Pittsburgh Steelers rookie LB Carson Bruener has been a particular groups stud for the staff this season. For a staff that prides itself on particular groups, Bruener has been an enormous a part of the Steelers’ success. However on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, Bruener didn’t know what his future would maintain. And through an interview with Arthur Moats, he defined that getting handed over within the fifth spherical, the place he thought he could be chosen, put a chip on his shoulder.
“Based mostly off grades I’ve heard from groups and thru my agent, there was a part of me that I might go fifth spherical,” Bruener mentioned. “Fifth spherical goes by, I see a bunch of linebackers taken, I didn’t get a telephone name. So it did get to some extent the place a bit of little bit of anger set in, the place I used to be like, okay, that is simply an excellent larger chip on my shoulder.”
Bruener mentioned that after he wasn’t taken within the sixth spherical, he began researching linebacker depth charts in preparation to signal with a staff as an undrafted free agent. However that by no means got here to be after the Steelers chosen him 226th total.
5 off-ball linebackers had been chosen within the fifth spherical of the draft, and one other two went within the sixth spherical, with one even going forward of Bruener within the seventh spherical. However regardless of falling additional than he would’ve appreciated, Bruener has taken his alternative with the Steelers and run with it. He’s no stranger to the group, as his dad, Mark, performed for the staff and is at present a scout for the Steelers. Bruener has seen firsthand how issues function with the Steelers, so it shouldn’t be a shock that he got here in, earned a task, and has completed his job extremely successfully.
Regardless of going up towards gamers who’ve been within the group for a number of years to earn a roster spot, Bruener got here out of coaching camp as a member of the 53-man roster, and his job has by no means been unsure. He has 23 whole tackles this season, together with three towards the Baltimore Ravens, and he’s cementing himself as a possible star on particular groups down the road.
Whereas the draft might not have gone precisely how he wished, he ended up with the staff he wished to play for within the Steelers, and he’s exhibiting some groups they could have made a mistake not deciding on him greater.
