Pittsburgh Steelers: Grading every pick in 2020 NFL Draft

Round 4, Pick 124: Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland

With the 124th pick in the draft, Pittsburgh took Maryland’s Anthony McFarland Jr. He’s an explosive runner capable of breaking off huge chunks of yardage. His acceleration is nasty, which allows him to run through defenders at times.

In 2018, McFarland rushed for 1,034 yards on 131 carries (7.9 yards per carry). However, he saw his production and prominence in Maryland’s offense decrease in 2019. McFarland finished his final season with 614 rushing yards on 114 carries (5.4 yards per carry). A high ankle sprain in 2019 might explain some of the drops off.

Some analysts view McFarland as a steal while others admit he’s just another mid-round running back. He’s a quality pickup for the fourth round, but Pittsburgh already has enough running backs with mid-round capabilities. After all, the team just took Benny Snell Jr. in the fourth round last year.

Final Grade: B-

Round 4, Pick 135: Kevin Dotson, G, Louisiana-Lafayette

Finally! It took Pittsburgh the better part of four rounds to take an interior offensive lineman. The 6-4, 310-pound Louisiana-Lafayette product struggles with his slow feet and balance at times, but the positives outweigh the negatives in Kevin Dotson‘s case.

Dotson excels in the running game, while his insufficient knee bend can hinder him in pass protection. However, Dotson is built with a powerful base, and his technique is reliable. Combined with a high football IQ and standout run-blocking skills, Dotson could become a contributor on Pittsburgh’s aging offensive line.

Final Grade: B+