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By the time the 2022 NFL draft gets here, we will already know the future of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and with him the quarterback position in Pittsburgh. It feels highly unlikely the future Hall of Famer is going to come back in 2022 which would put quarterback squarely on their radar for the 2022 NFL draft.
However, this new mock draft by Sports Illustrated goes in a completely different direction for the Steelers. Despite multiple top-tier quarterbacks on the board, SI opts for Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. in the first round.
If the Steelers are to continue having one of the best defenses in the NFL, they’ll need to address the cornerback position. Joe Haden turned 36 in April and Pittsburgh doesn’t have much depth. Booth could fix the problems the Steelers currently have. He is a great athlete who improved a tremendous amount as a sophomore. With more playing time next season, he should solidify himself as a first-round pick.
While I cannot speak on Booth as a player the choice of position is interesting for the Steelers. Based on their history, drafting any cornerback in the first round is a long shot. They’ve done it just once in the last two decades. That pick, Artie Burns turned out to be a horrible fit and a bust for Pittsburgh.
Does this mean there is no way the Steelers draft a cornerback in 2022? I suppose not. However, given the choice of positions, trends would indicate an offensive tackle or even an edge rusher before cornerback if Pittsburgh doesn’t roll the dice on a starting quarterback.
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