2022 NFL Draft: Packers get worst grade among all 32 first-round picks
19. New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Trevor Penning. 19. 15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. Northern Iowa. player
Grade: B+
The New Orleans Saints saw an opportunity to attack two needs in the first round of this year’s draft, and you’ve got to at least respect the process there.
Even though they maybe didn’t get the top WR or the top OT on the board, I think they landed two instant and potentially long-term starters with Chris Olave and Trevor Penning.
Penning, who has been ascending quietly over the last six months, is a nasty road grader with outstanding athleticism. He will be able to slide into the vacated left tackle spot for the Saints immediately.
New Orleans has done a good job over the last five or six years bringing along home-grown offensive line talent, so we have every reason to trust that Penning will carry the torch and be a great bookend for Ryan Ramczyk.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
player. Pick Analysis. QB. Kenny Pickett. 20. 55. Scouting Report. Pitt
Grade: C
The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the entire last year evaluating quarterback prospects for this draft.
As Mike Tomlin put it, they scanned across every inch of the country only to take the guy right “next door” even though Pickett isn’t next door.
He has basically been a roommate of the Steelers while playing his college ball at Pitt.
Pickett’s ascent this past year was impressive but he obviously came with more questions than other late bloomers like Joe Burrow. Notably, Pickett will have the smallest hands of any starting quarterback in the league if he beats Mitchell Trubisky for the job.
You can’t fault the Steelers for at least trying to fix the QB position. I’m not in love with this pick and I feel like Malik Willis was the higher upside play, but Pickett might have a better shot to start now which is what the Steelers prioritized.