Funny, I did not like ANY of these draft picks, Well Hooks wasn't a draft pick.
LOSERS
Chukwuma Okorafor – Fewer losers and less notable players. I also want to avoid “punching down” on back end of the roster players who expectedly struggled. Okorafor figured to give Matt Feiler a push for the starting RT spot but Feiler opened up as the starter and never looked back. This was much less of a competition than I hoped for. Feiler, to his credit, did have an excellent camp.
Okorafor also struggled in the preseason opener, struggling with his hand placement and generating power on his punch. He’ll be the swing man and 6th offensive linemen this year, so he’ll play a little bit, but he failed to take the jump I hoped for.
Jerald Hawkins – Hawkins got a little better at the end of camp but it was still tough sledding for him. Health and rust are all fair to question with him, coming off a torn quad and not participating in a padded practice since the end of the 2017 season. He got whooped by pretty much every pass rusher in camp. With the fierce competition along the offensive line, Hawkins is outside-looking-in. He’s probably not the trade candidate I hoped he would be either though if his level of play can continue to climb the rest of the way, maybe I’ll sing a different tune. Long ways to go before that conversation though. Sucks to have him on this side of the list because he’s a good dude, a hard worker, and an awesome spirit, but that’s not always enough to win at this level.
Lavon Hooks – Tabbed as something of a preseason sleeper, his time in Pittsburgh may be up. Hooks is a wide body who can clog the run and done well enough to stick around for what feels like forever, but with Buggs’ emergence and Hooks not showing anything as a pass rusher, he’ll have to settle for practice squad at best. I’m liking Henry Mondeaux’s chances of making it over him.
Sutton Smith – Smith had a decent start to camp and flashed a few times but faded and then missed a chunk of camp with some sort of muscle/hip injury. The emergence of Ulysees Gilbert III and Tuzar Skipper is making life extra tough on Smith. Hopefully he’ll be able to play tomorrow, it looks like he will, though we’ll see how a lack of practice reps hinders his play. Many thought he’d make the 53 man roster. Now, he’s just trying to secure a spot on the practice squad. Got only one day at FB too with the injuries he fought through.
Marcus Allen – I didn’t think there was any scenario where Allen would not be on the roster prior to camp. Now? Not only can I buy it, I believe it. By camp’s end, he was demoted to third team opposite UDFA PJ Locke and didn’t make many impactful plays, sans one interception mid-way through camp. Another second year guy who hasn’t made the jump. Kelly is a good bet to make the team, Jordan Dangerfield offers more special teams value, and there’s a puncher’s chance they bring in somebody outside the organization. Bad recipe for Allen’s chances to stick.
