Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

I was on Depot, I was told there was no interest in top DL in this class and Derrick Harmon was not their pick at 21. A few hours later the site posted that Derrick Harmon is coming in for a visit. Yeah no shit Sherlock.

I still like the site but I will stand with my instincts. Those of you who know me can see the post, I will see if I get a redaction.

Omarian Hampton just came in for a visit, as did Ollie Gordon. That makes a boatload of RBs that came in, Steelers are drafting a RB in 3 weeks, bank it. Running a simulator now, these visits will influence my picks if applicable.

 

Harmon was gone, getting used to that. Traded back from 21 to 22 and 83 to 84 still got good players. Hampton, Shough, Roberts all came in for visits. Double dipped at DL, need youth. Nohl Willams led the nation in INT, turnovers win games.

 

I did not like the CB or WR pool at 229, but Broughton offers a wide body with 35" arms. You get him and Harmon and your DL is set for the next 3-5 years. Still got a QB and an OT I really like. I know they just resigned Calvin Anderson, but Grant offers some really nimble feet, actually he reminds me of Kelvin Beachum. Kyle Monangai has ZERO FUMBLES in 4 years at Rutgers.

 

So I am on The Athletic, (because I splurged the 2 bucks for a month) I don't agree with about a third of the rankings, some of them are ticky tack, some of them are substantiated.
What I will say about the site is this: You can look up a position group and all the numbers are right in front of you. Height, Weight, 40, 10, arm, wingspan, hand, age. Really a good tool for reference. So I clicked on Derrick Harmon, he has put on 11 lbs. since the combine, something to think about. I found 5 DT with 34 inch and up arms all at least 6-04+. This comes into play batting balls down, hitting the QBs arm forcing fumbles and being able to shed blocks. Then I look at hand size, which guy has the mitts to strip the ball. It's not an exact science but they measure and time these guys for a reason. Another one that is standing out to me, Jaxson Dart has 9-1/2" hands good for the position, but freakishly short wingspan, 73-1/8, compared to Sanders who is an inch shorter in height but has 77-3/4 wingspan. Just a draft nerd trying to find reasons and facts when I got two guys same position around the same grade. The problem with tape is it's YouTube highlights, EVERYONE looks good on YouTube. Cam Heyward had a comment on Sanders, says he pats the ball before he throws it. In the NFL 0.1 seconds is a potential sack vs. a pressure. Chris Simms says it's not an issue, so for me, yeah it is.

 

Read an article, there are a handful of prospects, they list 5 of them, all with ties to the NFL. Carson Breuner is the most obvious for Steeler fans and then Mason Taylor. Here is an interesting fact. Back in the CBS days I was pounding the table for Kam Chancellor if anyone remembers. His nephew is in this draft, Keandre Lambert-Smith, reminds me of Mike Wallace taking the top off of a defense. His rankings are anywhere from 5th to 7th, someone to consider late in the draft if Pittsburgh has not taken a WR yet. With 6 picks WR is a semi-luxury pick and I personally think Kahn will resign Pickens to keep up with Cincy. As much as I like the promise of Roman Wilson, he has yet to play and from what I read he will be given a chance to beat out Austin as WR3. I think CB is another semi-luxury pick, I think Pittsburgh focuses on Safety. Latest mock on Depot and Turd McShart's mock, has The Steelers taking Nick Emmanwori.

Here is an example of where I strongly disagree with Dane Brugler (you older guys know my nick name for him) on the Athletic, he has Kyle Kennard a 4th rounder, EDGE22, some players rated above him Walker 21, Sorrell 18, Sawyer 11th. Kennard has more twitch and bend than all of these guys.
A player everyone is undervaluing is Nic Scourton, his first step is wicked, his effort is off the chart, and he's a good tackler. Probably an OLB in Pittsburgh's scheme. A couple of things on him, only 20 years old, and has a massive wingspan of 81" for a guy just under 6'3".

 

Collaborative Draft. I had 3 guys, tried to move back a few to pick up a 7th pick, no takers.
Derrick Harmon
Matthew Golden
Jaxson Dart

that was my short list. I went Harmon, being consistent is what I strive for. Kahn will likely take Dart, makes the most sense. For what it's worth I think T. Mac is over-rated, I like Golden better and if you throw out that BC game and the shitty QB play from Brady Cook, Burden is a really good YAC guy and would be dynamic with Pickens and Metcalf. However, who the fuck is throwing him the ball? Rodgers is being a tool, this is what we have come to suspect of this assclown. If it weren't for Mendenhall's fumble, he wouldn't even have his friggin' ring. Back to Mopey Dick, he is waiting to see where Cousins goes and his deal, what Minnesota does, and who PIttsburgh drafts. In other words instead of a guy wanting to join a team and be all in with them, it's all about himself. If he does go to MN, unlikely, he would follow the exact path Favre took. GB NYJ MN

 

More homework done, got a feel for some picks at 83, needs are obviously QB and RB but if a WR or DB falls, I will snap one up. Looking at the pre-draft visits 8 RB 6 DT 4 WR 4 QB 2 CB 2 S 1 OT 1 K 1 TE, the ones in italics are Pitt/ WVa guys so make your own conclusion.

 

2025 NFL User Mock Draft #8646430 | NFL Mock Draft Database

BPA draft.

 

If you had Isiah Bond on your board, cross him off, Steelers are not drafting him. Arrested on Sexual abuse charges in Frisco, TX.

 

I really really like this draft simulator run ^ It addresses everything sans pass rusher.

Latest mock out from the Athletic. 3 rounder. Here are the highlights. (I don't the follow the author very well, but man this is a super solid effort).


2. Travis Hunter
3. Mason Graham
9. Tyler Warren
21. Shedeur Sanders
33. Tyler Shough
34 Jaxson Dart
42. Jalen Milroe
83. Alfred Collins

Basically he is saying there are 5-6 BLUE chip prospects in this draft. Sanders, Shough, Milroe, Dart are all graded out to late 1 to day 2 QB with no clear cut #2 - #5. Basically after Cam Ward it gets murky. Cleveland takes Hunter, Giants take Graham because they are close to cannot miss prospects. The other team that could take a QB @ 9 is New Orleans. But they draft smart and give Carr a weapon, and a guy who can help chip and edge rusher or block for Kamara. I think Warren, Graham, Hunter are all blue chippers. The other thing I like is he does not over Jordan Burch he goes 64 to the Eagles, the rich get richer. Until someone figures out that DL and running the ball wins games, I think they can repeat. They also take Malaki Starks at 32, so imagine Quinyon Mitchell, Maliki Starks, and Cooper DeJean in your secondary, good luck with that. At 96 they add Miles Frazier, a brusing OG from LSU to clear a path for Saquon Barkley. Chiefs retool with 31. Donovan Jackson to protect Mahomes, 63. Dylan Sampson to give some juice and another pass catcher and then round it off with one of my Sleepers, Vernon Broughton, the eventual replacement for Chris Jones. Other picks that are relavent for Pittsburgh is Baltimore reloads with 27. Donovan Ezeiruaku 59. Omar Norman-Lott a space eating DT, and @ 91 Jacob Parrish a swiss army knife CB. Also no QB in round 3, all the wannabees go in presumably the 4th round or later. (Howard, Gabriel, Ewers, McCord). He has Isiah Bond going 94 to The Saints, but I think the arrest came out after he submitted his mock. Best available WR would be Tory Horton, who has a 3/4 grade.

 

Some familiar faces in the simulator. Traded back a few times, didn't love my options, got guys I wanted, got back into the second round and get the 4th or 5th best QB in this uncertain class. One thing about Milroe, his character is through the roof. If Steelers do sign Drama Darling Mr. Rodgers, Milroe won't be a problem child. Double dipped at DL, Robinson was too good to pass up. My favorite OT was gone, he is moving up, so I took Rivers, a massive guy with some injuries, hopefully medical clears that up. Nohl Williams led the nation in INT, Sorrell is famous for getting pressure on the QB and at pick 215 adding depth was on my to do list. Not a super fan of Moon, he doesn't offer much other than ST.

 

Carr sounds like he might be done for the season, shoulder, so will NO now overdraft a QB because they really have no other option currently. He’s supposed to let them know before the draft if he’s having surgery.

and all the Flacco talk to the Steelers is now done as well, signed with the browns.

Do we actually see any of these QB’s as potential future starters for the Steelers? If not, I prefer we spend the 3rd-5th picks on better uses and players we could potentially see starting in this organization, instead of a backup QB.

 

Saints are in play for Sanders, I don't think NYG and CLE are passing on Travis Hunter, Mason Graham, or Abdul Carter. On Carr, never impressed me, even less than his douchebag Steeler/Ben hater brother. Like Chris Simms his NFL record speaks for itself.. SHIT. I pay for Peacock because of a few shows, but I refuse to listen to Florio and Simms, they just annoy the fuck out of me. Especially when Simms sips his coffee like some half ass armchair executive. He would have never been dick without his daddy.

In the Collaborative I am following where QBs go, it's interesting, to say the least. I have several positions I want to fill after going DT in round 1. I am going BPA. After taking Harmon, I am wondering if his weight issues will come back and bite the team that drafts him. He came in as a 350 lb. Freshman. Since the combine he as gone from 313# at the combine up to 322# at his pro day. If we select him, as I think is very likely he is a top option, Steelers strength and conditioning coaches need to get him on track to play around 310-315. He probably needs a nutritionist as well.

As far as Starters, in this draft. Cam Ward would be 4th or 5th best option, Sanders probably 7-8th in 2024. Shough has prototypical HWS, lot of experience, see Bo Nix for drafting a guy who's been in college for quite some time. Shough did have some injuries. Milroe is the ultimate good dude, super clean kid, who is a model citizen and a team first guy. Dart is streaky, he beats Georgia then gets his ass kicked by Kentucky. Howard is a proven winner, but he's a statue and with the OL Pittsburgh is putting out there, whoa boy. Another reason why I think Rodgers isn't signing, he is going to get plastered back there. I hope, no, I pray that Broderick Jones goes to the left side and he regains the mojo he had at Georgia.

I was strongly considering Charles Grant at 83, but he went early third, he has the footwork you cannot coach. He just needs to hit the weight room.