The Pittsburgh Steelers have always been great at selecting wide receiver talent and took another swing on Calvin Austin III. With the 138th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers took the speedy wide receiver. What makes this pick more interesting is that the Baltimore Ravens were also heavily interested in Austin III. However, they gambled by taking a punter at 130, hoping he would be there at 139. The Steelers swooped in a nabbed him. Austin III has not forgotten this slight and now has a personal vendetta against the Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers Calvin Austin III On Draft Day Slight
The Ravens gambled and lost. They apparently didn’t think highly enough of Austin III to lock in the pick. The Steelers happily took the opportunity and Austin III has not forgotten the Ravens gambling and losing.
“Man, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been thinking about that,” Austin told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko on June 26, 2023. “It’s wild. It’s one of those things where you know, obviously, I’m blessed and I’m just so 100% glad that I came here. I’d be lying if I said that hasn’t been on my mind since the draft, since that came out.”
“A punter, huh? It’s personal. But that will all be settled out, lord willing, this year and the times we see them. I just have it circled. Crazy.”
The fact that it was a punter makes it that much more of a slight.
Plenty Of Opportunities
The good news for Austin III is that he will get to exact his revenge twice a year. The bad news is that the Ravens have one of the toughest quarterbacks to stop in Lamar Jackson. However, no matter what the records are these two teams always seem to be involved in a slugfest. The Steelers are hoping for a second-year jump from Kenny Pickett and players like Calvin Austin III and fellow receiver George Pickens. Defensively, TJ Watt is always a menace. They definitely have the pieces for Austin III to get back at the Ravens in 2023.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a tough spot in the AFC. They are by no means a favorite but Mike Tomlin always seems to find a way for this team to hit .500. If this continues in 2023, the Steelers will be in the mix come January.