In recent years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not shied away from using draft picks to retain local talent in Pittsburgh.
After a fruitful tenure at Penn State, they selected Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 draft.
They concluded that Pitt’s Kenny Pickett was their quarterback of the future the next year.
They selected Joey Porter Jr. in the most recent draft, adding another Nittany Lion to the mix.
Another local player is now awaiting a call-up from the team.
Pitt offensive tackle Matt Goncalves stated that he wants to keep playing in front of Pittsburgh football fans, according to Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh.
It would mean everything, according to Goncalves. “It just didn’t end the way I wanted it to, to play for the Steel City again, the way I ended it this year. I sincerely hope that my love, pride, and passion for Steel place be acknowledged, since I truly like that place. If I could go back and win games at Acrisrue Stadium, that would mean the world to me.
A Lineman With Great Potential Before the 2023 season began, Goncalves’ expectations were high.
In his second season as a Pitt starter in 2022, Goncalves didn’t allow a single sack in 12 games.He was named to the All-ACC Third Team as a result of that achievement.
A preseason All-ACC First Team selection in 2023 meant even greater things to come.
Turf toe terminated his final season with the Panthers after just three games, therefore he was sadly unable to live up to their expectations.
Although the injury prevented him from trying to increase his draft value, scouts should still be considering him before to the day.
He is quite large at 6’6” and 330 pounds. Scouts also look for long arms in tackles, which he possesses.
While there may not be much tape on him at the moment, the Steelers have a strong argument to keep him in Pittsburgh when their opportunity to do so arises in April.
