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AFC North Drafts

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SteelerFan448

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Steelers
Max Iheanachor, OT, ASU
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana
Gabriel Rubio, DT, Notre Dame
Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy
Solid, but unspectacular rounds 1-3. Allar is the x-factor in this draft class. Backup quality with very limited upside across the board on day 3. Felt more like Colbert during the 2010s than the first couple of years under Khan.

Bengals
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Connor Lew, C, Auburn
Colbie Young, WR, Georgia
Brian Parker II, C, Duke
Jack Endries, Texas
Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
The Bengals were getting pretty high marks in terms of draft grades. I don't see it. After Howell, a pretty meh class overall.

Browns
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Austin Barber, OT, Florida
Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU
Cleveland did really good work with the first four picks. Concepcion and Boston will probably get wasted with Sanders at QB, but they're at least setting him up for success. Not sure they did enough in terms of talent for the offensive line. Probably the best draft, at least up top, in the division.

Ravens
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU
Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama
Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
Evan Beerntsen, OG, Northwestern
This draft will no doubt get overrated by the pundits. Ioane is probably the safest pick of anyone in the first round and I do like Sarratt and Rivers as role players on day 3. The rest looks pretty average at best.
 
I'm okay with our draft, but there are a few "substitutions" I likely would have done.

I didn't watch film of players like I used to, so I'm not quite as confident as some years in the past, but just getting a feel and knowing what I normally like:

1. I would have picked McCoy with one of our 3rd round picks. No Allar for me.
2. I like Everett. He's a solid athlete so even after McCoy (who is red-shirting), I'm fine if they had double dipped and got a super athlete/special teamer guy with upside and position versatility (safety), I like it.
3. I think I like Jalen Farmer a little better than Dunker after watching film of both, but it's splitting hairs a bit. I like the pick. It will be curious who ends up more productive in the pros.
4. Definitely would have picked Skylar Bell over Wetjen. I'm not a big fan of undersized, small arms, small hands receivers who are supposedly "return specialists". Maybe you chase that with a 6th or 7th round pick. Not round 4.

I definitely see some of Colberts "4th rounders and later are picked for special teams" mentality in this draft. I hated that attitude (it's not like our special teams were ever good under Colbert anyhow - even with him chasing it). The TE pick looks like a special teams player to me more than any legitimate depth/project TE talent.

He wasn't on a lot of radars, but the DE/DT kid from Notre Dame needs a lot of work. Perfect size for an old-school 5-tech DE, but his functional play strength based on some video I watched is really lacking. Loses ground way too much for a good 5-tech at point of attack for my liking. But maybe he juices up a bit, learns from Heyward on how to get stronger and developes into something in 2-3 years I think the size, length and athletisicm are there for a 6th rounder, he just need to really get stronger at point of attack to do what he is designed to do.

The round 7 picks are special teamers, although I like the feel good story of the local Navy kid. That's worth a 7th rounder just on that alone (and at least he tests out physically a lot better than people give him credit for - he's a damn good athlete).

But again, kind of an "eh" draft to me. Looks like Kahn in Rounds 1-3. Looks like Colbert in rounds 4-7.

Not sure if that's a good combination.
 
I agree with much of your observations, @deljzc. I always want the Steelers to draft big CB's and fast ILBers with their 6th and 7th round picks because those guys can turn into legit NFL starters (Jaylen Watson for example), but at worst are excellent special teams players.
 
Grading drafts before they sign contracts is like mocking drafts 2-3 years out. How many Steeler first round picks have we liked over the years and Watt is the last one to sign a 2nd contract.
 
WindyCitySteel said:
Grading drafts before they sign contracts is like mocking drafts 2-3 years out. How many Steeler first round picks have we liked over the years and Watt is the last one to sign a 2nd contract.
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Early draft grades are usually based on finding the best players relative to the consensus draft board. It means nothing in the long term but is an interesting look based on the present.
 
Also … like what Buffalo did with selecting Skylar Bell and Elams - LB with back to back picks..
They were both on my mock for the Steelers..
 
I think returners will be more relevant with the ongoing rule tweaking. If Wetjen even closely resembles his last season in college there will be a lot of happy fans.

I think Dunker could be even better at G than he was at T. So some of his projection factors in his high ceiling potential.

The team clearly liked Everett and were concerned about McCoy’s medical evaluation. If they are concerned so am I.

Rubio for me is more a question based off the room being crowded. I think he is a run defender high effort type. Would be more ok with the pick if I saw him having a clear path to a roster position. But perhaps he or another will be IR’d heading into the season. If not there is always the PS. Seems like the type that wouldn’t be poached with his pass rush deficiencies.

For what the team wanted I think it was a good draft.
 
Don’t put any stock in these draft grades since they only look good or bad on paper at this point.
You simply do not know how any of these players will work out and generally won’t know for a couple seasons in.
We’ve all seen how this plays out so many times with top draft picks turning out to be total busts and mid round guys turn out to be great players.
Brock Purdy if you will was the last pick of the infamous 2022 draft class that saw us select Pickett in the first round.
Purdy is on his second contract with the Niners and has played in the SB. We all know the Pickett story as he’s on his fifth team now.
Point being don’t get too up or down this early because we simply won’t know for a couple seasons.
 
slashsteel said:
I think returners will be more relevant with the ongoing rule tweaking. If Wetjen even closely resembles his last season in college there will be a lot of happy fans.

I think Dunker could be even better at G than he was at T. So some of his projection factors in his high ceiling potential.

The team clearly liked Everett and were concerned about McCoy’s medical evaluation. If they are concerned so am I.

Rubio for me is more a question based off the room being crowded. I think he is a run defender high effort type. Would be more ok with the pick if I saw him having a clear path to a roster position. But perhaps he or another will be IR’d heading into the season. If not there is always the PS. Seems like the type that wouldn’t be poached with his pass rush deficiencies.

For what the team wanted I think it was a good draft.
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The advantage of Dunker over a guy like farmer or Pregnon is that we just got a backup RT too. Dunker is a projected threat at G but a spot starter at RT if needed.

Also I'm thinking about how he fits with McCormick, he was a LG in college, we might move the whole right side to left next season with fautanu and McC going there and making room for Dunker and Max
 
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steelhurt said:
Don’t put any stock in these draft grades since they only look good or bad on paper at this point.
You simply do not know how any of these players will work out and generally won’t know for a couple seasons in.
We’ve all seen how this plays out so many times with top draft picks turning out to be total busts and mid round guys turn out to be great players.
Brock Purdy if you will was the last pick of the infamous 2022 draft class that saw us select Pickett in the first round.
Purdy is on his second contract with the Niners and has played in the SB. We all know the Pickett story as he’s on his fifth team now.
Point being don’t get too up or down this early because we simply won’t know for a couple seasons.
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So here is the thing I always have a problem with fans and media typically base things off their projected value. I am no different just the natural way to do it based on what you find.

We all just have to remember their value board will always look different.

Case in point no better example than Max.

A OT that didn’t play the position (football) in high school. They knocked him for that.

You won’t read about his elite RAS (in the top 25 of all time) or shutting down two highly touted pass rushers including the number 2 overall pick, or giving up zero sacks last season. His solid senior bowl performance. You might read one aspect but rarely will you see this all lumped together.

I am sure this showed on overall film study.

Instead value is heavily based of his “raw”perception. His run blocking technique . Nevermind that teams like to be able to mold linemen to their scheme.

So these value boards just how accurate are they when you research you find out things that these sites omit due to their vague research approach.

Hell even the ones that might watch film might not understand what they are looking at. That is a technique in itself.

So I have to give nod that this organization is capable of putting together a solid value board.
 
The Steelers draft looked to me to be coherent and having a defined direction. Admittedly there were several players I watched limited film/ live game action of before the draft…some guys that certainly weren’t on my radar (and I watch a ton of college ball). Doing some post draft review of the guys I can at least see a vision of what they are attempting to do.

MM had to put some groceries in the offensive cupboard.

An offensive coach came in and added to every skill position QB, RB, TE (who will be a FB) and 2 WRs as well as 2 OL. That’s 7, count em, 7 offensive players…or in Tomlin math 2-3 years worth of offensive picks. A neglected unit was given a much needed youth injection.

He added several niche players to round out the offense and begin to build a culture/identity which appears to be of higher character guys, try hard guys, over achievers, and good blockers.

Will it be enough to be successful right away?
Maybe
Will try hards and overachievers be able to have the same results in the NFL?
Another big maybe

It is, at least imho, a starting point of pouring the foundation of something to build on rather than duct taping a broken bicycle back together to see if it can make one more trip around the block.

There are several guys that seem to be easy to root for, and as a fan I’m all for that. Hopefully they have the skills to get something going, but when you’re drafting backup golden domers, Hawkeyes and navy guys I do have to wonder a bit too about can they elevate to similar results verse higher level elite competition that is the NFL.

As with every draft, time will tell so I’ll throw that grade out by 2028
 
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Fiji Mariner said:
The Steelers draft looked to me to be coherent and having a defined direction. Admittedly there were several players I watched limited film/ live game action of before the draft…some guys that certainly weren’t on my radar (and I watch a ton of college ball). Doing some post draft review of the guys I can at least see a vision of what they are attempting to do.

MM had to put some groceries in the offensive cupboard.

An offensive coach came in and added to every skill position QB, RB, TE (who will be a FB) and 2 WRs as well as 2 OL. That’s 7, count em, 7 offensive players…or in Tomlin math 2-3 years worth of offensive picks. A neglected unit was given a much needed youth injection.

He added several niche players to round out the offense and begin to build a culture/identity which appears to be of higher character guys, try hard guys, over achievers, and good blockers.

Will it be enough to be successful right away?
Maybe
Will try hards and overachievers be able to have the same results in the NFL?
Another big maybe

It is, at least imho, a starting point of pouring the foundation of something to build on rather than duct taping a broken bicycle back together to see if it can make one more trip around the block.

There are several guys that seem to be easy to root for, and as a fan I’m all for that. Hopefully they have the skills to get something going, but when you’re drafting backup golden domers, Hawkeyes and navy guys I do have to wonder a bit too about can they elevate to similar results verse higher level elite competition that is the NFL.

As with every draft, time will tell so I’ll throw that grade out by 2028
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I would think Max T, Bernard WR2, and Dunker G have high floors. Then you see what transpires.

I was looking through some Steelers free agent videos and the theme was toughness- physicality . I think some of that carried over to the draft.


I agree it seems like they have an approach. A theme, a game plan.

How that unfolds yeah remains to be seen. But it seems to date it has been pretty thorough.
 
xjx said:
I used steeler fans AI and got this result...

Ravens...F
Browns...F
Cincinnati...F
Steelers....A
Click to expand...



Solid usual draft in relations to the "polled" participants.



Salute the nation
 
The Browns had the best draft on paper of the four, but they're the Browns so these players will be like most other Browns--disappointing (if you're a Browns fan).

Bengals? Throw in the trade of #1 for the DL and they still don't have a great draft. If Burrow plays more than 14 games they might outscore the others 8-9 times.

Ravens had a Ravens draft. They always end up with a higher success rate than you might predict. I see it as a good draft for them.

Steelers--A+++, lol. But seriously, I see this draft as filling a lot (but not all) holes and future holes. I think this draft will look outstanding in 2-3 years, with at least 4-5 starters.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Early draft grades are usually based on finding the best players relative to the consensus draft board. It means nothing in the long term but is an interesting look based on the present.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It seems I have to remind myself every year that draft grades have nothing to do with how we believe/assume a player will perform at the NFL level.

It’s about grading the front office /GM, not the player.
Teams are given grades based on whether or not they filled their needs, “steals” of the draft, caliber of college player, clever maneuvering to get their guy etc.

It may take a couple of years before a player can make a difference, so grading them now is pointless.
Worst case scenario is that they could all be busts. It’s a crapshoot.
 
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Hypocycloids said:
Thanks. It seems I have to remind myself every year that draft grades have nothing to do with how we believe/assume a player will perform at the NFL level.

It’s about grading the front office /GM, not the player.
Teams are given grades based on whether or not they filled their needs, “steals” of the draft, caliber of college player, clever maneuvering to get their guy etc.

It may take a couple of years before a player can make a difference, so grading them now is pointless.
Worst case scenario is that they could all be busts. It’s a crapshoot.
Click to expand...
For me I try to look at it through the lens of maximizing the draft capital. Khan knocked it out of the park his first two drafts and the grades reflected it. I think the players proved him right as well. These last two the draft grades were lower and that matched low production from the rookies last season. I do like the first two days of this draft, day 3 could've provided better value.
 
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