Almost as though they were methodically marking off a checklist, the Steelers went about the second day of the NFL draft finding their starting center, getting a big-play receiver to pair with George Pickens and adding a fast and athletic inside linebacker who could line up next to newcomer Patrick Queen.
But at the top of their priority list was addressing their biggest need — drafting West Virginia center Zach Frazier in the second round one day after using their No. 1 pick on Washington tackle Troy Fautanu.
The Steelers had Frazier (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) as the second-rated center behind Duke’s Graham Barton and were able to get him with the 51st overall pick.
With the first of their two selections in the third round, the Steelers took Michigan receiver Roman Wilson with the 84th overall pick, giving them a player who can help replace the loss of Diontae Johnson.
After using their first three selections on offense, the Steelers took N.C. State inside linebacker Payton Wilson, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine, with their second pick in the third round.
The selections of Fautanu and Frazier mark only the second time in franchise history the Steelers used their first two picks on offensive linemen. The only other time was in 2012 when they took guard David DeCastro in the first round and tackle Mike Adams in the second.
The duo presents a nice welcome gift for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, whose offensive philosophy revolves around running the ball.
“I’m really excited to get a chance to work with both of them,” Smith said. “They’ve played a lot of snaps at a very high level. They check a lot of boxes for us.”
Frazier was the last of the three top-rated centers in the draft still available after Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson went to the Las Vegas Raiders with the 44th overall selection. But the Steelers had Frazier rated higher than Powers-Johnson and were targeting him all along in the second round.
“I know how much offensive line means to the Steelers and the tradition they have of having great linemen,” Frazier said on a conference call. “It’s special, and they already went off line in the first round. I’m excited.”
The Steelers had a gaping hole at center after they released two-year starter Mason Cole following the 2023 season. They would have drafted Barton in the first round if Fautanu, whom they had rated the second-best tackle in the draft, were off the board.
Frazier was a four-year starter at West Virginia who played the past three years at center. He was a four-time state heavyweight wrestling champion at Fairmont (W.Va.) Senior High School.
“We couldn’t get more fired up to have Zach in the building,” Smith said.
Roman Wilson (6-foot, 180 pounds) ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine and averaged 16 yards on 107 receptions with 20 touchdowns in four seasons with the Wolverines. After trading Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers were looking to add a receiver in the draft after signing veterans Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins.
“You can see his instincts on tape,” Smith said. “He stepped up in big moments. He’s a high-football-character player.”
Wilson, a native of Maui, Hawaii, was a high school teammate of Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig’s.
“They expect me to come in and help them win games, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Wilson said.
Payton Wilson (6-foot-4, 233 pounds) won the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year award and the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2023. He was a unanimous All-American selection, but his draft stock slipped because he has been plagued by injuries since high school. His brother, Bryse, is an MLB pitcher who made 28 starts for the Pirates in 2021-’22.
“He brings some speed to our defense. He brings physicality to our defense, to cover guys,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “When you watch his tape, you say, ‘That guy’s fast.’ He can really go.”
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and @gerrydulac on X
Zach Frazier
School: West Virginia
Pos: C • Ht: 6-2⅝ • Wt: 315
About the pick: Started 46 games over four seasons for the Mountaineers, all at center except for eight at left guard as a true freshman. ... Also a West Virginia native, playing football and winning four heavyweight state championships as a wrestler at Fairmont Senior High School. ... Turns 23 on Aug. 29. ... Took a local pre-draft visit to the Steelers, so didn’t count against the 30-man limit. ... First-team All-Big 12, second-team All-American last year but went down with a broken leg in November and missed the bowl game. ... Zero sacks and just three hits allowed last season, per Pro Football Focus. ... Didn't run the 40-yard dash until the Big 12 pro day and clocked a 5.24. ... Was a three-star recruit out of high school. ... Got married in May of last year. ... Trained this offseason with “OL Masterminds” led by Duke Manyweather, who also worked with Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green. ... Was a three-time team captain and nominated for the prestigious William V. Campbell trophy awarded for academic, athletic and community service achievements. ... Sports management major.
Roman Wilson
School: Michigan
Pos: WR • Ht: 5-10¾ • Wt: 185
About the pick: No. 1 receiver for the No. 1 team in college football last season, catching 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns in his fourth year. ... Just one drop in 15 games. ... Only a part-time starter as a sophomore and junior but had eight touchdowns over his first three seasons. ... Ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine. ... Two months from turning 23, a Hawaii native who was high school teammates and classmates with Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig. ... Primarily played in the slot over the last two years, but go routes accounted for 28.3% of his usage, per SumerSports. ... Relishes blocking and had to do a lot of it in Jim Harbaugh’s dominating rushing offense. ... Had four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in Michigan’s semifinal win against Alabama. ... Four-star recruit whose parents are from Michigan. ... Started a YouTube channel to document his life and memories, now up to more than 30,000 subscribers.
Payton Wilson
School: NC State
Pos: ILB • Ht: 6-3⅞ • Wt: 233
About the pick: Sixth-year prospect who just turned 24 but has good production, elite athletic testing numbers and classic size for the position. ... Racked up 138 tackles last season with 17½ for loss, 6 sacks, 9 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, a pick-six and forced fumble. ... Those numbers helped make him a unanimous All-American, Bednarik Award winner for top defensive player and Butkus Award winner for top linebacker in FBS. ... Only allowed a 47.2 passer rating when targeted in 2023, per Pro Football Focus. ... Timed at 4.43 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, with a 34½-inch vertical jump. ... Biggest red flag is medical history, which includes several knee and shoulder surgeries since high school, but he’s played 23 games over the past two seasons. ... Native of Hillsborough, N.C., whose older brother, Bryse, pitches for the Brewers and made 28 starts for the Pirates between 2021 and 2022. ... Four-star recruit who also played lacrosse and wrestled in high school. ... Three-time team captain who also played special teams even last year in his sixth season. ... Was arrested and faced multiple misdemeanor charges at age 19 in December 2019 after an altercation at a bar in Raleigh.
First Published: April 27, 2024, 12:39 a.m.
Updated: April 27, 2024, 1:28 p.m.
