2020 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers without first-round pick first time in 53 years
Barring a trade, the Pittsburgh Steelers will not have a first-round pick in the NFL Draft for the first time since 1967.
Early in the 2019 regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising trade by acquiring defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins for a 2020 first-round pick, 2020 fifth-rounder and 2021 sixth-rounder. Pittsburgh also got a 2020 fourth-rounder and 2021 seventh-rounder back.
That trade puzzled many around the NFL because Pittsburgh was 0-2 when it was made and had lost starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending injury. While Fitzpatrick is a good player, why give up a potential Top 10 overall pick for him in a lost season?
The Steelers did rally to finish 8-8 but still missed the playoffs. That first-round pick will be No. 18 in this year's draft. Barring a trade back into the first round, Pittsburgh thus will not have a first-round selection for the first time since 1967.
The team's first selection will be No. 49 overall, and many believe the Steelers could pick a quarterback there like perhaps Washington's Jacob Eason if still available. If so, that would be highest pick used on a quarterback by the Steeles since Roethlisberger was picked No. 11 overall in 2004. Pittsburgh last used a second-round pick on a QB in 1995, taking Kordell "Slash" Stewart at No. 60 overall.
Big Ben is a future Hall of Famer but is 38 and has been a bit injury-prone of late, so it could be time to start thinking long-term. Clearly, neither Mason Rudolph (third-round pick in 2018) nor Devlin Hodges (undrafted free agent) is the answer.
It would be unusual for Pittsburgh to take an offensive skill position player with its first pick in a draft as it hasn't since going with running back Rashard Mendenhall at No. 23 overall in 2008.
William Hill sportsbook gives an Over-Under of 4.5 quarterbacks selected in Round 1 (Under is -450 favorite; wager $450 to win $100), and that could be relevant to Pittsburgh because if the Over hits, that means Eason probably is a first-round selection. Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love are considered first-round locks. Eason is generally considered the fifth-best QB available, just ahead of Jalen Hurts – who could also be a Steelers possibility at No. 49.