Auburn football is set to see several alumni hear their names called this April/May in the NFL Draft, and wide receiver Anthony Schwartz is chief among them.
Perhaps set to be the highest selected Tiger in a year that is somewhat light on top-tier Tigers talent that could be selected on the first day of the three-day event, Schwartz is garnering interest from all over the league.
We’ve noted the interest the Houston Texans–who have uncertain futures with Will Fuller and Deshaun Watson that need to be addressed–have had in Schwartz. While they could theoretically make Schwartz a top option in the offense no matter what happens elsewhere on their roster, Fly War Eagle would rather see the Auburn football product find a home with a franchise that could turn him into a viable WR3 on your fantasy football team.
The Steelers could be that team, and apparently, there is interest on Pittsburgh’s end. As Still Curtain’s Tommy Jaggi pointed out, the Steel City has its eyes on the speedster from Pembroke Pines, Florida:
"Anthony Schwartz might be the only non-first-round candidate that Pittsburgh has taken such a deep interest in so far. Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert were watching him intently at Auburn’s Pro Day, as he blazed with a 4.26 40-yard dash. Schwartz also received a virtual meeting with the Steelers, which is even more reason to believe he could be on their radar – probably in the third or fourth round.Schwartz has remarkable speed and it certainly shows on film. His stature, combination of deep speed, and ability to chew up yards on reverses reminds me a lot of Mike Wallace coming out of Ole Miss. With JuJu Smith-Schuster now signed, it will be interesting to see if the Steelers still have as much interest in drafting Schwartz, but he is certainly a player who will be on their radar in the mid-rounds."
Not long ago, I assessed the fit of Schwartz on the Steelers, ranking it in the middle of the pack out of the eight teams he reportedly met with:
"#4 Auburn football WR Anthony Schwartz fit: Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers are returning Ben Roethlisberger to the fold, and backup Mason Rudolph is also in a contract year. No matter who is under center, there will be a push for Pittsburgh to win a Super Bowl in 2021-22.That is good for everyone on the receiving core because playing it safe doesn’t seem to be on the itinerary for the “Steel City”."
Juju Smith-Schuster’s return could mean the team won’t be as interested, but Ben Roethlisberger’s return may mean all hands on deck in Pittsburgh.
Either way, Schwartz to the Steelers has always seemed like a possibility, considering the success Big Ben has had with similar players to Schwartz’s stature and game.