Analyst applauds Steelers for getting back to roots in draft

Given the franchise’s recent struggles and lack of postseason success, many have called into question the leadership of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and ex-defensive lineman Chris Hoke are just two former players who believe the team has gotten away from the “Steeler Way.”

That's part of why The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman gave the team such high marks on its 2024 draft class, applauding the selections of second-round center Zach Frazier and third-round linebacker Payton Wilson — two players who fit the old-school mold of Steelers football.

“The Steelers got two of the toughest players in the draft in West Virginia center Zach Frazier and NC State linebacker Payton Wilson,” Feldman wrote. “Not coincidentally, both are former standout high school wrestlers. … College defensive line coaches thought Frazier was a beast, and he seems like a steal in the middle of the second round. … [Wilson] has top-20 talent, and I say that knowing that linebackers don’t typically have that kind of value anymore.”