Steelers host quarterbacks, wide receivers for predraft visits

[Spike]

The Steelers continue to show interest in quarterbacks from the upcoming class even if they aren't expected to address the position early in the NFL Draft.

Among four players the Steelers hosted for predraft visits at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Monday were quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Dobbs. The others were wide receivers Joshua Reynolds and Kenny Golladay.

Mahomes of Texas Tech is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2017 class. He is listed as the No. 4 quarterback prospect and expected to be drafted in the first or second round, according to CBSsports.com. His father, Pat Mahomes, is a former major league reliever who pitched his last game for the Pirates in 2003.

Dobbs of Tennessee is rated as the No. 9 quarterback prospect and considered a sixth-round talent, according to CBSsports.com. He might be the smartest player in the draft, holding a degree in aerospace engineering.

Wide receiver is a position the Steelers figure to address, particularly given the uncertainty of Martavis Bryant, who is awaiting reinstatement by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Golladay (Northern Illinois) is projected to go in the fourth round, and Reynolds (Texas A&M) in the fifth.

The Steelers are allowed to host 30 predraft visitors over the next three weeks. In the past two seasons, seven of the Steelers' draft picks had predraft visits with the team.

Note: The Steelers will conduct their three-day minicamp from June 13-15 at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The team has yet to announce the days for its three-day rookie minicamp.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers...arterbacks-wide-receivers-for-predraft-visits

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Steelers host defensive players including pass rushers McKinley, Rivers

After hosting four offensive players one day earlier, the Steelers turned to the other side of the ball Tuesday.

With needs at outside linebacker and in the secondary, the Steelers hosted pass rushers Takk McKinley and Derek Rivers, plus cornerback Jourdan Lewis and safety Montae Nicholson, a Gateway graduate.

UCLA's McKinley is considered a first-round talent, but he had shoulder surgery in February that could push his availability back until the start of the season. He could be on the board when the Steelers pick at No. 30.

McKinley had 10 sacks last year at UCLA, but he waited until February to have surgery and the timetable for his return was four to sixth months.

Rivers attended Youngstown State and is considered the ninth-best defensive end in the draft and a second- or third-round selection, according to CBSsports.com.

Lewis, of Michigan, is considered a third-round pick and is ranked as the No. 15 cornerback, according to CBSsports.com.

Nicholson left Michigan State early to declare for the draft and was considered a late-round prospect until the NFL Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, the third-fastest time among safeties.

In his final year with the Spartans, Nicholson had 86 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and two tackles for loss.

Given his local ties, Nicholson won't count against the Steelers' allotment of 30 pre-draft visitors.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers...layers-including-pass-rushers-mckinley-rivers

 

[GRBman]

If the Steelers draft Dobbs, I'm done. There's no hope.

 

[Spike]

In the past two seasons, seven of the Steelers' draft picks had predraft visits with the team.


What does that tell you?

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

2 seasons, 30 players / year = 60 players

7/60 so about 11% of the players who visited.

 

[Spike]

It's not simple math - you know who they want - and so does the rest of the league!

Unable to change gears, why they always run to the podium?

 

[Litos]

why they always run to the podium?

because they can't teleport...yet

 

[Steeltime]

because they can't teleport...yet

Scotty ... to the podium!!

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

It's not simple math - you know who they want - and so does the rest of the league!

Unable to change gears, why they always run to the podium?

Lack of counter intel + Obvious need + 11% historical draft of predraft visits + BPA + √ of propensity to sprint to the podium = Predictable draft choice.

 

[SteelerSask2]

If the Steelers draft Dobbs, I'm done. There's no hope.

So the Steelers future and your alligance us dependant upon not taking a late draft pick QB. Ok

 

[Drink IRON City]

Another injured player.




Salute the nation

 

[GRBman]

So the Steelers future and your alligance us dependant upon not taking a late draft pick QB. Ok

My allegiance isn't over, I'm just done trying to hope for a better future...under this coach and GM. There is a TON of tape on Josh Dobbs...the kid can't play. I've watched nearly every snap of his career at Tennessee.

 

[SteelerSask2]

My allegiance isn't over, I'm just done trying to hope for a better future...under this coach and GM. There is a TON of tape on Josh Dobbs...the kid can't play. I've watched nearly every snap of his career at Tennessee.

After the 4th round I literally have no expectations of a player. Not saying they will never make an impact but I'm thinking one in 15 or so after round 3. If the Steelers drafted well and took Dobbs in his projected round 6 (in article) I could care less. Telling me they have a quiet agreement with Ben that he will play the next two years.

 

[black and gold apex]

I would still like this coach and GM get a player that can come in and make a big difference with his play. Not a hope and a dream or player work in progress. Get players in positions we dearly need.

 

[Coach]

2 seasons, 30 players / year = 60 players

7/60 so about 11% of the players who visited.

What rounds were the pre-draft people selected by the Steelers?

You'd have to assume any pre draft visit from an edge guy on projected to on the board from pick #25-35 has a shot to be a steeler.

I'd say the same for DB's projected from picks 30-94.

 

[FordFairLane]

If the Steelers draft Dobbs, I'm done. There's no hope.

Really a 6th round QB? If they draft Dobbs they likely stick him on the practice squad for a season and see how he develops. He has the brains, he has the arm, I am ok giving him a season of focusing on football and not designing, building, and then flying his own plane to graduate with his aerospace engineering degree.

 

[SteelerSask2]

I would still like this coach and GM get a player that can come in and make a big difference with his play. Not a hope and a dream or player work in progress. Get players in positions we dearly need.

Then take a qb in the first or second. After the third it is always a hope and a dream.

 

[Superman]

I'm impartial to Dobbs.

He's intelligent and wouldnt have any trouble picking up the playbook and jargon.
However, he has a lot to work on but is very athletic.

 

[FordFairLane]

I'm impartial to Dobbs.

He's intelligent and wouldnt have any trouble picking up the playbook and jargon.
However, he has a lot to work on but is very athletic.

In rounds 1 - 4 I would be pissed. In round 5 it depends on who is on the board. Round 6 I would be happy with and round 7 I would think we got good value. He is far from a finished product but how much energy is he putting towards football with the class load he is taking now? What if you gave him a year of eating, drinking, and doing everything football? A year of professional training. A year of professional coaching. A year being taught by veterans and watching how they prepare. He either takes a nice step forward or you find out he plateaued and you move on. If he didn't have the arm I wouldn't be interested but he does have an arm and throws a nice ball. He obviously has the brains. So lets see if he can put it together.

 

[Slaine]

This draft is very deep particularly in areas we need. I hope that we don't draft a QB this year - too much value sitting out there. Chad Kelly as an undrafted free agent maybe?

 

[Punxsutawney]

I would not complain about Mahomes in the second, though some team will probably pull the trigger in the first.. He's a high risk/high reward type prospect, but I see the franchise QB potential there. He's the exact type of player you'd like to sit and learn behind Roethlisberger for a few years and see what happens.

I just do not see all the glaring needs elsewhere that people keep referring to. The offense is stacked and the defense will be better with full seasons from Heyward and Dupree, as well as a year of experience from Davis and Burns.

Roethlisberger is not playing much longer, IMO. If there is a QB that Tombert and the Steelers' scouts feel is a potential franchise QB, they need to take him.

 

[slashsteel]

I would not complain about Mahomes in the second, though some team will probably pull the trigger in the first.. He's a high risk/high reward type prospect, but I see the franchise QB potential there. He's the exact type of player you'd like to sit and learn behind Roethlisberger for a few years and see what happens.

I just do not see all the glaring needs elsewhere that people keep referring to. The offense is stacked and the defense will be better with full seasons from Heyward and Dupree, as well as a year of experience from Davis and Burns.

Roethlisberger is not playing much longer, IMO. If there is a QB that Tombert and the Steelers' scouts feel is a potential franchise QB, they need to take him.

Bryant's status is unknown.
Nobody worth **** behind Bell
Gay declining
**** just a borderline starter
ILB needs a upgrade across from Shazier
At TE LG is one concussion away from being a non factor again.
OLB needs a pass rush injection of youth
Mitchell needs a understudy.

There is some significant needs if this team wants to obtain its ultimate goal.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Bryant's status is unknown.
Nobody worth **** behind Bell
Gay declining
**** just a borderline starter
ILB needs a upgrade across from Shazier
At TE LG is one concussion away from being a non factor again.
OLB needs a pass rush injection of youth
Mitchell needs a understudy.

There is some significant needs if this team wants to obtain its ultimate goal.

The Steelers need to assume that Bryant and Bell will be available, at least enough to not use a high pick on a WR or RB.

Gay is pretty much done, but I'll continue to insist that Cockrell is much better than he's given credit for. The Patriots did not target him in the AFCC game. They went after Burns and Gay, and Burn should be better this coming season.

I'm not saying they could not use a high pick on an edge player or CB, but there is already talent there with upside as it pertains to the likes of Dupree, Burns, Cockrell and Chickillo.

If they like Mahomes enough, they should probably take him, though I'd prefer it in the second as opposed to the first. I think think there's enough potential talent at the so-called need areas to do so,

 

[slashsteel]

The Steelers need to assume that Bryant and Bell will be available, at least enough to not use a high pick on a WR or RB.

Gay is pretty much done, but I'll continue to insist that Cockrell is much better than he's given credit for. The Patriots did not target him in the AFCC game. They went after Burns and Gay, and Burn should be better this coming season.

I'm not saying they could not use a high pick on an edge player or CB, but there is already talent there with upside as it pertains to the likes of Dupree, Burns, Cockrell and Chickillo.

If they like Mahomes enough, they should probably take him, though I'd prefer it in the second as opposed to the first. I think think there's enough potential talent at the so-called need areas to do so,

Martavis is one puff from being off the team for good. I don't think you can afford to assume anything with him.

the lack of a true no 2 WR was one of the biggest reasons the O hit a snag in that AFCCG to combine with Bell's injury., Green also being a question mark that is a pretty big risk to ignore.

 

[wig]

Get players in positions we dearly need.

Richard Sherman then.

Pick up a RB you believe in.

Shore up the LB corp, Both inside and outside with Timmons gone.

Shore up the OL always shore up the OL.