Shaun Wade, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports)
Ohio State football star Shaun Wade going to the Baltimore Ravens could be bad news for Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
With former Ohio State football standout Shaun Wade slipping all the way to No. 160 in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers might regret not taking him, as Wade now plays for the rival Baltimore Ravens.
While the 2020 Buckeyes achieved great team success, as Ohio State made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship game, Wade saw his draft stock slip after a few busted coverages were found on tape. Undervalued throughout the draft process, the former Buckeyes defensive back could become a star in Baltimore. Pittsburgh may have missed out on him big time.
Will Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert regret not taking Wade in the middle of the draft?
Pittsburgh Steelers: Was passing on Ohio State star Shaun Wade a big mistake?
Overall, there are reasons why players like Wade fall all the way to the fifth round of an NFL Draft. Though some elite NFL players have been selected in this round before, including defensive back Richard Sherman, safety Rodney Harrison and the late Pro Football Hall of Fame pass rusher Kevin Greene, it is more likely Wade becomes just a guy now that he plays cornerback for the Ravens.
However, Wade’s production in the Big Ten speaks for itself. He is playing in a division with three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, as well as a future Hall of Famer in Ben Roethlisberger. While Colbert has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to running an NFL Draft as the Steelers general manager, it is hard to not see the value in selecting a player of Wade’s caliber.
Only time will tell if the Steelers made the right decision on passing on Wade in the draft or not.