Pittsburgh Steelers re-draft: Was passing on Lamar Jackson in 2018 a mistake?
Last month, we kicked off this Steelers redraft series by rewriting history to bring Alvin Kamara and George Kittle to Pittsburgh in 2017. What happens next?
The 2018 draft was a different animal.
And the Steelers were a different squad.
After finishing 13-3 in the regular season and losing in the playoffs to Jacksonville in 2017, change was on the way for them. Ryan Shazier, a linebacker, had suffered a career-ending spinal injury, therefore safety Mike Mitchell was released to free up salary cap room. The Steelers replaced those starters with free agents Jon Bostic and Morgan Burnett. Todd Haley, the offensive coordinator, was fired. The Steelers franchise tagged running back Le’Veon Bell for the second time, which would result in a season-long holdout. The team’s quarterback situation was questionable heading into the 2018 draft. Ben Roethlisberger had just turned 36, but he had assured teammates, coaches, and management that he intended to play another three to five years. So let’s go to work.
The same disclaimer that was used previously applies again. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert cannot be expected to win all seven rounds. However, as the redraft GM, I get the benefit of hindsight and another shot. Even changing one or two of these decisions can have a significant impact three years later. For this exercise, a few basic rules apply: the pick must address a team need; only individuals drafted lower than that pick (or not at all) may be selected; and no additional trades are permitted.
The most difficult decision in this hypothetical is the first. Lamar Jackson (Ravens, #32) was available. No quarterback selected after Jackson in this round has proven to be very successful. This was the Steelers’ opportunity to choose Roethlisberger’s heir apparent. But they have passed, and so will I. Because, despite Jackson’s enormous potential, Roethlisberger held the Steelers’ starter job until his retirement. The Steelers were not going to utilize their first-round pick on a quarterback. They had higher priorities. There was one linebacker. Leonard, the South Carolina State standout, appeared to be a reach, but so did Edmunds. Leonard made an immediate impact in Indianapolis. In 2018, he earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and named All-Pro for the first of two times this season.
I’m staying at home with this option. O’Neill went from tight end to tackle at Pitt, which shares a practice facility with the Steelers, and became an All-ACC lineman. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.82-second 40-yard dash, the fastest by any offensive lineman in five years. But, a year after choosing Smith-Schuster 62nd overall, the Steelers selected another second-round receiver in Washington. He’s been a solid fourth receiver option for Roethlisberger, but that’s about it. You anticipate more output from a second-round choice.
