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I haven’t had as much time this year so i’m late getting into the draft but over the past week as i’ve gotten more up to speed, i don’t like what i see.
If you try your hand at a mock on first pick or wherever, you should see the problem. The steelers could be **** out of their top needs by pick 28.
The top need is obviously an ILB to replace Shazier. A guy who can play run and pass. Seems easy since there are 4 ILBs who generally get a 1st round grade.
Tremaine Edmunds VA Tech
Roquon Smith Georgia
Leighton Vender Esch Boise State
Rashaan Evans Alabama
It seems a lock that Edmunds and Smith will be long gone before 28. Most mocks also have Vender Esch gone. That leavs Evans and that’s the problem, i don’t think he’s a first round athlete.
I watched 5 of his games and i keep seeing the same thing. He’s a physical run stuffer with blitz ability, but he’s not good in space. I watched him miss a bunch of open field tackles. If the runner gives any kind of fake at all, Evans whiffs on the tackle and isn’t athletic enough to quickly adjust.
Some say he played with a groin injury this year. That would explain his open field issues. But i also watched the 2016 game vs Clemson and saw the same.
if Shazier was healthy, Evans would be a good player to fit next to him as a run stuffer and blitzer. But Shazier may never be back, so the steelers need a LB who can play in space against the pass. I don’t think that’s Evans.
I feel taking Evans at 28 would be passing up best player available and going for need. Like Troy Edwards or Jarvis Jones.
But what else can the steelers do at 28? That’s what makes me nervous. There may not be a great option.
I think Safety and edge rusher are the next 2 big needs. This draft is real thin on pass rushers. Maybe Sam Hubbard as a more athletic Chickillo could be an option.
Safety looks bleak for 28. The top guys Derwin James and Mincah Fitzpatrick will be long gone. There’s a steep drop in athletic ability after them. Maybe Ronnie Harrison of Alabama is a consideration but i think later round guys like Jessie Bates of Wake or Igwebuike of Northwestern are better values later.
How about RB? No thanks. I don’t see any first round talent aside from Barkley.
WR? It’s a pretty weak group. Ridley will likely be gone and i’m not crazy about him anyway. I like Moore from Maryland as the best of the group but he doesn’t blow me away as a first rounder.
OL? They are pretty set on OL, but OL could be best player at 28.
TE? This could be possible. With the weak WR group, a guy like Gesicki from Penn State could be the best available playmaker. He’s not a great blocker but if you use him as a big WR, he can be a matchup nightmare. I really like Dallas Goedert as well.
QB? Mason Rudolph or Lamar Jackson could be available. I’ve heard steelers like Rudolph.
So there’s the problem. Do you reach for need on ILB or Safety. Or do you go best available at TE or QB?
it seems this is the year to make some moves, either up or down. The steelers rarely move up and they have never moved down and out of the first.
Here’s how i would rate the Steelers scenarios best case to worst.
1 Vander Esch at 28 - best mix of value and need. If medicals check out, could be a difference maker.
2 Sam Hubbard at 28 - best pass rusher that could possibly be available at 28
3 TE - Gesicki or Goedert at 28 - either could be best player available and have immediate impact on offense
4 Trade up for Vender Esch - if they feel he won’t make it to 28, a trade up for him is not bad so long as the price is not too high. It’s a big need and his athletic numbers mean star potential.
5 Trade back into round 2 where Evans or a Safety or QB would be better value and add extra picks.
6 Rudolph or Jackson at 28 - if the steelers are sold on one of them, it’s not the worst pick in the world to have one of them sit and learn for a few years
7 Rashaan Evans at 28 - he’ll be a good player but i doubt he’ll be a star. Feels like settling
8 Safety Ronnie Harrison at 28 - don’t like the value. I’d rather other safeties later.
9 RB at 28- Guice is the name thrown around. I’m not a fan. He’s just a guy to me. He can be productive but he’s not special. If they spend a 1st on a RB, he better be special. I’d much rather Rashad Penny. I have him as my #2 RB in this draft. I’d even prefer the value of a guy like Jackson on Northwestern in rd 4 or so.
so there’s my concerns on the first round pick. The steelers could easily see themselves in a bad situation. Because they turn in their card aboyt 10 seconds after they are on the clock, i’m not holding my breath for a trade.
Without a trade, they may have to settle at a position of need or take a wildcard like Gesicki or Mason Rudolph.
If you try your hand at a mock on first pick or wherever, you should see the problem. The steelers could be **** out of their top needs by pick 28.
The top need is obviously an ILB to replace Shazier. A guy who can play run and pass. Seems easy since there are 4 ILBs who generally get a 1st round grade.
Tremaine Edmunds VA Tech
Roquon Smith Georgia
Leighton Vender Esch Boise State
Rashaan Evans Alabama
It seems a lock that Edmunds and Smith will be long gone before 28. Most mocks also have Vender Esch gone. That leavs Evans and that’s the problem, i don’t think he’s a first round athlete.
I watched 5 of his games and i keep seeing the same thing. He’s a physical run stuffer with blitz ability, but he’s not good in space. I watched him miss a bunch of open field tackles. If the runner gives any kind of fake at all, Evans whiffs on the tackle and isn’t athletic enough to quickly adjust.
Some say he played with a groin injury this year. That would explain his open field issues. But i also watched the 2016 game vs Clemson and saw the same.
if Shazier was healthy, Evans would be a good player to fit next to him as a run stuffer and blitzer. But Shazier may never be back, so the steelers need a LB who can play in space against the pass. I don’t think that’s Evans.
I feel taking Evans at 28 would be passing up best player available and going for need. Like Troy Edwards or Jarvis Jones.
But what else can the steelers do at 28? That’s what makes me nervous. There may not be a great option.
I think Safety and edge rusher are the next 2 big needs. This draft is real thin on pass rushers. Maybe Sam Hubbard as a more athletic Chickillo could be an option.
Safety looks bleak for 28. The top guys Derwin James and Mincah Fitzpatrick will be long gone. There’s a steep drop in athletic ability after them. Maybe Ronnie Harrison of Alabama is a consideration but i think later round guys like Jessie Bates of Wake or Igwebuike of Northwestern are better values later.
How about RB? No thanks. I don’t see any first round talent aside from Barkley.
WR? It’s a pretty weak group. Ridley will likely be gone and i’m not crazy about him anyway. I like Moore from Maryland as the best of the group but he doesn’t blow me away as a first rounder.
OL? They are pretty set on OL, but OL could be best player at 28.
TE? This could be possible. With the weak WR group, a guy like Gesicki from Penn State could be the best available playmaker. He’s not a great blocker but if you use him as a big WR, he can be a matchup nightmare. I really like Dallas Goedert as well.
QB? Mason Rudolph or Lamar Jackson could be available. I’ve heard steelers like Rudolph.
So there’s the problem. Do you reach for need on ILB or Safety. Or do you go best available at TE or QB?
it seems this is the year to make some moves, either up or down. The steelers rarely move up and they have never moved down and out of the first.
Here’s how i would rate the Steelers scenarios best case to worst.
1 Vander Esch at 28 - best mix of value and need. If medicals check out, could be a difference maker.
2 Sam Hubbard at 28 - best pass rusher that could possibly be available at 28
3 TE - Gesicki or Goedert at 28 - either could be best player available and have immediate impact on offense
4 Trade up for Vender Esch - if they feel he won’t make it to 28, a trade up for him is not bad so long as the price is not too high. It’s a big need and his athletic numbers mean star potential.
5 Trade back into round 2 where Evans or a Safety or QB would be better value and add extra picks.
6 Rudolph or Jackson at 28 - if the steelers are sold on one of them, it’s not the worst pick in the world to have one of them sit and learn for a few years
7 Rashaan Evans at 28 - he’ll be a good player but i doubt he’ll be a star. Feels like settling
8 Safety Ronnie Harrison at 28 - don’t like the value. I’d rather other safeties later.
9 RB at 28- Guice is the name thrown around. I’m not a fan. He’s just a guy to me. He can be productive but he’s not special. If they spend a 1st on a RB, he better be special. I’d much rather Rashad Penny. I have him as my #2 RB in this draft. I’d even prefer the value of a guy like Jackson on Northwestern in rd 4 or so.
so there’s my concerns on the first round pick. The steelers could easily see themselves in a bad situation. Because they turn in their card aboyt 10 seconds after they are on the clock, i’m not holding my breath for a trade.
Without a trade, they may have to settle at a position of need or take a wildcard like Gesicki or Mason Rudolph.
