Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

We'll stand to have needs at QB, WR, OT, DL, CB, and possibly S. If Jordan Zumwalt doesn't make the team this year and Sean Spence isn't re-signed, we'll actually have a roster hole at ILB.

QB- Bruce Gradkowski is a free agent, leaving Landry Jones and/or Tajh Boyd as the only backups to Big Ben. If this were any position other than QB, I'd be clamoring for a first-round pick, but Ben could play through 2019, and I don't want a first-round pick wasting away for four years. That's a shame, too. I'm a huge fan of Cardale Jones (Dante Culpepper Jr., basically), and he can declare for the 2016 draft. I think he's a better passer than Christian Hackenburg and Connor Cook, which combined with his size and passable mobility make him IMO the best QB who can declare for the 2016 draft.

Later on, I actually really like Kevin Hogan, who's drawing comparisons to Phillip Rivers.

WR - DHB is a free agent and I doubt he's re-signed, especially if Sammie Coates shows how much of a steal he supposedly was (I projected Coates as a late-2nd). In this case, WR is a late-round need. We might wanna look for a punt returner.

OT - Mike Adams is a free agent and I hope the door doesn't hit him on his way out. We'll have nothing behind Kelvin Beachum (he's not going anywhere) and Marcus Gilbert. OT is a prime candidate for first-round need/pick in 2016 - keep in mind the last time we picked an offensive player in the first round was 2012 (DeCastro).

I already made known my infatuation with Ronnie Stanley, who was draft-eligible this year but chose not to declare. He'll be competing with Laremy Tonsil and Jack Conklin for being the best OT in the nation. Of those three, I'm not sure Stanley is the best, but I am positive that all three of these guys are better than any OT prospect who entered the draft this year.

Beyond these guys, this promises to be the deepest OT class we've had in a while. At first glance, I like Spencer Drango, Le'Raven Clark, and lots of other guys as day 2 prospects who could rise into round 1. If we have the success I'm predicting we have in 2015, we'll be picking late in the draft and could scoop up one of these current day 2 prospects who rise in the rankings as the draft approaches.

DL - If everything works out the way it should, we'll have two open spots on the defensive line, but they'll be as low-priority as possible. Cameron Heyward ought to be re-signed. If he is, we'll have a young group of talented upstart linemen with a bright future. If we spend any picks on DL at all, they'll be late-rounders.

ILB - I expect Jordan Zumwalt to be snubbed from the final roster, leaving us with four ILBs. Then, I expect Sean Spence to be let go in free agency. Should this happen, we might actually draft someone else for ILB, possibly early. I won't list any players since this is a scenario that is kind of unlikely to happen - it all depends on how the final 53-man roster shakes down. However, ILB is something we all ought to watch for 2016.

CB - Every year it seems the Steelers need corners. We have two set to hit free agency in 2016. I expect William Gay to stay no matter what, but say goodbye to Antwan Blake, especially if Senquez Golson shows why we picked him in the second round. I expect corner to get first-round looks once again and for us as fans to clamor for it as the draft approaches.

If we wanna continue the trend of INTs, Kendall Fuller has great ball skills as a possible first-rounder. If we wanna push Cortez Allen, however, I don't think we can do better than Cameron Sutton. We might also look at Tony Connor - the Ole Miss Rebels look to have a great team in 2015.

S - Will Allen is getting older, and besides him and Mike Mitchell, we've nought but scraps in the defensive back end. I still believe in Shamarko Thomas, so I'll be optimistic and declare safety a mid-tier need for the Steelers which they could address on day 2 or 3. I already brought up Tony Connor, who can play both CB and S, and he is a guy the Steelers might greatly covet for that reason alone - in fact, he's an early favorite of mine. Karl Joseph shows aggression and reckless abandon reminiscent of someone who played for us recently who wore 43.

 

Senquez Golson signed today.

 

Bud Dupree signed yesterday. This is one of the earliest times I remember the Steelers signing their 1st round draft pick.

 

Is J.J. a going to be a bust? Opinions? So far, he is in my mind. Will he get better?

 

Reminds me of Lawrence Timmons situation although the circumstances were different. People were still calling Timmons a bust three years in. If Jarvis stays healthy this year, and there's no reason he shouldn't be you are going to like what you see.

 

Agree bb. He was having a really good season until his accidental injury.

 

Hey you can't call beachbum bb, that is strictly for burghball. You will confuse people. *BYE*

 

I thought Burghball was OG?

 

I'm actually excited for the first time in years
for the start off the season.
I think the Steelers finally had a draft where they helped
themselves and brought Silverback in for another
season. He's working hard and I bet he'll be better
than last year.

 

Interestingly, this is the first draft in years that I remember the Steelers not getting widespread media praise for. It's either the Browns or Ravens who've had the division's best draft, and I even hilariously heard the Bengals mentioned a couple of times. Not Pittsburgh. Everyone says it was good, but gosh, no one seems to be giving the Steelers any love compared to our rivals.

This is what I think. *BRAVO* *ROFL*

 

This was a solid draft IMO. Every pick addressed a perceived need, and there were no real reaches either. That's a good draft.

 

I thought bb stood for brass balls

 

Here's a future Steeler if there ever was one. Anyone that disagrees is just plain stupid:

[video]http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...tch-penn-states-anthony-zettel-tackles-a-tree[/video]

 

Depending on how rotted the tree was that really isnt that impressive.

 

I don't care how rotted it was. He tackles trees. Don't be stupid.

 

Cool on the tree, but...... I learned about 6 drafts ago, these feats of strength and agility mean jack squat unless they translate to the football field. Jarron Gilbert jumped out a pool from a standing stance, he went 3rd round and didn't have much impact on the field. Then there was a DB who could jump into a pickup truck standing next to it. Forgot his name, but that is more or less my point. If I remembered his name, jumping into a pickup truck would have meant something.

 

There was Lb years back that went to the Jets ( I think ) in the first round.
He was ripped head to toe and fast.
I wanted the Steelers take him so bad but there was no way to trade that far up to get him. bust!!!
The mental side of the game is just as important as the physical. Both are needed.

 

I think it was Vernon Gholston Ohio state ?

 

So, the kid can topple a tree. Great. How's his form-tackling against a moving target? How would the inertia of a moving target towards him affect his own hitting power? How is is pass rushing? How are his ball skills? Can he diagnose a play quickly and effectively? Can he line up where he needs to be? Is he fooled by play action? How is his pursuit? Can he stack and shed? Is his stamina top-notch? Does he make big plays and create opportunities at key moments? Does he have high personal and football character? If he does make big plays, is it against the likes of Michigan or against Bumphuc U?

LTS, maybe if you weren't so strong in your declaration that this kid IS a Steeler, you wouldn't be catching so much flack. Knocking over a tree is impressive, but it takes more than that for me to want him on this team. Last I checked, the NFL is played on well-manicured fields, not in the middle of the woods.

 

Before you start trashing this kid - Zettel - Why not go watch some tape on him.. The little Penn State Football I watch.. this kid can play.. I like what I saw. I thought he was coming out this year - I mentioned him back in the fall as someone to keep an eye on.. so.. Watch him this fall - see what ya think - again the little I saw of him.. I liked. At least I haven't seen a report of a DUI, or Smokin' dope.. or a number of the other knucklehead things dumb-asses seem to get caught up in.

enjoy,

bb