The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill is in full swing with the big night just days away. While teams are certainly posturing to send up smoke screens ahead of the NFL Draft, some actual intentions can be gleaned by reading the tea leaves that are NFL rumors. We’re going to combine our expert consensus first-round mock NFL Draft, the latest picks from our NFL analysts, our team needs for each NFL squad, and the latest NFL rumors to try to determine what teams will do during the 2022 NFL Draft. Below, we’ll check and see if the Pittsburgh Steelers will aim to snag their franchise signal-caller in the first round.
2022 NFL Draft Team Needs
Andrew Erickson shares team needs for all 32 teams ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has the following for the Steelers:
- Team Needs: QB, OT, DT, SS, WR
Latest 2022 NFL Draft Rumors
Marco Pavoloni (@MAPavoloni) of The Rumor Mill Mock Draft provides the latest in the world of 2022 NFL Draft rumors.
I can confidently say the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to select a QB in the first round of the 2022 draft (so watch them take a linebacker or something now).
Among the potential QB-interested teams (Detroit, Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tennessee), the only one most feel is a lock to take a QB is Pittsburgh.
Let’s explore the buzz:
On 4/13, @uSTADIUM shared a rumor that the Steelers had laid the groundwork for a draft day trade up, potentially signaling their interest in one of the top QBs.
Here’s Jason La Canfora, on 4/15:
“‘I’ve seen the Steelers contingent at these pro days,’ one evaluator said. ‘This isn’t some bluff. That’s not how Kevin (GM Kevin Colbert) operates. I know they like some of these kids. I don’t think they jump all the way up for Willis , but they’re up to something.’ Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder might be the guy, and perhaps they move up slightly to do it … “
Per Ian Rapoport, the Steelers flew Desmond Ridder in for a visit on 4/6.
Other than that, there hasn’t been a ton of buzz on Ridder. It’s starting to feel like it’s a two-horse race between Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis.
Let’s start with Willis:
As early as 2/3, Thor Nystrom tweeted “An NFL source told me yesterday that the #Steelers clearly prefer Liberty QB Malik Willis to Pitt QB Kenny Pickett.”
That’s pretty compelling, but February third feels like centuries ago.
On 3/23, @jpafootball tweeted: “Update: #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin had dinner with QB Malik Willis last night. The Steelers have not been secretive about their interest in him.”
So is Willis the signal caller Tomlin and the Steelers brass covet? Most insiders and analysts are undecided.
Here’s Albert Breer on 4/25:
“The Steelers have done a ton of work on Willis, and have an ideal situation for the Liberty quarterback—they could redshirt him behind Mitch Trubisky, or charge their spread-offense guru of a coordinator, Matt Canada, with building the right offense for him to play early on. Pittsburgh also, for what it’s worth, had Pickett down the hall at their facility the last five years (Pitt and the Steelers share a practice complex), and it’s no secret how well-respected Pickett is in the Pitt program.”
And ESPN’s Jordan Reid aren’t so sure either:
Reid, on 4/22, writes:
“As the draft nears, the momentum that swung Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis (Liberty) up the board seems to be swinging back the other way. In conversations with league sources this week, one told me that Pickett to the Steelers at No. 20 is the only Round 1 quarterback on which he would bet.”
And from the same article, here’s Matt Miller: “It might just be a late draft-season smoke screen, but there is a lot of chatter about the Steelers not being sold on quarterbacks other than Pitt’s Kenny Pickett in this class.”
Daniel Jeremiah, on 4/21 also mentioned he believes the Steelers could go Pickett over Willis.
We will close with a note from Albert Breer, in his final MMQB before the 2022 draft:
“Upset Special: Pickett over Malik Willis —and it’s a gut feeling more than anything else. How cool would it be if the Steelers, who passed on Pitt’s Dan Marino is 1983 when a successor to Terry Bradshaw was desperately needed (they picked Gabe Rivera) would 39 years later take Pitt’s Pickett to be the long-term sub for Ben Roethlisberger? Pretty cool to think Pickett, who for the entirety of his college career has walked into the door to the right of the Steelers/Pitt complex on the South side of the gritty city, might walk into the left door as a pro now.”
It certainly sounds like the Steelers have their heart set on Kenny Pickett.
One counterpoint, which may be anecdotal, but I feel is worth mentioning, is that a lot of rumors swirl in the few days leading up to the draft. Some of them are very legit, some of them not so much. To me, this feels a lot like last year’s Mac Jones vs. Trey Lance to the Niners debate, with Pickett being Jones in this situation, and Lance being Willis. The Niners had the league convinced it was going to be Mac Jones, even though most logic suggested it would be Lance.
I got duped last year, and how does that saying go? “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice … “
I’ll probably regret it, but I’m going Willis. For now.
Consensus First-Round NFL Mock Draft
Our consensus mock draft has the Steelers aiming for quarterback in the first round. The consensus thinks Pickett (37%) will be the choice.
Our analysts agree with the approach, but not the pick. They each have a different signal-caller falling to Pittsburgh at No. 20 overall.
Freedman’s latest mock draft: Week of the Draft
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis (QB – Liberty)
In two years as the starter at Liberty (after transferring from Auburn), Willis completed 62.4% of his passes for 5,107 yards and 47 touchdowns to 18 interceptions and added 338-1,822-27 rushing.
With his mobility and arm strength, Willis has the raw tools to succeed in the NFL.
The Steelers probably won’t enter the 2022 season with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph competing for the starting job, and their interest in Willis is an open secret.
Erickson’s latest mock draft: NFL Mock Draft 6.0
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Matt Corral (QB – Ole Miss)
The Steelers have not been shy about making their draft plans known to the media and the other 31 teams. Last year, everybody knew they were going to select Najee Harris, and this year it seems obvious they will draft a quarterback at some point — most likely at pick No. 20.
Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert have been highly involved in pro days featuring this year’s top rookie quarterbacks.
So with the 20th overall pick, the Steelers select Matt Corral as their future franchise quarterback. Pour one out for Mitchell Trubisky.
Corral rallied Ole Miss to a 10-2 record while finishing third in the SEC in passing yards (3,343) and 11th in the nation in PFF passing grade from a clean pocket (91.6). Corral’s expected throw air time is the lowest in the class, which is a reflection of his quick release and imposing arm strength.
He also rushed for nearly 750 yards and 11 scores. It’s that dual-threat ability that fantasy football dynasty managers should be looking to invest in for years down the line. He could make some noise in an offense littered with playmakers.
Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada thrives on designing offensive plays around RPOs, bootlegs, and pre-snap motion, which aligns perfectly with what Corral did at Ole Miss.
FantasyPros Mock Drafts
Andrew Erickson:
Matthew Freedman:
Derek Brown:
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