Steelers news and commentary from Thursday, May 2nd
Welcome to the Terrible Towel Tales, where we’ll highlight some of the latest stories permeating Steelers media for your reading pleasure every Monday through Saturday. In today’s news…
ESPN: Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection of NC State LB Payton Wilson among best Round 3 picks | Suzanne Halliburton, On3
Field Yates, an NFL Draft analyst for ESPN, put Wilson in the “best of category.” That’s because Yates believes Wilson is the top inside linebacker of the entire draft.
He wrote: “Wilson landed at No. 98 because of his injury history. But the end of the third round was more than a reasonable time to justify the investment — this was an incredible value. I thought he was the most impressive inside linebacker on tape, showing off elite speed and versatility.
Stephon Gilmore named as post-draft free agent target for Steelers | Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports
The team also used their final pick of the draft to select Texas DB Ryan Watts. I think Watts is better off in a safety role as opposed to a corner but he’s versatile and could make his way into the spot, but asking him to be the starter opposite of Joey Porter Jr. is a tall task.
And look, I know asking a 34-year-old corner to hold up all season and play at a high level is rich, but Gilmore played and started every game for Dallas last season, recording multiple interceptions, double-digit pass breakups, and a career-high in tackles. So if you’re Pittsburgh, you think long and hard about another one-year deal for a proven commodity.
OL Analyst Concerned About Steelers Rookie | Noah Strackbein, All Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers added three offensive linemen during the 2024 NFL Draft, and so far, most of the response has been filled with praise. The team appears to have landed a new starting center and offensive tackle, but their third pick – South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick – isn’t getting the same love.
Following the selection, offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn. Speaking about McCormick on his Trench Warfare podcast, Thorn said there are real worries about the talent level of the Steelers’ new guard.