Pittsburgh NFL Draft Attendance Record
Somehow, the city of Pittsburgh managed to gather an incredible 320,000 people at the North Shore for the NFL Draft, setting an attendance record. During this event, myriad colorful metaphors about the city were thrown around. Honestly, when Roger Goodell mentioned “Ins,” I almost rolled my eyes completely out of my head, like that time The Undertaker revealed his hat. And, of course, the Primanti Brothers were probably mentioned countless times across different coverage, while pierogi were explained amidst the repeated play of “Renegade.”
So, the second round mock draft is available along with the top players still on the board after the first round.
Putting irony aside, Thursday saw 32 players drafted. Some teams made choices that deserve criticism, whereas others didn’t. Let’s take a closer look.
- 4th place: Colonel Tate, WR, Ohio State University
- 30th place: Keldrick Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Colonel Tate’s selection as the No. 4 pick by Tennessee came as a surprise, yet I think it makes sense upon reflection. Just consider who Cam Ward had to work with last season. Chigu Okonkwo was the team’s top receiver, with Gunnar Helm, Chaimer Dyke, and Eric Ayomanor adding up to 560 receiving yards. It’s an odd cast, but they represent Ward’s potential future weapons. For now, Tate is the primary target, alongside the newly signed Wan Dale Robinson. Additionally, the return to the first round via the Kendrick Faulk trade bolstered the defensive line nicely.
- 21st: Max Iheanakor, OT, Arizona State
If you’re a Steelers fan, you might feel entitled to some kind of compensation. Reports indicate Pittsburgh was in talks with Makai Lemon when the Eagles nabbed that spot in front of them. The Steelers had a whopping 12 picks, more than any other team, yet they opted to pick Max Iheanakor, a raw offensive tackle, rather than moving up to get Lemon. Missing out on that opportunity feels like a massive oversight, especially when they could have traded down and still selected Iheanakor.
- 14th: Olaiba Vega “Vega” Ioane, OG, Penn State University
Adding insult to injury for Steelers fans, the Ravens ended up selecting the best guard in the draft without lifting a finger. Vega Ioane is now part of their roster and is likely to become a multi-time All-Pro.
- 3rd place: Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Didn’t the Cardinals take notes from teams like the Giants and Panthers? Drafting a running back in the top five when the whole team needs work is like putting a Ferrari engine on a tricycle. Their roster is in shambles, and Jeremiah Love won’t fix that. Running backs should be the cherry on top, not the base of an underdeveloped team. Even if Love is incredible, he could end up like Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley—great talents on struggling teams.
Commander Washington: Good.
- 7th place: Sonny Stiles, LB, Ohio State University
Sonny Stiles going to Washington caught my attention. They needed someone to step in the middle of the defense after letting go of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Lube, and they managed to grab one of the most athletic players in that position. It seemed like a smart move.
- 2nd place: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech University
- 16th: Kenyon Sadik, TE, Oreton
The David Bailey pick looks solid, but it leaves me wondering about the Jets at No. 16. Sure, Kenyon Sadiq might be good, but honestly, that isn’t the only issue. Brock Bowers is right up there among the top tight ends in football, yet the Raiders are still struggling. The Jets should have targeted more valuable positions rather than going for tight end again after selecting Mason Taylor in the second round last year.
- 8th: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Saints might just take the NFC South this year. Everything they’ve done in the offseason looks promising. Signing Travis Etienne, David Edwards, and Kayden Ellis were standout moves for me, and now they add Tyson, possibly the most dynamic receiver in the draft, across from Chris Olave. If Tyler Shaw plays well leading into the end of the 2025 season, this Saints team could surprise a lot of people.
