Pittsburgh Steelers select Memphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III in fourth round of 2022 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected wide receiver Calvin Austin III out of Memphis with the 138th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Coming into day three, the Steelers used their second and third round picks on Georgia wide receiver George Pickens and Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, respectively.

In terms of needs coming into the weekend, the Steelers needed help at the wide receiver position, having lost 60 percent of their wide receiver production last season following the departures of JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud. Chase Claypool needs help next season, and if it can’t come through free agency, it should come from the NFL Draft. Now, Pittsburgh has gotten two quality prospects in Pickens and Austin III.

Head coach Mike Tomlin’s quarterback situation is still hazy at best heading into the weekend. Following the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins, the Steelers are left with Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph. Both QBs have been given chances to earn their stripes early in their careers, but neither have been able to sustain prolonged success — which is a situation the Steelers haven’t had to face in nearly two decades.

Behind the starting three on Pittsburgh’s defensive line, the Steelers severely lack depth in the trenches. Last season they were one worst run-stopping teams in the NFL and did little to stack depth at the position so far this offseason. Cornerback is also a position Tomlin needs to address before the start of the 2022-23 season.

Pittsburgh selected Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with their first round pick Thursday night. The Steelers have had immense success with their past two first-round draft picks. Claypool was drafted in 2020 and is already WR1 for the Steelers. That pick was followed up by Najee Harris last season, who looks to be one of the most promising young running backs in the league after his rookie season. Pickett will look to capture some of that magic as well.

The Steelers will enjoy three more selections on the final day, including draft picks in the sixth and seventh (twice) rounds before wrapping up their 2022 draft class.