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http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/20...ft-steelers-cornerbacks-first-round-analysis/
The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and the takeaways are being taken. Some impressed, some failed to do so but what we’re left with is a layer of smoke that covers up the same basic questions the Pittsburgh Steelers have, and will have, the remainder of the draft season.
At what point does this team address the cornerback position in the draft? Can they just take care of it in free agency?
My gut is “not in Round 1,” and “to a degree, they can, and they will.”
Here’s why.
Won’t be a CB worth No. 25
The Steelers are in far better salary cap shape than they have been in past years, and, considering the lack of trophy given or acknowledged for having the most salary cap space available (congratulations, Jacksonville), the notion of being in “great cap shape” is relatively beneficial.
Part of the reason for that is the combination of paying a franchise quarterback as well as carrying veterans like Lawrence Timmons and Antonio Brown deep into their (well-earned) contracts. Add in the big money spent on young leaders like Cam Heyward and Maurkice Pouncey.
Related:
So what happened to Cortez?
The cash it costs to keep those players in place means savings must be made elsewhere. The failure has been the team’s lack of ability in identifying the developed player who’s earned that contract. Cortez Allen fell short of that mark, and is likely looking for new employment as a post-June 1 release. Based on the structure of that post-June 1 release ($4.4 million saved compared to $1.3 million dead), it’s clear the team gave themselves an out with the contract he signed in 2014.
Related:
Steelers 2016 salary cap: Blake, Allen and cornerback contracts
I’ve highlighted the risks of selecting a cornerback in the first round previously. They swung and missed on Allen, but Ross Cockrell was reasonable, certainly for the dollar, and Will Gay can be acquired for cheap. Senquez Golson will hit the field for the first time, so it’s not as if there’s a complete lack of bodies on the depth chart. Plus, the notion of drafting a cornerback come hell or high water in the first round only suggests the cornerbacks available at that pick are on equal footing as other positions.
Why overdraft a player at the position most would agree is the most dire in terms of need? If there’s a hole in your roof, would you buy rotten wood at premium price to fix it? There should be another solution available.
Darian Thompson
The safety position is at least as thin as cornerback is. If a team is viewing a first round pick as an immediate contributor and long-term starter, both positions need an infusion of talent.
Thompson failed to impress at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine which wasn’t expected. Let’s wait for his pro day before writing him off. He’s a fluid, rangy safety, one that could allow the physical Mike Mitchell to play more around the line of scrimmage, utilizing his ability in run support. Considering veteran Robert Golden is also a special teams ace, he should be retained, regardless of what they do in the draft. It’s been quite a while since the Steelers failed to use three safeties during a season anyway, the combination of Thompson with a right-price extension for Golden makes sense both from a financial perspective as well as the long-term formation of the roster.
Related:
Steelers among "most interested" teams in Boise State S Darian Thompson
Addition by Subtraction
Rewind your mind back to Week 13, the Steelers at defending NFC champion Seattle. Do you hear Steelers fans screaming “Oh my GAWD! Get (2016 First Round Pick) out of the game! He can’t cover anyone! I swear, I could do a better job than (2016 First Round Pick)!”
(2016 First Round Pick), of course, doesn’t exist. If the sentiment in Steeler Nation is valid regarding the long-term viability of Antwon Blake, one would suggest Blake’s removal from the roster has more value than whatever his replacement will bring.
Related:
Steelers will know more about McCain's decision after the Combine
Blake is a free agent who almost certainly will last beyond the first week of free agency. The Steelers can wait before determining whether Blake is needed, but with the presence of a slot corner like Brice McCain in free agency, and the team’s ability to re-sign Gay, pairing him with Cockrell on the outside, gives the team a reasonable base of cornerbacks without having to invest a top 25 pick in an immediate contributor they don’t, at this moment, know will be up to the task.
Why ignore strength?
Simply stated, it seems unwise to pass on Stanford guard Joshua Garnett in favor of Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander. The decision to pick between the two, among others, could be what Kevin Colbert & Co. face April 28 when the Steelers go on the clock.
The draft isn’t decided on Day 1, but future strength of a team comes in its ability to land on their first round pick. Garnett has a far better pro make-up than Alexander does, and passing on the obvious talent (who also plays something of a position of future need) for the sake of drafting a Day 2 talent isn’t in the team’s best interest.
Related:
Mock Draft Monday: Steelers nab offensive guard in Round 1
This isn’t about Alexander, though. It’s about the likelihood of a better player being available at 25. Garnett seems destined for that 25th spot. Not that a direct relationship should be made, but David DeCastro, an All Pro player in 2015, was taken at 24. Alan Faneca, a Hall of Fame finalist in 2015 after arguably the best guard career in Steelers history, was taken at 26.
I’ll get out early and say Garnett is not DeCastro or Faneca, but would be more than happy to be wrong. But his talent fits the spot, and his position fits the need. It doesn’t seem likely a cornerback will be able to say the same come time for the 25th pick to be announced.
The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and the takeaways are being taken. Some impressed, some failed to do so but what we’re left with is a layer of smoke that covers up the same basic questions the Pittsburgh Steelers have, and will have, the remainder of the draft season.
At what point does this team address the cornerback position in the draft? Can they just take care of it in free agency?
My gut is “not in Round 1,” and “to a degree, they can, and they will.”
Here’s why.
Won’t be a CB worth No. 25
The Steelers are in far better salary cap shape than they have been in past years, and, considering the lack of trophy given or acknowledged for having the most salary cap space available (congratulations, Jacksonville), the notion of being in “great cap shape” is relatively beneficial.
Part of the reason for that is the combination of paying a franchise quarterback as well as carrying veterans like Lawrence Timmons and Antonio Brown deep into their (well-earned) contracts. Add in the big money spent on young leaders like Cam Heyward and Maurkice Pouncey.
Related:
So what happened to Cortez?
The cash it costs to keep those players in place means savings must be made elsewhere. The failure has been the team’s lack of ability in identifying the developed player who’s earned that contract. Cortez Allen fell short of that mark, and is likely looking for new employment as a post-June 1 release. Based on the structure of that post-June 1 release ($4.4 million saved compared to $1.3 million dead), it’s clear the team gave themselves an out with the contract he signed in 2014.
Related:
Steelers 2016 salary cap: Blake, Allen and cornerback contracts
I’ve highlighted the risks of selecting a cornerback in the first round previously. They swung and missed on Allen, but Ross Cockrell was reasonable, certainly for the dollar, and Will Gay can be acquired for cheap. Senquez Golson will hit the field for the first time, so it’s not as if there’s a complete lack of bodies on the depth chart. Plus, the notion of drafting a cornerback come hell or high water in the first round only suggests the cornerbacks available at that pick are on equal footing as other positions.
Why overdraft a player at the position most would agree is the most dire in terms of need? If there’s a hole in your roof, would you buy rotten wood at premium price to fix it? There should be another solution available.
Darian Thompson
The safety position is at least as thin as cornerback is. If a team is viewing a first round pick as an immediate contributor and long-term starter, both positions need an infusion of talent.
Thompson failed to impress at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine which wasn’t expected. Let’s wait for his pro day before writing him off. He’s a fluid, rangy safety, one that could allow the physical Mike Mitchell to play more around the line of scrimmage, utilizing his ability in run support. Considering veteran Robert Golden is also a special teams ace, he should be retained, regardless of what they do in the draft. It’s been quite a while since the Steelers failed to use three safeties during a season anyway, the combination of Thompson with a right-price extension for Golden makes sense both from a financial perspective as well as the long-term formation of the roster.
Related:
Steelers among "most interested" teams in Boise State S Darian Thompson
Addition by Subtraction
Rewind your mind back to Week 13, the Steelers at defending NFC champion Seattle. Do you hear Steelers fans screaming “Oh my GAWD! Get (2016 First Round Pick) out of the game! He can’t cover anyone! I swear, I could do a better job than (2016 First Round Pick)!”
(2016 First Round Pick), of course, doesn’t exist. If the sentiment in Steeler Nation is valid regarding the long-term viability of Antwon Blake, one would suggest Blake’s removal from the roster has more value than whatever his replacement will bring.
Related:
Steelers will know more about McCain's decision after the Combine
Blake is a free agent who almost certainly will last beyond the first week of free agency. The Steelers can wait before determining whether Blake is needed, but with the presence of a slot corner like Brice McCain in free agency, and the team’s ability to re-sign Gay, pairing him with Cockrell on the outside, gives the team a reasonable base of cornerbacks without having to invest a top 25 pick in an immediate contributor they don’t, at this moment, know will be up to the task.
Why ignore strength?
Simply stated, it seems unwise to pass on Stanford guard Joshua Garnett in favor of Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander. The decision to pick between the two, among others, could be what Kevin Colbert & Co. face April 28 when the Steelers go on the clock.
The draft isn’t decided on Day 1, but future strength of a team comes in its ability to land on their first round pick. Garnett has a far better pro make-up than Alexander does, and passing on the obvious talent (who also plays something of a position of future need) for the sake of drafting a Day 2 talent isn’t in the team’s best interest.
Related:
Mock Draft Monday: Steelers nab offensive guard in Round 1
This isn’t about Alexander, though. It’s about the likelihood of a better player being available at 25. Garnett seems destined for that 25th spot. Not that a direct relationship should be made, but David DeCastro, an All Pro player in 2015, was taken at 24. Alan Faneca, a Hall of Fame finalist in 2015 after arguably the best guard career in Steelers history, was taken at 26.
I’ll get out early and say Garnett is not DeCastro or Faneca, but would be more than happy to be wrong. But his talent fits the spot, and his position fits the need. It doesn’t seem likely a cornerback will be able to say the same come time for the 25th pick to be announced.
