Steelers Midseason Rookie Report Card
While every team intends to build through the draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the few teams that heavily rely on the draft process to build their roster as opposed to free agency. With their style of roster construction, nailing drafts becomes a yearly expectation for GM Kevin Colbert, and 2019 was no exception. After failing to secure a linebacker the year prior, all eyes were on Colbert and friends to find their next inside linebacker for years to come.
As we know now, the Steelers were able to trade into the top ten and select Devin Bush. While Bush will remain the headliner of the 2019 class (and for good reason), the Steelers also selected eight other players.
How have they impacted the team? Some struggled in pre-season, and others have seen significant time thus far. The 2019 draft class has made impacts on different levels, and while they are no longer in school, it's time to hand out some mid-term grades on the freshest faces in the Steelers locker room.
*Note: The grades given reflect a mix of production/potential shown thus far, and does not reflect where the player was selected in the draft.
LB Devin Bush: A
Very rarely does a rookie step in and create the impact that Devin Bush has made. The Steelers defense was left with a sizable hole once Ryan Shazier departed, as no linebacker has been able to match Shazier's raw athleticism. Enter Bush, who's been everything as advertised and is currently one of the favorites to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Through seven games played, Bush has 59 total tackles, four fumbles recovered, three passes defended, two interceptions and one sack to his name. While we've seen some struggles in pass defense, Bush has made minor strides in his coverage. Aside from allowing huge plays down the seam (a common problem for this defense), Bush's ability to roam sideline to sideline upgraded the Steelers' defense over night.
There's been very little to nitpick about Bush's play so far, as the middle linebacker has met/exceeded expectations through the first half of 2019. It was a smart move by Colbert to trade up for Bush, and the transaction looks like a train-robbery after each passing day.
WR Diontae Johnson: B-
With no second round pick thanks to the Bush trade, the Steelers next selection came in the third round. After the departure of Antonio Brown, the Steelers were heavily favored to take a receiver on day two. D.K. Metcalf began to slip down draft boards but was taken two picks before Pittsburgh, putting the Steelers in position to select a receiver not many had pegged them to select: Toledo WR Diontae Johnson.
Admittedly so, the pick took most people by surprise, including yours truly. After seeing many comparisons to Antonio Brown (MAC receiver, superb route-runner, excelled at returning kicks), I decided to look for myself by doing a film thread on Twitter. I saw the comparisons almost immediately. Yet that was before Johnson even knew what number to wear, and placing lofty expectations on a small-school receiver during his rookie year would be steep, to say the least.
Fast forward to present day, and Johnson has been making the most of his opportunities with Pittsburgh. The Steelers were looking for a complimentary receiver across from JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Johnson looks to be the playmaker they are looking for. Johnson's three receiving touchdowns are tied for first on the team, while his receptions (25) and yards (296) sit only behind Smith-Schuster. Johnson's usage has shot up since week three, as the Toledo product has the highest snap count for receivers outside of Smith-Schuster, playing 60% of snaps this season.
The Steelers are beginning to build trust with Johnson with each passing week, and rightfully so. His potential is through the roof. The Steelers reportedly had Johnson as their number one receiver last spring, and Johnson continues to prove them right by the week. While Johnson's impact hasn't quite reached the same levels as Bush, Johnson has proven he's a viable weapon on the opposite side of the field.
CB Justin Layne: C+
The Steelers secondary has been nothing short of problematic in previous years, so it was only natural Pittsburgh took to the draft to address their defensive backfield. Justin Layne was selected nearly 20 picks after Diontae Johnson in the third round, with the pick being heralded by most following the Steelers. During his collegiate days, Layne's run-support from the corner position along with his physicality was thought to be the ideal mold of a Pittsburgh corner.
However, Layne was drafted with the understanding of being slightly too raw to immediately roll out on Sundays, thus requiring the team to have Layne sit in a depth chart that holds Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton. Layne's preseason play confirmed those beliefs, as the cornerback simply didn't look prepared enough on the field, giving up a fair amount of catches his way.
As a result, Layne has yet to play a single defensive snap in 2019, while only playing 18 snaps on special teams. While Layne hasn't made an immediate impact like divisional foe Denzel Ward, Layne still possesses the tools+traits to one day become a starting cornerback in the NFL. He'll be required to sit and learn/mature in the mean time.
RB Benny Snell: C+
2018 saw James Conner shoulder another hefty workload for a Steelers running back, a year removed from Le'Veon Bell touching the ball 405 times. Case in point, Pittsburgh wasn't keen on running their backs into the ground moving forward, and the arrival of Benny Snell was welcomed with open arms.
Snell is a near-perfect compliment to Conner and fellow running back Jaylen Samuels, with a physical brand of running last seen by Jero... Never mind, it's too early to make that comparison. Jokes aside, Snell was brought to the team in hopes of presenting a tough, short-yardage running back that could move a pile and wear a defense out when needed.
Despite having a less than stellar preseason (28 carries for 52 yards in three games), Snell is currently averaging 4.2 yards per carry during the regular season. Snell's best performance came via a 17 carry, 75 yard performance in Pittsburgh's road victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Snell, much like Layne, has yet to be used extensively due to being buried on the depth chart. Snell hasn't made the impact he was likely hoping to make through seven games played, yet the rookie running back has shown flashes of why the Steelers drafted him in the fourth round.
TE Zach Gentry: C-
Two seasons ago, Mike Tomlin characterized the Steelers' tight end room as "not varsity enough" before acquiring Vance McDonald via trade. The position simply hasn't been the same since Heath Miller walked away years ago. With Jesse James departing for free agency last spring, the Steelers were not satisfied with only Xavier Grimble behind McDonald, as the team drafted Zach Gentry in the 5th round.
Gentry's size (6-8, 265 lbs) was perhaps the most intriguing of him as a prospect, providing a nice counter to McDonald's role, one that Jesse James played especially well. Gentry hasn't quite established himself as a solidified blocker or pass catcher, as the rookie has only been active for three games this season.
With the Steelers recently acquiring Nick Vannett from the Seattle Seahawks, it's crystal clear that Gentry simply isn't "varsity" enough, to use the color vocabulary of Tomlin. Gentry has yet to finish a single season in the league, so it's unfair to label him a bust so quickly, especially if the physical tools are still present. However, the move to give draft capital up for Vannett when Pittsburgh just drafted a player at his position is telling of how the organization currently views him.
LB Sutton Smith: F
As the draft begins to dwindle towards its conclusion, you are less and less likely to find players that will make an impact on your roster, let alone make the team itself. This was the case for sixth round pick Sutton Smith, who was a consensus FBS All-American his last two seasons in college, while also garnering consecutive MAC Defensive Player of the Year awards.
With Smith having been a decorated prospect, the Steelers plan to stick with a significantly undersized player at OLB simply did not come to fruition. Smith simply lacked the size to compete with NFL-caliber offensive tackles, leading to his release before the team finalized it's final 53 man roster. Smith recently signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad, yet was released just three days ago.
Smith's college production (29 sacks his last two years at NIU) warrants him a chance on anybody's roster, yet Smith may not receive his fair shake. Whether it be the Steelers not retaining Smith or Smith simply not having the opportunity to prove himself, the selection of Smith can be viewed as a failure to Smith not currently being on the roster.
DE Isaiah Buggs: D+
The loss of Stephon Tuitt for the rest of the season certainly hurts the Steelers defensive line, yet the loss of one man simply provides an opportunity for another.
Will Isaiah Buggs begin to see himself on the field more moving forward? Buggs made his NFL debut on Monday night, playing a total of 13 snaps with no tackles to report. Since moving down to 290 pounds, Buggs is now lighter and may be of more service to the Steelers thanks to Tuitt's injury.
Prior to week eight, Buggs finds himself in the same category of Gentry/Layne in terms of making little impact. Buggs proved himself to be a dominant force while winning titles under Nick Saban at Alabama, yet the true test for Buggs will come during the rest of the season, a rare window of chance for Buggs to show what he can do while Tuitt remains out.
The selection was of great value considering Buggs was selected in the sixth round, yet the impact has been non-existent for various reasons. Buggs could very well end up as a solid rotational linemen just as much as he could see himself dismissed in the next two seasons.
LB Ulysees Gilbert: C
Mostly known for his name coming into the draft, Ulysees Gilbert has been the subject of great fan love since originally being drafted in the sixth round of the draft. Gilbert's versatility shown in preseason play earned him a spot on the 53 man roster. Although the inside linebacker spots are quite full at the moment, Gilbert has managed to solidify himself as special teams player, playing a team high 73% of special teams snaps.
Unless the middle linebacker position catastrophically gets hit with injury (I hear you knocking on wood), Gilbert may never see substantial time on the defensive side of the ball. However, Gilbert has carved out a significant role on special teams and has proven himself worthy of a draft pick.
OT Derwin Gray: D-
With Pittsburgh's offensive tackle depth being significant, Derwin Gray was a long-shot to originally make the roster after being selected with Pittsburgh's seventh round pick. After being released before final cuts, Gray signed with the Steelers' practice squad shortly after clearing waivers.
While Gray may not be the next Marcus Gilbert, the team is hopeful he can provide himself as a serviceable depth piece down the road. There's no guarantee Chukwuma Okorafor will retain his role behind Alejandro Villanueva past 2019, giving Gray ample time to refine his skills and potentially make a run at a back-up position.
What are your grades on the Steelers 2019 draft class thus far? Tell us in the comments section below or let us know on Twitter @SI_Steelers.
