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Steelers First Pick Will Be Best Defensive Player Available

21STEELERS21

21 is my IQ
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The signing of Green makes it pretty clear. Starting positions on offense are pretty much set for years to come, not just next year.
And to further narrow it down the first pick will be a CB, S or NT. They need a player who can start soon if not right away and those
are the positions with a starting opportunity available. Some might argue OLB, but with Jarvis/Harrison penciled in, that position is
adequately filled compared to our weakest spots.
 
you just discovered warm water!!!

even without the Green signing some other vet would've come and I really doubt the FO would've invested on a 1st round TE.

I invite you guys to read this article on Steelers coaches presence in Clemson's pro day: http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2016/03/steelers-colbert-tomlin-both-attend-2016-clemson-pro-day/

Very interesting information can be gathered from it, Alexander ran the 40yd dash in 4,45, 37" vert. I think this could be our guy, also a couple of more prospects on the Steelers radar are present
 
If a defensive player isn't high on our list when we pick, and a OG is we'll take the OG.
 
So stoked at the Green signing. That just obliterated all the mock drafts with us taking a TE in the 1st or 2nd round. In fact, I think it's likely we go defense with our first 3 picks.
 
Killed my thoughts on where we would go in the draft. Small possibility we go LT if there's one there in the first round, but its heavily tilted toward defense.
 
First round money makes it so you need to pick a player that starts in a year or two. Signing Foster with the intent of signing
DeCastro before the start of the season makes OG one of the least likely picks in round 1. Maybe one of our 7th round
picks will be a guard.
 
Right now if the Steelers were leaning towards a position to draft I would say it's DT. We re-signed Gay and Cockrell and have Golson coming back so even if we don't sign Blake we are set for our top three. And we have Grant. Safety we could because with Allen gone unless we sign someone else we have one safety position open. Or maybe Grant moves to safety which I have read before. TE is pretty solid with James and Green now on the roster and Spaeth is at the very least serviceable. I could see some competition in camp with some young guys or UDFA but I think we are good there. OLB yeah but I don't see in the first. We have gone LB 3 years in a row now. I know Butler is a LB guy but I just don't see 4 LB's in 4 straight years.

So what does that leave? McLendon is a FA and if we don't sign him our interior defense might be a little thin. I could see them going for a three down DT who can play the run and rush the passer and can play in all defensive formations. Vernon Butler is my guess if I had to pick someone.

I guess we won't know until the draft and we can see who is on the board.
 
Right now if the Steelers were leaning towards a position to draft I would say it's DT. We re-signed Gay and Cockrell and have Golson coming back so even if we don't sign Blake we are set for our top three. And we have Grant. Safety we could because with Allen gone unless we sign someone else we have one safety position open. Or maybe Grant moves to safety which I have read before. TE is pretty solid with James and Green now on the roster and Spaeth is at the very least serviceable. I could see some competition in camp with some young guys or UDFA but I think we are good there. OLB yeah but I don't see in the first. We have gone LB 3 years in a row now. I know Butler is a LB guy but I just don't see 4 LB's in 4 straight years.

So what does that leave? McLendon is a FA and if we don't sign him our interior defense might be a little thin. I could see them going for a three down DT who can play the run and rush the passer and can play in all defensive formations. Vernon Butler is my guess if I had to pick someone.

I guess we won't know until the draft and we can see who is on the board.

as you say, if we don't get McL or another DT then look for Billings (wishful thinking) or Butler being picked in the first. If we get a DT on FA then you have BPA with the priority order being CB, S, T, OLB.

We aren't done yet in FA and I think we still have a good player to bring between DT, LT, S, CB, the rest of them will be addressed with vet journeymen and become Draft priorities
 
Yup. Mentioned this in another thread. I don't think the value will be there for a CB/S pick in the first. DT or OG/T may very well be what they take in the first. That said, if I was making the decisions, I would be trying to trade down out of the first and pick up an extra 2rd or 3rd pick. Gonna be some nice value in those rounds.
 
Vernon Butler is my guess if I had to pick someone.
Funny, I keep coming back to Butler as well. I figure Billings won't be there, but Butler may be on the board. Adding a difference-maker to the middle of that line, flanked by Cam and Tuitt, could be too much to pass up. Having a NT that O-lines need to account for will make Cam and Tuitt that much better, not to speak of freeing up the LB's. I love the idea. I then go after BPA of the CB's in the 2nd round, then grab a S in the third. Steelers have a great opportunity to pin-point some specific needs early, matched up hopefully with the right player at the right spot.

Of course come draft they'll pick an OG, a TE and an undersized, underwhelming nickel corner. And for sure they'll pick a couple of players none of us are discussing pre-draft. It happens every year, prepare yourselves accordingly. ;)
 
I still think we go cb in 1, maybe the Clemson kid, then DL or safety in rd 2 unless a good Guard is there in rd 2. There will also be safeties in rd 3.
 
BPA in the first round excluding QB, RB, WR, TE and Center. I also doubt we would go LB in the first even if that was BPA, although its possible, especially if its a hybrid type that can multiple positions and schemes. I rate our needs at this point to be DB, DL rotation, Oline depth, OLB depth/development.

I could see us taking a Guard in the first, Dlineman in the second, DB in the third and an OLB in the fourth.
 
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i am thinking

1 Alexander
1B Butler if Alexander is off the board..

I would be slightly shocked if one of those two prospects isn't the first pick.
 
You just guaranteed us taking OT Taylor Decker
 
Yup. Mentioned this in another thread. I don't think the value will be there for a CB/S pick in the first. DT or OG/T may very well be what they take in the first. That said, if I was making the decisions, I would be trying to trade down out of the first and pick up an extra 2rd or 3rd pick. Gonna be some nice value in those rounds.

Well I'm hoping they pass on DT in the first...for a position that takes less than 20 snaps per game. Draft a player later on in the later rounds with the depth this year at the position.
 
I've said this in several threads, go figure, and I too believe the pick will be on defense but the question is what position warrants the most need? Personally, I'd like an NT/DT but, Alexander has the skill set we passed on last year in Marcus Peters...that's too much to pass IMO. Is WJIII as good as Alexander? It's a good problem to have right now...
 
Exactly what I'm thinking at this point. Either Alexander or Apple in rd 1 unless they LOVE Butler...which is very possible.
Imagine a guy at the NT position that can stop the run and collapse the pocket on pass downs. That would be huge for this defense.
In the end, I think we resign McClendon and negate the need for NT in rd 1.
I'm thinking our draft goes something like this.

1. Mackensie Alexander CB
2. Su'a Cravens SS
3. Josh Garnett OG
4. Dak Prescott QB

I know, I know...a QB this high? I would be upset by it too.
However, there is smoke with this fire. The STeelers have shown more than passing interest in him this offseason.
Along with looking at Kessler and the guy from Oregon suggests they are looking for a good future backup.

i am thinking

1 Alexander
1B Butler if Alexander is off the board..

I would be slightly shocked if one of those two prospects isn't the first pick.
 
Exactly what I'm thinking at this point. Either Alexander or Apple in rd 1 unless they LOVE Butler...which is very possible.
Imagine a guy at the NT position that can stop the run and collapse the pocket on pass downs. That would be huge for this defense.
In the end, I think we resign McClendon and negate the need for NT in rd 1.
I'm thinking our draft goes something like this.

1. Mackensie Alexander CB
2. Su'a Cravens SS
3. Josh Garnett OG
4. Dak Prescott QB

I know, I know...a QB this high? I would be upset by it too.
However, there is smoke with this fire. The STeelers have shown more than passing interest in him this offseason.
Along with looking at Kessler and the guy from Oregon suggests they are looking for a good future backup.

On passing downs we move Tuitt and Heyward inside and have LBers on the end.
 
Three of our first four picks should be used on defense.
 
Cravens can't play safety...he is a linebacker. There will be a good safety in rd 2, however. Garnett will go in rd 3. Prescott is someone the FO likes, but 4th rd is too high considering our needs.


Exactly what I'm thinking at this point. Either Alexander or Apple in rd 1 unless they LOVE Butler...which is very possible.
Imagine a guy at the NT position that can stop the run and collapse the pocket on pass downs. That would be huge for this defense.
In the end, I think we resign McClendon and negate the need for NT in rd 1.
I'm thinking our draft goes something like this.

1. Mackensie Alexander CB
2. Su'a Cravens SS
3. Josh Garnett OG
4. Dak Prescott QB

I know, I know...a QB this high? I would be upset by it too.
However, there is smoke with this fire. The STeelers have shown more than passing interest in him this offseason.
Along with looking at Kessler and the guy from Oregon suggests they are looking for a good future backup.
 
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