the 10th offensive lineman drafted, has quickly emerged as one of the top rookies, stepping in and excelling at center for Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Irving, a fourth-round pick, leads all rookie rushers and has showcased his speed and contact balance in limited opportunities. Both players have outperformed expectations, proving themselves as key contributors early in their NFL careers.

Man in the middle

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected West Virginia center Zach Frazier with the 51st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the 10th offensive lineman drafted. Despite being the 10th lineman off the board, none of the players picked ahead of him have performed as well as Frazier this season. According to ESPN, he ranks as the sixth-best rookie of the year so far.

Frazier’s high ranking comes as no surprise to those who’ve watched him play. He stepped in for the injured Nate Herbig in Week 1 and has been outstanding ever since. Frazier has yet to give up a sack and is currently rated as the fourth-best center in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.

While the Steelers are thrilled with the value they got in Frazier, this should be expected for anyone familiar with his college career. The 2022 All-Big 12 selection was named NFL Draft Notebook’s “center to stand on the table for,” thanks to two standout traits. First, his intelligence: Frazier was named a First-Team Academic All-American, and this football IQ has helped him seamlessly adjust to the mental demands of playing center in the NFL.

"He’s gonna set the standard with how he works. He’s extremely intelligent. From a football standpoint, for us, he was a quarterback for our offensive line. He made all our identification, in both the run game and the pass game. He has a deep understanding of making sure we get our five on their five. "

- WV HC Neal Brown on Zach Frazier

Second, his ability to play with leverage, a skill honed in high school as a four-time state champion wrestler. This leverage has made Frazier one of the best run blockers in the league, earning an 83.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus—fifth-best among centers.

Looking ahead, Frazier is poised to continue anchoring the Steelers' offensive line, helping them maintain one of the league's stronger rushing attacks.

NFL rookie rushing leader

Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving, another steal from the 2024 NFL Draft, has quickly proven his value. Though picked in the fourth round, Irving leads all rookie rushers with 247 yards and an impressive 5.6 yards per carry, ranking eighth in the NFL. Despite being Rachaad White’s backup, Irving has made the most of his 44 carries and is poised to take over as the primary back, with White doubtful for the upcoming game against the Saints.

Irving’s speed has been a standout feature, enabling him to rip off seven runs of 10 yards or more already. This quickness helped him rush for 1,180 yards in college and earned him a top-three ranking among running backs heading into the 2024 draft, according to NFL Mocks.

His contact balance is another key strength. Despite weighing just 195 pounds, Irving has forced 12 missed tackles this season, bouncing off defenders and cutting sharply to extend plays. This ability was also evident in college, where he finished fifth among Power Five running backs with a 37% forced missed tackle rate, according to PFF.

One area where Irving has been underutilized so far is as a receiver. He has only eight catches for 46 yards, ranking seventh on the team in receptions. This is surprising, considering he led all Power Five running backs with 395 receiving yards last season. If Irving can improve his pass-blocking—a concern highlighted by head coach Todd Bowles and a question mark during the draft—his role in the passing game should increase.

If Irving continues to develop, particularly in pass protection, he has the potential to become a key offensive weapon for the Buccaneers. His combination of speed, contact balance, and receiving ability could soon make him the centerpiece of Tampa Bay's backfield.