What happened to the Steelers 2022 to 2024 draft classes?

The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner. The last few offseasons, I dove into a Steelers NFL draft classes starting with the longest-tenured draft pick and outlined each successive draft. In doing so, each player selected by the Steelers was highlighted as to how their NFL career, or lack thereof, took shape. Each year was outlined with the last three draft classes all combined into one since a large number of the players were still with the team.

Since it worked before, and since a lot of the research has already been done, let’s look back at the players from these drafts yet again each weekday leading up to the opening day of the 2025 draft. Instead of going all the way back to 2011, I decided to start in 2016 which is the first draft that still has multiple players in the NFL. But before starting, I highlighted players drafted by the Steelers in 2015 and before who were still in the NFL in 2024. For players no longer in the league, a lot of the information will be the same while others will be updated where needed.

Part 8 of 8 will highlight the Steelers 2022 to 2024 NFL draft, talking about each class as a whole and discussing the players no longer with the organization individually (even though there are only two of them).

So let’s take a look at the last three years of players drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers:

2022

Still on the Steelers roster:

George Pickens, Wide receiver, Georgia, Round 2, Pick 52
DeMarvin Leal, Defensive tackle, Texas A&M, Round 3, Pick 84
Calvin Austin III, Wide receiver, Memphis, Round 4, Pick 138
Connor Heyward, Tight end, Michigan St, Round 6, Pick 208
Mark Robinson, Linebacker, Mississippi, Round 7, Pick 225

The Steelers called on their 2022 rookie class often, but not necessarily early like in 2021. In the first game of the season, only three players saw the field with George Pickens leading the way with 45 offensive snaps followed by DeMarvin Leal with 17 defensive snaps along with two snaps on special teams. Connor Heyward was the only other member of the 2022 rookie class to see the field to start the season and that was on 22 special teams snaps and one on offense. But by the end of the season, all of the rookie class were contributing significantly with the exception of Calvin Austin, who spent the entire season on the Reserve/Injured List (IR), and Chris Oladokun, who was released before the Steelers final preseason game. The remaining draft class all made the 53-man roster for 2023, but first round pick Kenny Pickett was traded during the 2024 offseason. The 2024 season once again saw all remaining five players on the 53-man roster, although DeMarvin Leal spent most of the season on IR and only appeared in five games.

No longer on the Steelers roster:

Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pittsburgh, Round 1, Pick 20

After taking over the reins four games into his rookie season, Kenny Pickett appeared to be the entrenched starter for the Steelers at quarterback despite subpar numbers. In each of us two years in Pittsburgh, Pickett was 7–5 in games he started. But only throwing six touchdowns in 2023 gave the Steelers a reason to grasp an opportunity to bring in Russell Wilson in a once-in-a-lifetime contract situation for the league minimum. Not liking how things were playing out at the position, Pickett asked to be traded and was dealt to Philadelphia within the week. Pickett appeared in five games with the Eagles with one start. In all he threw for 2 touchdowns, rushed for one, and had an interception and managed to receive a Super Bowl ring. Following the season, Pickett was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Chris Oladokun, Quarterback, South Dakota St, Round 7, Pick 241

With the Steelers having one quarterback left from the 2021 season, signing one of the bigger names in free agency in Mitch Trubisky, and being the only team to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 draft in Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh was not an attractive landing spot for undrafted rookie free agent quarterbacks. With this in mind, the Steelers drafted Chris Oladokun with their final selection. Used mainly as an insurance policy in case they were dealing with injury in training camp, every quarterback was available for the Steelers throughout the preseason and Oladokun did not see the field in a game and barely in practice. Released, ahead of the Steelers third preseason game, Oladokun signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad for the season. After the Chiefs were victorious in Super Bowl LVII, Oladokun signed on again, landed on the practice squad, and won another Super Bowl. Attempting a three-peat, Oladokun once again signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs for 2024. Failing to make the 53-man roster yet again, Oladokun was not added to the practice squad until mid October. This time Oladokun was elevated for the final game of the season and played his first only 5 snaps of his career. Oladokun once again signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs for 2025.

2023

Still on the Steelers roster:

Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia, Round 1, Pick 17
Joey Porter Jr., Cornerback, Penn State, Round 2, Pick 32
Keeanu Benton, Defensive Lineman, Wisconsin, Round 2, Pick 49
Darnell Washington, Tight End, Georgia, Round 3, Pick 93
Nick Herbig, Linebacker, Wisconsin, Round 4 Pick 132
Cory Trice Jr., Defensive Back, Purdue, Round 7, Pick 241
Spencer Anderson, Offensive Lineman, Maryland, Round 7, Pick 251

The Steelers entire 2023 draft class, the first under general manager Omar Khan, made the Steelers 53-man roster with the exception of cornerback Cory Trice who landed on the Reserve/Injured List early and training camp. The Steelers first three draft picks all eventually became starters throughout their rookie season and kept the positions for 2024. The next two draft picks in Darnell Washington and Nick Herbig have been key contributors on their side of the ball through two seasons. The last two draft picks in Cory Trice and Spencer Anderson both made the roster in 2024 as key reserve players, although Trice once again missed time due to injury.

2024

Still on the Steelers roster:

Troy Fautanu, Offensive Tackle, Washington, Round 1, Pick 20
Zach Frazier, Center, West Virginia, Round 2, Pick 351
Roman Wilson, Wide Receiver, Michigan, Round 3, Pick 84
Payton Wilson, Linebacker, North Carolina State, Round 3, Pick 98
Mason McCormick, Guard, North Dakota State, Round 4 Pick 119
Logan Lee, Defensive Tackle, Iowa, Round 6, Pick 178
Ryan Watts, Safety, Texas, Round 6, Pick 195

Following the path of the previous draft under general manager Omar Khan, the entire 2024 draft class was with the Steelers for the entire season although one was on IR. Ryan Watts suffered a significant neck injury in the final preseason game and was placed on season-ending IR for the season even started. Logan Lee made the 53-man roster but landed on IR before Week 1 and missed the entire season. Troy Fautanu missed Week 1 du to injury, but started at right tackle in Week 2 before getting injured in practice and missed the rest of the season. Sticking with the injury theme, wide receiver Roman Wilson was injured during the first padded practice of training camp and never got up to speed to be available, appearing in only one game before landing on IR. With four players appearing in a combined two games, the other three made up for the loss. Zach Frazier started Week 1 and had a successful rookie campaign although he missed two games with an ankle injury. Mason McCormick started the final 14 games of the season but broke his hand and missed the playoffs. Linebacker Payton Wilson, a player who dropped in the draft due to injury concerns, was the only player from the Steelers 2024 draft class to not miss a game due to injury.

What players drafted by the Steelers in 2015 and before are still in the NFL?
What happened to the Steelers 2016 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2017 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2018 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2019 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2020 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2021 draft class?