My hope for the 2020 drafted players

[FordFairLane]

Chase Claypool- After a modest start to his career as the #4 receiver with 28 catches for 476 yards and 4 scores he blows up his sophomore season with 76 grabs for 1,140 yards and 10 tds. Claypool finishes his Steelers career 3rd in receptions and yards but first in touchdown receptions.

Alex Highsmith- after not getting a hat on Sunday for the first 8 weeks of the season, Alex finally gets a Sunday hat and proves his worth on special teams getting 3 special teams tackles. Highsmith provides much needed depth and is a special teams ace over the next 4 seasons getting an occasional start due to injury. Leaves via free agency in 2024 and leaving with 10 career sacks and 1 int.

Anthony McFarland jr.- spends the first two years watching from the sidelines learning how to pick up blitzes and the offense as Whyte is a bigger/faster version with more experience. Due to the lack of a quality three down back on the roster Pittsburgh resigns James Conner to a lucrative deal in 2021. In 2022 Whyte leaves via free agency giving McFarland an opportunity to showcase his skills where he becomes a kick return man and change of pace back. He sticks with the team through 2023 but leaves via free agency in 2024 as the Steelers use a high pick on a runner. He finishes his Steelers career with 1 return TD and 500 rushing yards with 150 receiving yards.

Kevin Dotson- becomes the Steelers starting RG in 2021 and is a force in the running game. Has issues with pass pro but works hard to not be a liability. Gets a second contract and has a nice 10 year career with the club. Finishes without any pro bowls but 140 career starts with the Steelers.

Antoine Brooks Jr- Brooks immediately is a special team ace and backs up Edmunds. He gradually gets some sub package plays and in 2021 has a “niche” in the defensive sub package role. Never develops into a starter however earns a second contract with the Steelers. Quality depth and special team player.

Carlos Davis- doesn’t earn a roster spot but does make the practice squad. In 2021 he does make the roster and in 2022 is a rotational player.

I think this is reasonable expectations we can hope for in the draft for each player.


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[Hoot]

just read an article by Dale over at DK where he adeptly points out that development of first year players is going to be a bit odd. The article was more about Bush and certainly Dale isn't the only one to point out lack of OTA and offseason program for the rooks...but i liked how he framed it up with the Bush article. Anyway, this years draft class is likely going to be a little sluggish out of the gate without that field and weight program time. You can do a great deal remotely with film and workout videos/plans, but there is nothing quite like having a coach right there watching and developing a young player. I hope...what i really hope...is that the young guys are fliming some of their workouts and sending them to the coachs (if that is even allowed) but even that won't be a complete replacement for live instruction/repetition. For us, it makes our "first round pick" even better since he is already two years in the league and one year in the system. Claypool may impact early in the redzone but will take time to develop into a complete receiver. The rest are all likely in a redshirt year.

Of course, this is not Steeler centric. all teams are dealing with it.

 

[Muddler]

"Anthony McFarland jr.- spends the first two years watching from the sidelines learning how to pick up blitzes and the offense as Whyte is a bigger/faster version with more experience. Due to the lack of a quality three down back on the roster Pittsburgh resigns James Conner to a lucrative deal in 2021. In 2022 Whyte leaves via free agency giving McFarland an opportunity to showcase his skills where he becomes a kick return man and change of pace back. He sticks with the team through 2023 but leaves via free agency in 2024 as the Steelers use a high pick on a runner. He finishes his Steelers career with 1 return TD and 500 rushing yards with 150 receiving yards."

Nothing personal but .....My hope is that Anthony McFarland makes you eat those words....

 

[FordFairLane]

"Anthony McFarland jr.- spends the first two years watching from the sidelines learning how to pick up blitzes and the offense as Whyte is a bigger/faster version with more experience. Due to the lack of a quality three down back on the roster Pittsburgh resigns James Conner to a lucrative deal in 2021. In 2022 Whyte leaves via free agency giving McFarland an opportunity to showcase his skills where he becomes a kick return man and change of pace back. He sticks with the team through 2023 but leaves via free agency in 2024 as the Steelers use a high pick on a runner. He finishes his Steelers career with 1 return TD and 500 rushing yards with 150 receiving yards."

Nothing personal but .....My hope is that Anthony McFarland makes you eat those words....

Trust me I SO very much hope for that myself.


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[Stryker]

I personally think the last RB spot is between Whyte and McFarland.

 

[slashsteel]

I personally think the last RB spot is between Whyte and McFarland.

I dunno, I think it could be between Jsam and Whyte.

 

[Stoney]

I think its going to be very difficult for Claypool to live up to your hopes for him, given the fact that the QB situation is going to be a mess for a while after Ben leaves.

Though Louis Lipps had some good years with **** at the QB position, especially 1985 with Malone/Woodley/Campbell, so who knows....

 

[FordFairLane]

I think its going to be very difficult for Claypool to live up to your hopes for him, given the fact that the QB situation is going to be a mess for a while after Ben leaves.

Though Louis Lipps had some good years with **** at the QB position, especially 1985 with Malone/Woodley/Campbell, so who knows....

QB after 2021 is a huge question mark but with today’s nfl rules a guy like Claypool can get open a lot. If you watch the college film there’s probably 5+ 50 yard tds left on the field because of QB play but he still managed a thousand yards. And to get to third he needs more than 537 catches and less than 837 with more than 8,723 yards but less than 11,207. Pretty big gap left for him.


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[SteelerSask2]

My hope is that they are able to sign Fitzpatrick to a long term deal and he has an all pro career. Then they get at least one more long term starter Claypool or Dotson. Maybe some depth. That is the reality of the draft.

 

[Litos]

I hope for Deadpool to become a match up nightmare playing from the TE slot, using 2WRs and 2 TEs with him and Ebron, even if he doesn't set the world on fire that his mere presence opens up space for Juju and DJ on crossing routes, where they are so dangerous. So 500 yards and 3 TDs would be fine by me as long as he can be a true decoy for opposing D's. The following years his production increasing as he gets the handle of the NFL level.

Dotson is in the mold of Willie Colon and Ramon foster, the guy will become a blue collar starter before his rookie contract ends and he will be productive and a locker room leader.

Brooks will get the chance to compete from the get go as a rover S/LB, a starter in specific schemes, high floor , low ceiling but immediate production.

McFarland and Highsmith are both high ceiling projects, the good thing for Highsmith is his STs contribution that will give him a chance to take the field early. The RB needs to learn to block, that will take at least one season or two, meanwhile his explosive game can be used in certain moments, has to beat Samuels as a catching RB to get serious minutes.

Carlos Davis has to beat McCullers as that's his path to the 53, he is athletic enough, gotta see the strength and hand use in practice

 

[F83]

unless conner rushes for 1200 yds and 8-10 scores he will not get a lucrative deal. at 1000 yds we are looking at in the middle of the pack for starting rb.

 

[FordFairLane]

unless conner rushes for 1200 yds and 8-10 scores he will not get a lucrative deal. at 1000 yds we are looking at in the middle of the pack for starting rb.

I’m not talking Le’Veon Bell deal I’m thinking Duke Johnson or Mark Ingram. 4 years 22-25 million is my guess. But that’s enough money where he gets the bulk of the carries.


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[F83]

I’m not talking Le’Veon Bell deal I’m thinking Duke Johnson or Mark Ingram. 4 years 22-25 million is my guess. But that’s enough money where he gets the bulk of the carries.


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he would take the hometown discount so lets assume he has a good healthy year 4 years 20 mill take it leave it, we have more important players to extend juju get a future LT or RT as well resign or mold the long tern NT It is very possible that \Snell whyte and McFarland is our trio of RB's and derek