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inspired by FordFairLane's Big Board thread I dared to do a depth chart with grades on the players, starters and depth with the purpose of looking at real needs the team has. I know it's popular to want to draft a RB/WR with the first available pick at 2.49, heck I want one of those too but there might be pressing needs to complete the roster. I'm sharing the statsheet with a few notes on each position to understand my train of thought and to make a plan for the upcoming draft:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0jYylc8V-MmIeE6znFvm2PuRL3XHBj8TqmR6bq6qYg/edit?usp=sharing
So, the first thing I see is that pretty much every starting position is set though some could be improved, especially in the Offense where there are some question marks. Let's begin with the first question mark I found:
- RB: Conner has the talent to start and be a Star while doing it but the big question is "can he stay healthy?" Benny Snell proved he can carry the load to compliment but don't expect much more form him, he is a battering ram but he lacks speed and elusiveness to be a real threat. Samuels can catch out of the backfield and not much more, Whyte has speed and can contribute as a change os pace back. So depth is not really needed because there are more than enough backup guys in the locker, this takes me to a conclusion, give me a plug and play starter with Pro Bowl potential in this draft or give me nothing at all, I don't want another Snell (yes I'm refering to Dillon) or another speedy guy with a lot of question marks like Whyte. We are looking for the whole package or nothing. Candidates: Swift, Dobbins, Taylor, Edwards Helayre, that's it. Other guys like Akers and Moss won't be inmediate starters here.
- WR: the team could add talent to the roster, especially one with speed that specialyzes in being a deep threat but there's not really a need for one to start as Juju is a WR1 and we have two emerging kids that can take over WR2 and even snag #1 place from Juju if he starts slow again. I'd only consider a true #1 that has fallen at 2.49 Jefferson, Reagor, Higgins, Shenault and only if BPA against other positions of inmediate need. There's enough depth in the draft to snag a good prospect late i nthe 4th round and even later on.
- LT/RT: talent is just ok, Villy and Feiler are decent starters but not much more, it definitely could be improved but it isn't a true need, also there's depth with starting experience in Chuck and Banner. So unless 1st round talent falls I don't see it happening early in the draft or at all. By 1st round talent, for the record I'm talking about Andrew Thomas, Josh Jones, Austin Jackson. Any of those guys could push to start at RT moving Feiler inside, which takes us to the next position of real Need:
- G: here we have an elite talent in DeCastro and a vet with a shitload of experience at high level in Wisniewski though he is no spring chicken and is limited in the athletic department so improvement to the starting spot can be done and it doesn't need to be done at 2.49. We could get a guy that pushes for minutes at the 3rd or 4th round in Lemieux, Brederson, Lewis, Muti, Sternberg in no particular order, whoever falls to 4th round. Also we have no depth here so any decent rookie is very welcomed
- C: here we have a probowl level player that has a few issues last season and has threatened to quit when Big Ben retires, also he tends to miss a couple of games due to injury every season. Wisniewski is even better qualified to play Center than Guard so depth at the position is a non issue per se, the problem is that it leaves a huge hole at LG if Feiler is starting at RT. So what's my great plan for all this moving chairs? Draft the top Center of the 2020 draft crop in Cesar Ruiz if he happens to be there because even with Pouncey healthy the rookie could fight for the starting LG spot thus ensuring depth at 2 critical positions with just one player, he seems to be that good, a true heir apparent to Pouncey following the great franchise Centers tradition the Steelers have. If he is not there then 3rd round or 4th round are in play for Cushenberry, Biadasz, Hennesy, Harris but if a top Guard is taken, like those named previously then a true Center might be discarded knowing Wisniewski is there ti back up in case of emergency.
Now on to the defense, which looks way better in the starting department but has serious depth issues in comparison:
- DT: I Don't care what anyone else thinks, Wormley is a run stopper DT and he can play inside in the 3-4 between Heyward and Tuitt, I dare other teams to run against that fornt 3 with Vince Williams behind plugging holes like there's no tomorrow. There's also depth with Alualu who played the position and held his own. Buggs can be in play for the position too. So only a late pick could interest me, hopefully Benito Jones is available in the 6th or 7th and there's no other similar talent player in a real position of need
- OLB: so we have a super star and a break out player starting, that's amazing. The ugly part is that there's zero depth as Ola Adeniyi hasn't proven anything due to injuries and Skip´per is just a project too. ALso Bud Dupree might be a multimillion player for another jersey come next spring so depth here is needed to prepare for next season, 3rd or 4th round prospects that might become starters in the near future: Okwara, Uche, Anae, Greenard, Kareem. Seriously I think we are drafting an OLB somewhere in the mid rounds.
- ILB: same as before, we have a break out player that might be a pilar of this defense along with Watt and Minkah for years to come, then we have thumper Vinny Williams who isn't getting any younger and is limited in coverage and lateral agility which is the bread and butter of today's NFL. After that Gilbert who is a good prospect but still just a project that hasn't proven anything in a regular game. So, zero depth in a position that start Two guys in about 70% of total snaps with the 2 DL front Nickel and the 3-4. We might be seeing an ILB taken from the 3rd round on, if a guy like Davis-Gaither, Gay Jr, Weaver or Harrison is there. Mid round prospects are Bachie, Bailey, Wilson or the versatile Muse a bit later on if the team somehow grabs a 5th rounder. Personally I'd like a 5th or 6th round invested in the position, whoever of those guys that falls.
- CB: a matter of depth and thinking on the future, Hilton will leave next season for more money, Haden is 31 years old, Sutton could start at the nickel next season but who will take Haden's spot? Given the terrible track record of the Steelers drafting the position and the great success they have had recently with him and Nelson in Free Agency we might see the FO looking there for a future starter. So, again, only if top talent falls to the 3rd I don't see it happening. Drafting another project would mean they are giving up on Layne and I think it's too early for that, maybe they take a flyer in the 7th round.
- Safety in general has zero depth, Minkah is a true Star and Edmunds is just ok, hopefully he makes a leap next to such a great talent but even if he does there's literally no one there to play some snaps if needed, Dangerfield doesn't get enough respect, and won't be getting it either outside of special teams play. Ideally we are looking for a FS as we know Minkah could move to SS without missing a bit but I trust Edmunds at FS as much as I trust the Cookie Monster to watch out for my cookie jar while I go to the john. We need to draft a Safety in mid rounds, possible candidates are Gilman, Stone Brandon Jones, Reed, Dorn, Fuller or Khaleke Hudson as a rover Safety.
So that's it, based on all that info, depending on how the draft falls I'd be picking with priority towards C/G, RB, OT, then S, OLB, ILB, WR. I know there are only 6 picks and of those only 4 are top 150 with none in the 1st round, I know we won't be able to address all the needs remarked here but we are definitely tackling those where BPA drops.
Salute the Nation.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0jYylc8V-MmIeE6znFvm2PuRL3XHBj8TqmR6bq6qYg/edit?usp=sharing
So, the first thing I see is that pretty much every starting position is set though some could be improved, especially in the Offense where there are some question marks. Let's begin with the first question mark I found:
- RB: Conner has the talent to start and be a Star while doing it but the big question is "can he stay healthy?" Benny Snell proved he can carry the load to compliment but don't expect much more form him, he is a battering ram but he lacks speed and elusiveness to be a real threat. Samuels can catch out of the backfield and not much more, Whyte has speed and can contribute as a change os pace back. So depth is not really needed because there are more than enough backup guys in the locker, this takes me to a conclusion, give me a plug and play starter with Pro Bowl potential in this draft or give me nothing at all, I don't want another Snell (yes I'm refering to Dillon) or another speedy guy with a lot of question marks like Whyte. We are looking for the whole package or nothing. Candidates: Swift, Dobbins, Taylor, Edwards Helayre, that's it. Other guys like Akers and Moss won't be inmediate starters here.
- WR: the team could add talent to the roster, especially one with speed that specialyzes in being a deep threat but there's not really a need for one to start as Juju is a WR1 and we have two emerging kids that can take over WR2 and even snag #1 place from Juju if he starts slow again. I'd only consider a true #1 that has fallen at 2.49 Jefferson, Reagor, Higgins, Shenault and only if BPA against other positions of inmediate need. There's enough depth in the draft to snag a good prospect late i nthe 4th round and even later on.
- LT/RT: talent is just ok, Villy and Feiler are decent starters but not much more, it definitely could be improved but it isn't a true need, also there's depth with starting experience in Chuck and Banner. So unless 1st round talent falls I don't see it happening early in the draft or at all. By 1st round talent, for the record I'm talking about Andrew Thomas, Josh Jones, Austin Jackson. Any of those guys could push to start at RT moving Feiler inside, which takes us to the next position of real Need:
- G: here we have an elite talent in DeCastro and a vet with a shitload of experience at high level in Wisniewski though he is no spring chicken and is limited in the athletic department so improvement to the starting spot can be done and it doesn't need to be done at 2.49. We could get a guy that pushes for minutes at the 3rd or 4th round in Lemieux, Brederson, Lewis, Muti, Sternberg in no particular order, whoever falls to 4th round. Also we have no depth here so any decent rookie is very welcomed
- C: here we have a probowl level player that has a few issues last season and has threatened to quit when Big Ben retires, also he tends to miss a couple of games due to injury every season. Wisniewski is even better qualified to play Center than Guard so depth at the position is a non issue per se, the problem is that it leaves a huge hole at LG if Feiler is starting at RT. So what's my great plan for all this moving chairs? Draft the top Center of the 2020 draft crop in Cesar Ruiz if he happens to be there because even with Pouncey healthy the rookie could fight for the starting LG spot thus ensuring depth at 2 critical positions with just one player, he seems to be that good, a true heir apparent to Pouncey following the great franchise Centers tradition the Steelers have. If he is not there then 3rd round or 4th round are in play for Cushenberry, Biadasz, Hennesy, Harris but if a top Guard is taken, like those named previously then a true Center might be discarded knowing Wisniewski is there ti back up in case of emergency.
Now on to the defense, which looks way better in the starting department but has serious depth issues in comparison:
- DT: I Don't care what anyone else thinks, Wormley is a run stopper DT and he can play inside in the 3-4 between Heyward and Tuitt, I dare other teams to run against that fornt 3 with Vince Williams behind plugging holes like there's no tomorrow. There's also depth with Alualu who played the position and held his own. Buggs can be in play for the position too. So only a late pick could interest me, hopefully Benito Jones is available in the 6th or 7th and there's no other similar talent player in a real position of need
- OLB: so we have a super star and a break out player starting, that's amazing. The ugly part is that there's zero depth as Ola Adeniyi hasn't proven anything due to injuries and Skip´per is just a project too. ALso Bud Dupree might be a multimillion player for another jersey come next spring so depth here is needed to prepare for next season, 3rd or 4th round prospects that might become starters in the near future: Okwara, Uche, Anae, Greenard, Kareem. Seriously I think we are drafting an OLB somewhere in the mid rounds.
- ILB: same as before, we have a break out player that might be a pilar of this defense along with Watt and Minkah for years to come, then we have thumper Vinny Williams who isn't getting any younger and is limited in coverage and lateral agility which is the bread and butter of today's NFL. After that Gilbert who is a good prospect but still just a project that hasn't proven anything in a regular game. So, zero depth in a position that start Two guys in about 70% of total snaps with the 2 DL front Nickel and the 3-4. We might be seeing an ILB taken from the 3rd round on, if a guy like Davis-Gaither, Gay Jr, Weaver or Harrison is there. Mid round prospects are Bachie, Bailey, Wilson or the versatile Muse a bit later on if the team somehow grabs a 5th rounder. Personally I'd like a 5th or 6th round invested in the position, whoever of those guys that falls.
- CB: a matter of depth and thinking on the future, Hilton will leave next season for more money, Haden is 31 years old, Sutton could start at the nickel next season but who will take Haden's spot? Given the terrible track record of the Steelers drafting the position and the great success they have had recently with him and Nelson in Free Agency we might see the FO looking there for a future starter. So, again, only if top talent falls to the 3rd I don't see it happening. Drafting another project would mean they are giving up on Layne and I think it's too early for that, maybe they take a flyer in the 7th round.
- Safety in general has zero depth, Minkah is a true Star and Edmunds is just ok, hopefully he makes a leap next to such a great talent but even if he does there's literally no one there to play some snaps if needed, Dangerfield doesn't get enough respect, and won't be getting it either outside of special teams play. Ideally we are looking for a FS as we know Minkah could move to SS without missing a bit but I trust Edmunds at FS as much as I trust the Cookie Monster to watch out for my cookie jar while I go to the john. We need to draft a Safety in mid rounds, possible candidates are Gilman, Stone Brandon Jones, Reed, Dorn, Fuller or Khaleke Hudson as a rover Safety.
So that's it, based on all that info, depending on how the draft falls I'd be picking with priority towards C/G, RB, OT, then S, OLB, ILB, WR. I know there are only 6 picks and of those only 4 are top 150 with none in the 1st round, I know we won't be able to address all the needs remarked here but we are definitely tackling those where BPA drops.
Salute the Nation.
