“Oh my God, can I enter the NFL draft?” The season is approaching and everyone is broadcasting their first picks. Among those completing the first mock draft was ESPN’s Field Yates, who had the Steelers taking Oregon quarterback Bo Nix in the first round.
“This may come as a surprise considering the Steelers backed Kenny Pickett, who they drafted with the 20th pick two years ago this offseason, but they also said plans to add competition in the fourth hall.
A fourth pick in this range is often polarizing, but my basic line of thinking is that the Steelers’ cap bar under Pickett is too low for a franchise chasing a deep run, not just a playoff berth. Pittsburgh has now lost five straight playoff games.” – Field YatesIn one respect, Yates is right. The level of the Steelers is higher than we’ve seen in years, or at least it should be. The Steelers need to upgrade at quarterback, but Nix is not an upgrade.
The Steelers’ cap doesn’t budge with this pick. In fact, it sinks lower. The Knicks’ numbers look much better than their actual performance in Oregon. He left Auburn because the offense required him to sit in the pocket and let plays flow down the field. At Oregon State, he suffered a lot of scrutiny and losses that led to devastating breakups with players.
In Mobile at the Senior Bowl, he was the second-worst quarterback in the city (behind Joe Milton). He doesn’t have a big arm or what it takes to be a franchise quarterback. This would be a very bad pick for the Steelers and T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward are expected to make a deep playoff run in Pittsburgh in their remaining time with the team.
