Where does the Steelers 2022 draft capital stand after the Schobert trade?

The Steelers have dealt a bunch of their 2022 draft picks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been wheeling and dealing the past month, in doing so the team has drastically improved the roster. Considering the volume of void year deals signed, mixed with the amount of draft picks Kevin Colbert has dealt away, I think it’s a fair assessment to think the Pittsburgh Steelers are all in on the 2021 season. But keeping one eye on the future is still extremely important in professional sports, so today we will look into what the future holds with the Steelers 2022 draft capital including the teams original picks, projected compensatory picks, and the possibility of dealing a player or two to acquire more picks for themselves.

Steelers current 2022 draft picks

1st Round pick, 2nd Round pick, 3rd Round pick, 7th Round pick, 7th Round pick (NYJ)

The Steelers currently only hold four of their original 2022 draft picks. Most importantly they still have a pick in each of the top three rounds, but if something catastrophic were to happen and the Steelers missed out on all other awarded selections they would have to wait through three rounds before they made another selection.

Draft Picks the Steelers dealt away

2022 4th rounder to Miami – used to trade up for DL Isaiahh Loudermilk

2022 5th rounder to New York Jets – used to trade for LB Avery Williamson & 2022 7th rounder

2022 6th rounder to Jacksonville – used to trade for LB Joe Schobert

The Steelers acquire three total players (and one selection) for all the picks they dealt away. Of the three, only Avery Williamson is not currently on the roster (or any roster). The Steelers used their 2022 fourth-round pick to acquire a 2021 fifth-round pick where they selected Isaiahh Loudermilk. Loudermilk has been surpassing expectation at Steelers camp and has played well in the preseason. The Steelers most recent deal was to acquire former Pro Bowl line backer Joe Schobert from the Jaguars. Schobert Is on a big-ticket deal but due to the trade the Steelers wouldn’t incur any dead cap by releasing him at any point of his deal. Basically the Steelers landed a top-end player with four team option years on his contract (this was a serious fleecing).

Compensatory selections the Steelers are projected to receive

Qualifying Losses
Bud Dupree ($16.5 million/year): Third round
Matt Feiler ($7 million/year): Fifth round
Mike Hilton ($6 million/year): Sixth round

Qualifying Gains
Joe Haeg ($2.3 million/year): Seventh round

Because of the signing of Joe Haeg, the Steelers loss of Mike Hilton gets scratched out of the compensatory formula. However, if Haeg does not play 25% of the offensive snaps in 2021, it is possible he falls out from qualifying as a seventh-round gain and the Steelers could get that compensatory selection for Mike Hilton back. But as we stand in this moment, the Steelers are only due a projected third and fifth round compensatory selection.

Total Steelers selections

1st Round
2nd Round
3rd Round
3rd Round – Comp
5th Round – Comp
*6th Round – Comp (If Haeg falls out of qualifying status)
7th Round
7th Round (NYJ)

As we sit here in this moment, the Steelers don’t have a fourth or sixth round pick, but have a total of seven selections.

Players the Steelers could deal to recoup draft picks

James Washington – 5th Rounder

The first name that comes to mind is that of James Washington who probably didn’t ask for a trade, however a potential deal makes sense for both sides. A exact comparison for Washington is that of Anthony Miller, who was also a 2018 second-round pick with similar stats that was just dealt for fifth round pick himself.

Jordan Berry – 7th Rounder

The Steelers dealt Brad Wing for a seventh in 2015, so perhaps lightning can strike twice. Berry has been playing well with rookie Pressley Harvin now in the mix. Berry would do well in a warm weather/dome team. The problem lies in a team could simply wait it out and see which player the Steelers release.

Benny Snell – 7th Rounder

Snell’s time with the Steelers is rapidly coming to an end. The injury keeping him out of camp will see him fall down the Steelers depth chart. If you can recoup any pick for Snell I think you don’t hesitate to make that deal.

A Quarterback – 5-7th Rounder

Honestly, I think this is the least likely scenario. We likely see Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, and Dwayne Haskins carried onto the roster for the 2021 season. Meaning Josh Dobbs gets cut —and no one is giving up a fifth round pick for Dobbs again. However, if the Steelers think either Rudolph or Haskins is head and shoulders better than the other, and they get a juicy trade offer their way, they could pull the trigger.

But what do you think? Are you concerned about the Steelers 2022 draft capital at all? Will they acquire any more picks before the start of this season? Lets us know your thoughts down in the comments below.