RD1- TJ Watt Edge Wisconsin
TJ has the pedigree and desire to be an elite pass rusher. His motor is relentless and he relies a lot on that as he was a TE and converted to defense. I feel he has upside as he gets coached up on the position. Not a great athlete but above average. I think another year at Wisconsin and he might have climbed into the top 10. This year he rotates with Harrison and is a special teams ace.
RD2- Jabrill Peppers S Michigan
Again, I get an unfinished product. What is Peppers? Safety? LB? Return Man? I probably use him at all three to be honest. I think he will be a in the box safety allowing Davis to play high safety. But in sub packages I would be him in at ILB. I also would like to see him take AB off of return duty year one. We don't need him to start this year but he would give depth, be a special teams ace, and be in on certain sub packages.
RD3a- Sidney Jones CB Washington
I know he likely won't play this season but I look at it as we are stashing away a 2018 first round pick with all a year worth of playbook and NFL tape and coaching knowledge for a late 2017 draft pick. If he wasn't hurt there's no way he is not picked before we draft in the first round.
RD3b- Howard Wilson CB Houston
I really don't see that big of a difference in WJIII and Wilson. WJIII is probably a little more athletic but I think Howard has more upside. I feel this negates our Jones pick a little and gives us two young CB's to learn and gives us a lot of options if Cockrell is not resigned. Also, probably means the end of William Gay.
RD4- Tyus Bowser LB Houston
Again, too much talent to pass up. We already got Watt but Dupree hasn't taken the next level step and Chickillo and Moats are NFL backups at best. Bowser I feel is athletic enough to play ILB or edge depending on need. I think his best football is ahead of him and feel he is too good of a value to pass up here.
RD5- Ryan Switzer WR North Carolina
Funny thing is Price is the best pick from Walter at this point lol. But I already got two edge/LB's so I finally go to offense. Switzer is a glue handed slot receiver with awesome return ability. With Bryant coming back and Eli Rogers emerging and Ayers looking good do we need him? No, and in fact I would be fine with going edge a third time and taking Price. I just changed things up a bit. I think our offense is set to win now and our defense is a pass rush and two DB's away from being dominant. Well, we don't need dominant we need good. I feel the first 5 picks we should get better and with what we got last year hopefully good. Switzer is luxury pick but I feel he makes the 53 man and probably pushes Ayers off the team.
RD6- Tarik Cohen RB NC A&T
Cohen is a change of pace back who should be able to come in on special packages or to spell Bell. Probably not going to be your work horse but he can take some third and long snaps away from Bell and give us a little flash on offense.
RD7- Jerod Evans QB VT
Gives us a camp arm and some competition for Mettenberger/Jones. I think Evans would be a perfect PS player for a year and see what he can develop into for next year. But gives us something to work with while Roethlisberger ponders retirement. I am fine going QB round 2 or later but I feel there probably won't be value as such a weak QB class should be pushed up boards not down. Talent wise Evans has the arm, legs, and body you look for and another year at VT would have done him very well. But we get to see what he can learn with only risking a 7th round pick.
