In homage to Chuck Noll’s principle that, “It takes 5 years to judge a draft class,” Steel Curtain Rising grades draft classes 5 years after they’re in the books. Alas, “work to do and bills to pay” prevented me from grading the 2019 and 2018 drafts on schedule.
Last week we graded the Steelers 2019 Draft Class (hint: this report card landed Kevin Colbert on restriction) and today we do the Steelers 2018 draft class.
But before we dive into the details, here’s fun fact on the Steelers 2018 Draft Class: 2 members played critical roles in upsets of Tom Brady.
Hum, that makes it seem like this is some sort of sleeper draft class. But is it….?
D.K. Metcalf burns Terrell Edmunds for a touchdown. Photo Credit: Yahoo.com
First Round – Terrell Edmunds, The Optical Illusion
Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin shocked everyone by drafting Terrell Edmunds in the first round. Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell had projected Terrell Edmunds as a 5th rounder.
Yet, if you’d left for Mars after the draft, returned in 2023 and saw that Edmunds had started 75 of 84 games and logged 93.8% of the Steelers defensive snaps, you’d be impressed. And if I told you, “…And his best game came when Edmunds led a short-handed Steelers secondary in an upset of Tom Brady and Tampa Bay,” you’d have thought, “Wow! Colbert got a steal with Edmunds!”
- But you’d only be proving the power of optical illusions.
Terrell Edmunds provided stability for the Steelers at strong safety, but he only played his fifth year in Pittsburgh because in the spring of ’22 no one wanted him in free agency. Steelers coaches liked him, the front office, not so much. So Edmunds went to Philadelphia in ‘23, got traded to Tennessee, signed with Jacksonville in ‘24, got cut in August and returned to Pittsburgh in September.
Terrell Edmunds’ Steelers encore lasted just 5 games.
It is almost like, after pausing and then looking at him again from a different angle, the coaches realized they were seeing an optical illusion. Grade: Disappointment
True NFL Draft grades only come with years of hindsight
Second Round – James Washington, The Farm Boy Flasher
On the heels of unloading Martavis Bryant, turning Sammie Coates loose AND tiring of Antonio Brown’s antics, the Steeler opted to inject talent with character in their wide receiver room by drafting James Washington. By all accounts, James Washington, who was born and raised on a farm, was a stand up guy, a positive presence in the locker room guy with strong character.
Unfortunately, all of those attributes never translated into Washington becoming a quality wide receiver. Washington may never have flashed greatness, but there were times he flashed “goodness” (think the pass he took to the house from Devlin Hodges in the 2019 comeback win over the Bengals.)
But he never sustained those flashes of “goodness.” One reason was that he never established a rapport with Ben Roethlisberger. Ironically, it was Washington who caught Roethlisberger’s last touchdown pass. Grade: Disappointment
James Washington makes a combat catch against Charvarius Ward. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
Third Round – Mason Rudolph, The Survivor
The Steelers drafted Mason Rudolph as a “compromise pick.” He spent his first year taking virtual reality snaps as a 3rd stringer. Six quarters into his second year, Mason Rudolph became the starter.
Rudolph lost his first start, won his second, got brutally concussed in his third, came back and won 3 straight games, suffered a deadly assault attempt by Myles Garrett, got benched, watched the Duck Hodges phenomenon, replaced Hodges against the Jets, started leading a rally and then got hurt.
Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Photo Credit: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and The Athletic.)
He then watched as the Steelers brought in Dwayne Haskins, Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett while remaining buried depth chart as QB No. 3, before saving Christmas and Pittsburgh’s 2023 season with 3 straight wins.
Mason Rudolph is a survivor. Grade: Quality Value Pickup
Third Round – Chukwuma Okorafor, The Deceiver
Chuks Okorafor was the last offensive lineman drafted of the Mike Munchak era. He started a game as a rookie against Von Miller and another in his second year against Aaron Donald, looking good in both. He became a full-time starter in 2020 and 2021 and did well enough to earn a 2nd contract.
However, he was benched for Broderick Jones midway through 2023 and the move started the team’s offensive turnaround. Not a bad player or pick, but you expect more from a third rounder. Grade: Serviceable Pickup
Fifth Round – Marcus Allen, The Other Marcus Allen
The Steelers drafted Marcus Allen as a safety, and he only appeared in 3 games during his first two years. They moved him to inside linebacker in 2020, where he struggled due to his size, but was forced into starting duty due to injuries. Marcus Allen played two more years in Pittsburgh, mainly on special teams, and then was out of the league. Grade: Disappointment
Fifth Round – Jaylen Samuels, The One Game Wonder
Perhaps it’s a little unfair to label 2018’s 5th round pick Jaylen Samuels a One Game Wonder, but 19 carry 142 yard explosion during his rookie year in the Steelers December 2018 upset of the Patriots was incredible. Unfortunately, that game and his 53-yard effort a week later in New Orleans amount to 41% of his career rushing total.
In 2019 and 2020, Jaylen Samuels’ role evolved into more of an H Back. He had his moments and spring of 2021 the late, great Craig Wolfley suggested that Samuels might be the answer the Steelers were seeking at running back. But he wasn’t. The Steelers cut him in 2021. He played a few games for the Texans in late 2021 and was done. Grade: Quality Valuable Pickup
Seventh Round – Josuha Fraizer, First Karl Dunbar Pick
Joshua Frazier had been coached at Alabama by Steelers coach Karl Dunbar but got cut in training camp and never spent time on an NFL roster or practice squad.
Overall Grade for the 2018 Draft Class
The Steelers 2018 Draft Class is an interesting one. At the time, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin were seen as sticking to their board as opposed to reaching for need. That’s generally a smart strategy, but for it to work must get your board right.
And the Steelers didn’t get their board right in 2018 – three of their first four picks were Disappointments. All of them had to be replaced, and the Steelers clearly see Rudolph as a backup.
- Not to mention that they passed on Lamar Jackson to take Terrell Edmunds.
And in that light, the Steelers 2018 Draft Class set the stage for what’s come since, a team that’s keeping its head above water but failing to make progress towards a championship. Grade: C
