Can the Steelers rookies replicate the success of the 2016 draft class?
The Steelers 2016 draft class was special. It used to be a rarity to see rookies start on the Steelers defense. However, last year we saw three new players step into a starting role. These players weren’t just handed the starting jobs either, all of them, CB Artie Burns, S Sean Davis, and DT Javon Hargrave, rightfully earned their spots.
Naturally, fans will have high expectations for this year’s draft class. For the newest crop of rookies, that is a hard act to follow. Everybody will be comparing the previous draft classes and wondering if the 2017 class can replicate the success of the 2016 draft class.
I view it like this:
It doesn’t need to happen, but it could happen.
The state of the rosters was different for each draft class. The Steelers needed Artie Burns to step up at cornerback when Senquez Golson was injured. Robert Golden was a below-average starter at safety who proved to be a liability in coverage; Sean Davis replacing him was inevitable. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave only had to beat Dan McCullers, which wasn’t a hard test.
All three of these rookies were drafted because of the immediate need at their positions.
The 2017 draft class is entering a much different scenario.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt is not expected to start full-time with veteran James Harrison still going strong. While he will be expected to contribute, the Steelers won’t need him to step up from day one. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is entering a crowded depth chart and could find himself sitting behind Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Eli Rogers, and maybe even Sammie Coates. Cornerback Cam Sutton also finds himself in a crowded secondary group and will be battling for a starting job with William Gay, Senquez Golson, and Coty Sensabaugh in the slot, and maybe even Ross Cockrell or Brian Allen on the outside.
With all three players, there are talented players among them they are competing with for playing time. Neither outside linebacker, cornerback, or wide receiver has a gaping hole that needs to be filled by a rookie. The rookies not winning a starting job shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a strike on them, but that the players ahead of them are healthy and playing at a high level. With these position battles, the best man will be put on the field. Rookies being allowed to develop before starting and not being rushed onto the field should not be seen as a fault but as a fortune.
On the flip side, all three rookies could find themselves starting and contributing significantly.
Watt could earn the starting job over the course of the season if he impresses. Like Bud Dupree years ago, Watt could be eased in with a rotation but take over as the starter with Harrison rotated in. JuJu could win the slot or outside receiver battle if he is ready, and proves to be a more dynamic option than a player like Eli Rogers or Sammie Coates. Similarly, Sutton could win the battle at either nickel or outside cornerback and see as many as 60% of the defensive snaps each game.
Even running back James Conner could be a high-impact rookie if (God forbid) Le’Veon Bell gets hurt again.
The Steelers 2017 rookies have the potential to contribute to and improve this team. But if they don’t, that’s okay.
What the Steelers 2016 rookies accomplished was a rare feat; they won their starting jobs and elevated the defense. Few classes can do this and rarely does the roster call for it. It’s a not a bad thing to have a deep roster filled with talented players.
In a world of hot takes, it’s not exciting to hear a take filled with so many shades of gray, but with this rookie class that is the reality.
