Connor Heyward selected by Steelers in 6th round of NFL Draft, joins brother

Former Michigan State star Connor Heyward is headed to Pittsburgh to join his brother, Cam, and the Steelers. This is a great fit.

The move that just about everyone thought was going to happen: Connor Heyward fell right into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ laps in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

It seemed like the perfect fit because Pittsburgh just has that gritty, tough style of play and that’s exactly how Connor plays. He’s one of those tough players who gives it his all on every play and who just sneaks up on you with his athleticism.

And now he’s headed to Pittsburgh after he was drafted No. 208 overall by the Steelers and he’s joining his brother and star defensive end, Cam.

Heyward had an interesting career with the Spartans, starting as an “athlete” before getting moved to running back in his early years under Mark Dantonio. He had 529 rushing yards and 249 receiving yards with five total scores in 2018 and then got the nod as a full-time back in 2019 which didn’t exactly work out as he had planned.

Not having that cutting ability or breakaway speed really limited him as he finished with 79 rushing yards on 24 carries.

Heyward entered the transfer portal after four games and then decided to return in 2020 after speaking with Mel Tucker who clearly had a plan for him. He moved to tight end/H-back and excelled. In fact, he had 200 rushing yards and 71 receiving yards in 2020 before really breaking out as a pass-catcher and blocker in 2021, racking up 35 catches for 326 yards and two scores.

Thought of as an afterthought in the run game just a few years ago, Heyward improved his NFL draft stock under Tucker and now he’ll be joining the Steelers as a Swiss army knife, of sorts, on offense.

Michigan State has had three players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft as Kenneth Walker III went No. 41 overall to the Seahawks and Jalen Nailor went No. 191 overall to the Vikings.