3 NFL Draft prospects the Steelers should avoid

2. Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest

If the Steelers were blessed with a top-10 pick in this year’s draft they could comfortably find a quarterback capable of leading the franchise into the future. It’s much more difficult to find that kind of player all the way down at 28. Pittsburgh needs to make sure it doesn’t reach on a prospect who doesn’t really deserve a Round 1 grade.

It’s easy to envision a franchise talking themselves into a player like Newman during the pre-draft process. He had a lot of Round 1 buzz last offseason when he made the decision to leave Wake Forest for Georgia. His curious decision to opt-out of the 2020 season sent his draft stock into free fall, but he’s got NFL caliber size, speed, and arm strength for the position.

The challenge Newman will have adjusting to the NFL comes in terms of his ability to anticipate throws and deliver the ball with the accuracy required to succeed against high-level cornerbacks. His stats at Wake Forest were inflated by throwing to wideouts who could simply make plays over the top of average collegiate defensive backs. Newman’s tape doesn’t showcase many throws that will comfortably translate to the next level.

Drafting Newman in Round 3 could turn into a great long-term play for a team like the Steelers. Spending a first round pick could turn into a veritable disaster. Pittsburgh cannot afford to be seduced by Newman’s size and speed during the pre-draft process.