If the draft was today

[insaniti]

Miller started as a rookie, did just fine.

 

[JJ_Steel]

Miller was a 1st round pick and is the best TE in Steelers history, do you trust Coach cool shades to pick and develop another rookie TE ? The same coach that had a hard on and a 1st round grade on Spseth ?

 

[NC STEEL]

CB is an obvious need pick., but we do need to develop a TE. I think are rush will need to come from Jones/Moats/ Worilds.

 

[FordFairLane]

Fine, we sign Niles Paul from the skins in free agency lol Problem solved!

 

[Superman]

for FA in 2015, why not try to get Luke Stocker? He's quite obviously not in the future plans for the Bucs considering they have Myers and drafted Sefarin-Jenkins.
6'5" 250lbs, would be entering the season at 27 years old.
can't block too well, but can catch.

 

[insaniti]

Miller was a 1st round pick and is the best TE in Steelers history, do you trust Coach cool shades to pick and develop another rookie TE ? The same coach that had a hard on and a 1st round grade on Spseth ?

The point is, you can pick a TE and start them and it doesn't always lead to disaster like you are implying. Witten was drafted in the third round, he did pretty well as a rookie as well. TE isn't a difficult position to adjust to.

 

[JJ_Steel]

Again Matt Spaeth had a first round grade by coach cool shades, I have no confidence on his drafting prowess.

 

[insaniti]

And yet we waited until the third to draft him... what's your take on Archer?

 

[FordFairLane]

Here's my official first Mock Draft.

RD1- Andrus Peat OT Standford
Peat is a freak of nature at 6-7 320lbs with quick feet. I think with some refining his technique he can be a dominant LT. He lunges a little bit for my liking and in the NFL that will bite you in the butt. But you can't teach 6-7 320 with good feet and kickout are hard to come by. This allows us to kick Beachum inside to LG or to RT to help solidify the line.

RD2- Marcus Peters CB Washington
Big, fast, with good hands. I don't see how he doesn't start year one with our secondary.

RD3- Hauoli Kikaha DE/OLB Washington
Hauoli Kikaha had 13 sacks last year and 7 already this year but because of two prior ACL tears I feel he might slip in the draft a bit.

RD4- Ladarius Gunter CB Miami
Big, strong, and fast again. Has good hands and can jam at the line of scrimmage.

RD5- Jake McGee TE Florida
Was all ACC at Virginia then transfered to Florida and breaks his leg. At 6-6 255lbs with good hands he could be a steal.

RD6- Cameron Lynch DE/OLB Syracuse
Lynch is 5-11 230lbs but dude can get the QB. If we stay in the 34 turn him into an OLB and hope for Deebo. If we go to 43 situational pass rusher like Elvis Dumervil.

RD7- Kyle Christy P Florida
Finally fix our punting situation. Christy has a booming leg and good hang time.

 

[GMC]

I think they need to look to free agency for an OT. When was the last time they drafted a decent one? Starks in 04, Smith in 00? Shore up the line in FA and go straight defense in the draft; BPA each round regardless of position.

 

[JJ_Steel]

What good LT will be available in free agency ?

 

[insaniti]

Next year there are no even average LT's that will hit the market unless one gets cut for salary cap reasons. This past offseason would have been the time to do that. The draft is where they would have to look to replace Beachum next year.

 

[GMC]

I'm not sure who will be there yet, but they don't need to waste another high pick on guys like Gilbert, Adams, Essex and Hills. And it's not like they'd need a top 5 guy to improve the line. It's all moot anyway, unfortunately they seem pretty content with Gilbert and Beachum.

They are in desperate need of help at NT (maybe McCullers develops), OLB, CB, DE and Mitchell is not impressing thus far either.

 

[Wingman]

They have lots of needs. Our draft position may not give us a spot high enough to make the picks we want, although the way things are going now it looks like we might be in shape to pick high.
If the quality left tackle prospects are gone by pick 5 and we pick 12th would you still want to pick second or third round talent in the first? We need to consider the defense we will play. Are we going 3-4 or 4-3. Right now we do not have what we need for the 3-4. We are missing 3 major components of the front 7. OLB is not there, the only one who has done anything is Harrison and he is 36 years old! We have no dominate DE like Aaron Smith. We have no dominate nose like Casey Hampton. In the secondary we have no cover corners on the team, If lake and Labeau dressed they might be the best active corners we have and one of them can collect or might be collecting social security!

There is no pass rush from this team and it looks like it will be worse next year. We will likely lose Troy, Ike, Kiesel, and Harrison to retirement and we have nothing that looks better or as good on the team right now.

We also need a top corner and a good corner they are generally not to be found other than the top picks although there are exceptions.

On offense we have high draft picks that seem to be under achieving on the line. We have no real talent at left tackle, mediocre right tackle, good center and right guard and chopped liver at left guard. We need a top level tight end to replace heath when he retires.

Left tackle requires a pick that is round one and an early one if you want a good one most often. The great ones are nearly always top ten picks many in the top 5. We will also need to draft the next franchise qb Ben won't play forever.

We need lots of players, it looks like we are likely to need three drafts at this point to come close to restocking the team. And the top three picks will need to be solid for the next three years if that is to happen. Anyone think based on past experience that will happen.

 

[F83]

we need to throw some money at a few CB to replace ike a few name Marcus Gilchrist Trammon Williams, Kareem Jackson
then still with cortez signed long term have to consider a top flight CB or the best available LT
so
1 CB/OT
2 S
3 TE
4 OLB
5 FS
6 P
7 BPA

 

[FordFairLane]

They have lots of needs. Our draft position may not give us a spot high enough to make the picks we want, although the way things are going now it looks like we might be in shape to pick high.
If the quality left tackle prospects are gone by pick 5 and we pick 12th would you still want to pick second or third round talent in the first? We need to consider the defense we will play. Are we going 3-4 or 4-3. Right now we do not have what we need for the 3-4. We are missing 3 major components of the front 7. OLB is not there, the only one who has done anything is Harrison and he is 36 years old! We have no dominate DE like Aaron Smith. We have no dominate nose like Casey Hampton. In the secondary we have no cover corners on the team, If lake and Labeau dressed they might be the best active corners we have and one of them can collect or might be collecting social security!

Right now I think we pick between 10-15 the way we are playing and Peat is rated the 8th - 15th prospect. If we draft higher or later yes the draft pick would change a lot. I would not be opposed to trading down depending on who is there in the first BUT if we draft 10 and there's a game changer it would be tough to trade down.

There is no pass rush from this team and it looks like it will be worse next year. We will likely lose Troy, Ike, Kiesel, and Harrison to retirement and we have nothing that looks better or as good on the team right now.

I feel Shamarko might be better suited to start now over Troy just because of speed and coverage skills. Keisel should be able to be replaced by Tuitt. And Ike even though is still our best CB has to be relplaced and that is why I went CB with two of the top 4 picks.

We also need a top corner and a good corner they are generally not to be found other than the top picks although there are exceptions.

This can be said about any position.

On offense we have high draft picks that seem to be under achieving on the line. We have no real talent at left tackle, mediocre right tackle, good center and right guard and chopped liver at left guard. We need a top level tight end to replace heath when he retires.

Beachum I feel would be a great LG so if we can get a LT it fixes two positions on the line. Heath is still very good so I am fine with waiting and taking a guy with talent but maybe some medical question marks later in the draft.

Left tackle requires a pick that is round one and an early one if you want a good one most often. The great ones are nearly always top ten picks many in the top 5. We will also need to draft the next franchise qb Ben won't play forever.

Again,every position has the greatest odds of success in round one but you have to hope you find a couple of gems later in the draft.

We need lots of players, it looks like we are likely to need three drafts at this point to come close to restocking the team. And the top three picks will need to be solid for the next three years if that is to happen. Anyone think based on past experience that will happen.

I personally think a lot of talent is on this team just the current coaching staff is not able to motivate and utilize them correctly.

 

[F83]

Shamarko in the nickel and dime should be the SS and Troy the WAM MLB.
Beachum or the kid from Vanderbilt will be starting at LG next year, hopefully Adams puts up a hell of a fight to show he still after his contract wants to play even if it is not with us, if he can win the starting gig with the help of munchack and be able to hold the blindside its a pretty good zone ol spread ol.

Troy is way past his prime and is just a emotional leader DL needs to play him closer to the line blitz him off the edge up the gut, and not drop him s far as he no longer has the speed to cover the young Wr's and TE's.

 

[Idioteque]

They need talent. BPA at OLB, CB, DL, OL or even WR.

I'd love a big WR. Not just tall, but big. Someone to muscle out one-on-one matchups.

 

[Badcat]

1. Cb
2. Dl
3. Ol
4. Dl
5. Ol
6. Dl
7. Ol
8. Dl

 

[JJ_Steel]

And yet we waited until the third to draft him... what's your take on Archer?

Spaeth was a reach n the 3rd round and was a bad pick. Archer was a luxury pick for a mediocre team with huge immediate needs . Archer will be a poor player and a failed pick, his size, injury history and lack of true position are all detriments.

 

[Vader]

I'd love a big WR. Not just tall, but big. Someone to muscle out one-on-one matchups.

I'm sure Ben would like it as well.

 

[F83]

I'm sure Ben would like it as well.

hopefully Bryant is progressing as is Moye, Justin Brown looks like a poor nate washington

 

[Badcat]

Forget the skill positions. We Need a solid left guard, left tackle, and right tackle and two solid DT and two solid DE. That's right, 4-3 time... Tampa 2.

 

[keslerclan]

I have given this a bit of thought and given that Ben can give us a real shot at the post-season for another 3-4 years, here is what I would do:

Sure, we have needs with our biggest need being on defense. We HAVE TO get pressure on the QB from our OLBs. We are not. Worilds should be gone next year but we are stuck with whatever JJ can bring for a while so;

1. We bite the bullet and sign Justin Houston (I don't think KC can keep him). It'll cost us a 4yr/38-42mil or 5yr/40-48mil contract BUT he can replace Worilds and get us some production.

2. I sign Tarrell Brown from OAK. I wanted him this year when he couldn't agree w SF but signed a 1yr/3.5mil deal w OAK. He will be the cheaper FA next year between Tramon Williams GB and Chris Harris DEN.

3. On the development side, I would sign Chris Smith OLB, 6'-1", 268# from Jville's practice squad as a development back-up on the LOLB spot behind Houston.

On Offense, our biggest weakness is at T and LG, IMO.

1. I would bet Munchak will lobby for signing LT, Michael Roos away from the Titans. He is a FA in 2015 and they drafted Lewan to replace him. If your going to spend the money on an average guy at T, why not spend a bit more and get someone who has familiarity and production. I believe Beachum could be a better LG as a starter and improve both positions in one move.

2. I look hard for a TE who has some 'pass catching value'. Jermaine Gresham will be a FA in 2015 and can tandem w Heath as CIN will likely move on with Eifert moving forward. He has been a good player for them and will be cheaper to sign, IMO.

As far as the draft, without getting too deep...we should be drafting in the middle-late round and a few options there might be:

-Malcom Brown - DT/DE, Texas - 6'-3 1/2", 320#
-Jaelen Strong - WR, AZ ST - 6'-3 1/2", 212#

- Trae Waynes - CB - MSt
- Marcus Peters CB - Wash

This is assuming the JRs all come out for the 2015 draft. Too early to tell BUT with the "bugs" fixed w the moves above, we could go from 8-8 to competitive quickly thus using the remaining of Ben's years to add another trophy?!

 

[Omar10213245]

I have given this a bit of thought and given that Ben can give us a real shot at the post-season for another 3-4 years, here is what I would do:

Sure, we have needs with our biggest need being on defense. We HAVE TO get pressure on the QB from our OLBs. We are not. Worilds should be gone next year but we are stuck with whatever JJ can bring for a while so;

1. We bite the bullet and sign Justin Houston (I don't think KC can keep him). It'll cost us a 4yr/38-42mil or 5yr/40-48mil contract BUT he can replace Worilds and get us some production.

2. I sign Tarrell Brown from OAK. I wanted him this year when he couldn't agree w SF but signed a 1yr/3.5mil deal w OAK. He will be the cheaper FA next year between Tramon Williams GB and Chris Harris DEN.

3. On the development side, I would sign Chris Smith OLB, 6'-1", 268# from Jville's practice squad as a development back-up on the LOLB spot behind Houston.

On Offense, our biggest weakness is at T and LG, IMO.

1. I would bet Munchak will lobby for signing LT, Michael Roos away from the Titans. He is a FA in 2015 and they drafted Lewan to replace him. If your going to spend the money on an average guy at T, why not spend a bit more and get someone who has familiarity and production. I believe Beachum could be a better LG as a starter and improve both positions in one move.

2. I look hard for a TE who has some 'pass catching value'. Jermaine Gresham will be a FA in 2015 and can tandem w Heath as CIN will likely move on with Eifert moving forward. He has been a good player for them and will be cheaper to sign, IMO.

As far as the draft, without getting too deep...we should be drafting in the middle-late round and a few options there might be:

-Malcom Brown - DT/DE, Texas - 6'-3 1/2", 320#
-Jaelen Strong - WR, AZ ST - 6'-3 1/2", 212#

- Trae Waynes - CB - MSt
- Marcus Peters CB - Wash

This is assuming the JRs all come out for the 2015 draft. Too early to tell BUT with the "bugs" fixed w the moves above, we could go from 8-8 to competitive quickly thus using the remaining of Ben's years to add another trophy?!

Interesting. Only thing I disagree with is Jermaine Gresham. I want no part of his butterfingers, he's dropped way too many important catches for me to have faith in his ability, not to mention he's a knucklehead who doesn't play "smart"