Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

I've seen 2 early draftniks and both have the Steelers picking a DB. One from Ohio State named Apple. He's 20 years old (he is young, fast and big) and will probably take some time to develop but the guy says he can be one of the best if he lives up to expectations. The other had a DB from Virginia Tech, forget his name. The Steelers were 5th against the run and near the bottom in pass defense. I would definitely go DB! I'd probably take a chance on the young kid from OSU (Ohio). He could be a shutdown corner which would give the defense more options if he comes through.......Course, it's early yet......

 

I think Kendall Fuller is a kid we have to look at if you are looking CB. If that knee is healthy he's one of the best in the class.

 

Any safeties potential 1st rounders? Steelers still have Golson to replace Boykin, and Grant still may turn into a good player on the outside. Resign Cockrell and Gay and it could be a decent secondary if they improve on Allen. Definitely still draft another CB, hopefully in the 1st 3 rounds, and maybe the weakness becomes a strength.

 

Tre'Davious White (CB, LSU) will return for his senior season. There's a potential 1st round CB off the board.

 

I don't think any safeties have a first round grade as of right now. The CB Igloo mentioned, Eli Apple, is a good prospect. He needs to be polished but the potential is there and he should be available at the end of the first. Of course that depends on how much your front office thinks you need the CB help.

 

I'm working on safeties today so I'll give you the link for Thompson.

I think Darian Thompson should end up going somewhere near the bottom of the first, top of the second. He's the #1 safety on my board and he can be an immediate starter for most teams.

 

Su'a Cravens out of USC is a potential 1st round safety. I've seen him graded as such in a few places but really know nothing about him beyond that. He played a lot of LB in college at 6'1" 205. Projects as an NFL safety.

 

I know the Steelers will be looking at BPA at 25, but they would be crazy not to look at these position groups in this order of importance:

1.) DB
2.) Safety (if they sign Weddle, this becomes way less of a priority)
3.) Guard/Tackle (if the resign Foster, this becomes Tackle)
4.) TE (Heath has another year or two MAX)
5.) ILB - I think Williams can fill in, but I don't know if he is a true starting-caliber guy. Gonna need someone to eventually replace Law-Dog

I would love to see them draft or sign another OLB or two as well, but I don't think it is a first round priority. If Jones really steps up and has a killer 2016 season, he may be too expensive to keep. If we sign him to a reasonable deal this year, it will provide some relief for a few seasons.

 

Early surprises to look out for:

• Steelers will at least consider Carson Wentz @ 25 if he falls to them
  Won't even look at RB or TE
  May spend up to three of their five picks on OL
  Could spend all of their picks on trench guys (three OL, two DL)
  Will not draft a CB[/*]

This is what I gather in the early going. I feel like the Steelers are more likely to re-sign William Gay and rear up their draft investments from last year than add to the pile of corners.

 

Depends how he runs. Is he a SS or WLB?

 

1. ...and no one else behind them. We're lucky they stayed healthy all year or we may be talking about how straight-up garbage the whole unit was. Have the Ravens taught you nothing? Depth on the line is important.

2. He was busted with weed possession. Two high-caliber players on the Steelers were recently busted with the same thing and suspended for it. The team isn't going to allow any young impressionable player to continue doing something that will set them and the player back. That's a minor offense anyway that isn't indicative of how a player is as a person.

Despite that, I would be on the fence. On one hand, seeing as Tuitt and Heyward are both good pass-rushers, adding another would seem redundant. On the other, adding yet another pass rusher down there could help negate our 3rd-worst pass defense since our linebackers appear to have the pass-rushing prowess of a spit ball without some exotic blitzing scheme.

Not to say Nkemdiche wouldn't be a good run-stopper in the non-traditional sense, as he would hopefully develop the awareness necessary to knife into a backfield almost as soon as the runner takes the handoff. In Dick LeBeau's defense, he'd have no place as he'd never be a good two-gapper.

Since Nkemdiche would be considered a steal @ 25, I'd take him, but I'd temper my expectations. That said, he's much quicker than both Heyward and Tuitt, and that would be a plus.

 

The Steelers play a lot more 4 man fronts now and having lineman that you can rotate or line-up all over creates mismatch hell for an offensive line.

For Pittsburgh, getting an early lead by a very talented offense and backing that up with a formidable pass rush next season makes too much sense to pass up a top tier DL to select a lesser quality DB.

 

Nkemdiche would be a beast. The Steelers lack depth on the D line. I'm not going to be one bit surprised to see the Steelers take a D Lineman this year because the of the best player available approach.

It's really hard for a team to judge what a player that has had a little off field trouble is going to do when they hit the NFL. I loot at Tyrann Mathieu coming out of LSU and how he fell in the draft. Turned out well for Arizona. Some times it's worth taking a risk. Mike Adams didn't turn out so well for the Steelers but he was a 2nd round pick rather than a first.

 

Kenny Clark NT ( UCLA ) OR A"Shawn Robinson DL ( Alabama ).

Clark's got size and is athletic.
I think he can play anywhere on the DL if needed. He's improved his numbers every year in college and us ready for the NFL now.
IMO, NT would be a great place to start next season. With the Steelers DE and OLB, a big guy in the middle would be huge fir this unit.

 

There appear to be a ton of really talented D-linemen in the first round.

 

Fuller is the player from VT that I saw some had the Steelers taking. Thanks Mut! I think Apple is younger and has more upside down the road. As R #1 said, he needs some polishing.....I didnt see any safeties predicted for the 1st round either. Theres is a ton of DL as Bum said. I wouldn't be surprised if a good one fell and the Steelers gabbed him....You build from the trenches and out, right......Steelers do need a better pass rush!

 

Boswell is 10 years younger than Suisham. Are there any teams that need a kicker? Jordan Berry, the punter, is no spring chicken either. I think the Steelers could improve their punting game and ST by looking for a punter also.....

 

He's 24 years old. How much younger do you want the punter to be?

 

Is that Barack Obama back in the 70's?