With the 102nd overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select OLB Alex Highsmith

[Sevenisheaven]

Every year folks rush on here to be the first to take a crap on one, two or all of the draft picks. Hell, I'm guilty of it myself because I really wanted Dobbins and was upset with the Claypool pick. But, I'll back Claypool and hope he becomes an All-Pro. I mean, you don't have to like the pick. But, at least give the kid a chance to actually suck before you say he sucks. lol

Im ok with Pool.....I would have taken Akers or JK.i think Akers is going to be great for the Rams.....he will thrive in a creative offensive system like Kamara did with the Saints. I realize with the talent on this team it's hard to get someone who will contribute when you get to 102 but we are thin at both lines, and with injury histories you can make an easy case for being thin at RB and TE too. So the chances of getting a solid backup for those positions that played against major talent in college will mean that pick will most likely contribute in 20. I dont see this kid contributing in 20 or 21. It doesnt accomplish much picking him. Hes a pet project and didn't we pick one in Ulysses last year? He too was a guy from a small school who had crazy production with a nonstop motor from a smaller school. Here's the difference between him and this kid.....he was picked really late I believe. They should have found a solid player either a lineman or TE or RB with that pick who ok had a real shot at co distributing due to I jury. This kid won't even play. Johnson played he was a 3rd Snell played he was a 4th .....they got opportunities .....we should have picked up a player of that caliber not pet project

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

If .y aunt had balls shes be my uncle.....if if if if if if if fuckinf if IS DRAFTED IN ROUNDS 6 & 7 ....like Big Dan....hes so big if if if if....IF he stops eating so many fucki pancakes and IF he moves faster than a ******* sloth and IF he gets a mean streak I stead of being a 400 lb ***** then he could be a steal!!!! But guess what Big Dan sucked and still sucks and he was picked late....this kid was picked in the ******* third. He could have been had later

You are losing it man.


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[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Maybe he comes in and does great.

We don't need Mr. Right.

We need Mr. Right now.

 

[Chicoman]

'Tweener DE sack specialists from lower level college competition are a dime-a-dozen. In fact, the Steelers drafted one in the sixth round last year (Sutton Smith), and waived him in August.

There's no reason to waste the second pick of an already abbreviated draft on a player like this.

Time will tell but I think he's a much better player than Sutton Smith. If Alex Highsmith was on a team like Alabama or Clemson this kid would have been off the board much quicker. Nothing I've seen from his highlight reel shows me that he is not capable of starting on an NFL roster. He was a man among boys on a very average college football team. He shows alot of things that people look for in a OLB. He's got a good arsenal of pash rush skills including good punch with his hands.

 

[Sevenisheaven]

Alex Highsmith might just be one of the better OLB in the NFL Draft. Just because he's from Charlotte doesn't mean anything. The entire Clemson team showed him tremendous respect when they played Clemson. The entire O-line said he was the best OLB they faced all year. You can see he's got the motor and the skills to make it at an NFL level.

They said that because they knew they were playing Charlotte and partied with Santonio and Martavius the night before. They were smoking dog poison laced blunts all night so sure this kid from Charlotte seemed like a HOFer. I'm sure they really got in early Friday night for that game.

 

[Gridiron]

After facing off against his team Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had some positives to say about Highsmith including, “He’s on all the ‘great player’ lists. I kept watching him and going, ‘Holy cow.’ He looks like Xavier Thomas. He’s physical, fast, disruptive. He’s causing sacks and tips. Really, really good football player. That No. 5 could play for anybody in the country.”

You are an idiot Seven.

 

[Steelworth]

Find me a ******* 2 reputable sources that projected him as a 3rd round pick *** wipe

From SI:

In my preview of EDGE/OLB for the draft, I highlighted Highsmith as a potential player to watch in the mid-rounds. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was extremely high on Highsmith after playing him:

"He’s physical and fast,” said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Highsmith. “He’s causing sacks and tips. They had a pick-six against UMass that he caused and created. But (he's) a really really good football player. But he could play for anyone in the country."

From The Draft Network:

Drawing rave reviews from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and left tackle Jackson Carman, Highsmith was productive when given opportunities to play against top competition. While he lacks ideal size, Highsmith is an urgent defender with enough appeal as a pass rusher and gap-shooter that he projects as a quality subpackage option with the upside of an eventual starter as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.

From Pro Football Network Nick Farabaugh (and then NFL.com's Lance Zierlein):

Pro Football Network's Nick Farabaugh believes that Charlotte EDGE Alex Highsmith is a top-100-caliber prospect.
"On every play, you see Highsmith’s motor run extremely hot," Farabaugh writes of the 6-foot-3, 248-pounder, adding that the Charlotte defender possesses a "useful toolbox of counters and moves," He is not alone in waxing poetic on Highsmith's toolbox of moves, as NFL Media's Lance Zierlein is likewise impressed by the creativity in how Highsmith approaches the game. For his part, Zierlein would like to see added strength, but both analysts are in lockstep in their belief that a starting role in the NFL could be in the cards for Highsmith down the road.

From Mel Kiper (although he had him going in the 4th round):

Defensively, Charlotte edge rusher Alex Highsmith is a small-school star in the making. Kiper has been high on him throughout the season. “If you’re looking for a real steal, a real find, I really like Highsmith,”

From CBS Sports:

125. Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte

Most had him going in round 3-4, so don't jump off a bridge just yet.

 

[CoolieMan]

They said that because they knew they were playing Charlotte and partied with Santonio and Martavius the night before. They were smoking dog poison laced blunts all night so sure this kid from Charlotte seemed like a HOFer. I'm sure they really got in early Friday night for that game.

now you are disparaging kids you don't know **** about....real classy asswipe

 

[Steelworth]

After facing off against his team Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had some positives to say about Highsmith including, “He’s on all the ‘great player’ lists. I kept watching him and going, ‘Holy cow.’ He looks like Xavier Thomas. He’s physical, fast, disruptive. He’s causing sacks and tips. Really, really good football player. That No. 5 could play for anybody in the country.”

You are an idiot Seven.

I'm sure Highsmith paid Swinney a hefty sum to say those things.

 

[topseed]

Time will tell but I think he's a much better player than Sutton Smith. If Alex Highsmith was on a team like Alabama or Clemson this kid would have been off the board much quicker. Nothing I've seen from his highlight reel shows me that he is not capable of starting on an NFL roster. He was a man among boys on a very average college football team. He shows alot of things that people look for in a OLB. He's got a good arsenal of pash rush skills including good punch with his hands.

Hope you're right, Chico, but to me it seems like just an unnecessarily early roll of the dice when there were better options available. They're not going to show a guy's "lowlights" on draft day....they put together a nice Sutton Smith reel last year, too.

 

[Steelworth]

They said that because they knew they were playing Charlotte and partied with Santonio and Martavius the night before. They were smoking dog poison laced blunts all night so sure this kid from Charlotte seemed like a HOFer. I'm sure they really got in early Friday night for that game.

Dude go to ******* bed already. JFC.

 

[Atlsteelers]

'Tweener DE sack specialists from lower level college competition are a dime-a-dozen. In fact, the Steelers drafted one in the sixth round last year (Sutton Smith), and waived him in August.

There's no reason to waste the second pick of an already abbreviated draft on a player like this.

You can’t compare Sutton to Highsmith. Two completely different players. For starters one is barely 6 feet and the other is 6’4. Sutton’s biggest strength was his quickness but lacked a variety of pass rush moves. Highsmith is light years ahead of him at this point. The biggest knock on Highsmith is he needs to hit the weight room and fill out his frame which could be said about most guys at coming into the NFL. He isn’t going to be ready year 1 but give the guy some time. It’s not a wasted pick at the point where they were picking. Now if they drafted him in the 2nd then yea but they got him as a 3rd round comp pick which really is a high 4th rounder.

 

[Steelworth]

Time will tell but I think he's a much better player than Sutton Smith.

And this guy and Sutton Smith are not even similar physically:

Alex Highsmith -- 6'3" 250 lbs 33 1/8" arms (per his NFL.com draft profile)

Sutton Smith -- 6'0" 233 lbs 30 3/4" arms (per his NFL.com draft profile)

 

[Sevenisheaven]

'Tweener DE sack specialists from lower level college competition are a dime-a-dozen. In fact, the Steelers drafted one in the sixth round last year (Sutton Smith), and waived him in August.

There's no reason to waste the second pick of an already abbreviated draft on a player like this.

Exactly ************!!! Its amazing that if you Express bat **** crazy anger about a pick you always get the following types of replies on this site

A) I'm sure you know more the entire FO he hem
B) I always love these guys every year who spout the same **** who dont know ****
C) You are losing it man. You need help
D) I trust the process and he will be a solid player in time

Any of you are entitled to live your life the way you wish but I'll never be a passive ***** fu king fans like some of you. Guess who pay the players salaries? Or Mike's salary? The fans do. So if you want to keep being part of the circle jerk and keep regurgitating trust the process I have faith bullshit and take it up the butt from the FO when they draft guys like Dri in the 3rd be my guest.I never will jerk off Mike. It's good to ***** and complain and stir the pot. If you like being submissive go live in China. For the most part I think they have done a very good job with their picks over the years. A team is still built in the draft. But when you draft a practice squad guy in the 3rd fans should *****. He isnt going to do squat. Btw I'm not losing it.....I'm just ******* around but I do think this pick sucked. 1st round Minkah A +++ 2nd round Pool .......for now B- only because WR is not an easy position to play as a rookie and Akers or Dobbins play the easiest rookie position and would have been an upgrade over Conners and would have provided depth . This pick.......D to F........if it was in round 5 I'd give it a B

 

[Steelworth]

People, stop ******* comparing this guy to Sutton Smith. They both went to smaller schools and that's where the similarity ends.

 

[CoolieMan]

Exactly ************!!! Its amazing that if you Express bat **** crazy anger about a pick you always get the following types of replies on this site

A) I'm sure you know more the entire FO he hem
B) I always love these guys every year who spout the same **** who dont know ****
C) You are losing it man. You need help
D) I trust the process and he will be a solid player in time

Any of you are entitled to live your life the way you wish but I'll never be a passive ***** fu king fans like some of you. Guess who pay the players salaries? Or Mike's salary? The fans do. So if you want to keep being part of the circle jerk and keep regurgitating trust the process I have faith bullshit and take it up the butt from the FO when they draft guys like Dri in the 3rd be my guest.I never will jerk off Mike. It's good to ***** and complain and stir the pot. If you like being submissive go live in China. For the most part I think they have done a very good job with their picks over the years. A team is still built in the draft. But when you draft a practice squad guy in the 3rd fans should *****. He isnt going to do squat. Btw I'm not losing it.....I'm just ******* around but I do think this pick sucked. 1st round Minkah A +++ 2nd round Pool .......for now B- only because WR is not an easy position to play as a rookie and Akers or Dobbins play the easiest rookie position and would have been an upgrade over Conners and would have provided depth . This pick.......D to F........if it was in round 5 I'd give it a B

could you type your bullshit so it is easier to read?

as I said before though...your opinion just doesn't ******* matter...

hell my high school son knows more about football than your whiney ***** *** does.

 

[Sevenisheaven]

Time will tell but I think he's a much better player than Sutton Smith. If Alex Highsmith was on a team like Alabama or Clemson this kid would have been off the board much quicker. Nothing I've seen from his highlight reel shows me that he is not capable of starting on an NFL roster. He was a man among boys on a very average college football team. He shows alot of things that people look for in a OLB. He's got a good arsenal of pash rush skills including good punch with his hands.

Yeah like what he has two legs? If he played for Alabam....what a dumb *** thing to say when in no way he had the talent to play for Alabama. That's like saying man if Delvin Hodges played for Clemson in the National championship game last year he would have been drafted pretty high. Well there's a reason he didn't play for Clemson.....because he wasn't good enough!!

 

[Sevenisheaven]

After facing off against his team Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had some positives to say about Highsmith including, “He’s on all the ‘great player’ lists. I kept watching him and going, ‘Holy cow.’ He looks like Xavier Thomas. He’s physical, fast, disruptive. He’s causing sacks and tips. Really, really good football player. That No. 5 could play for anybody in the country.”

You are an idiot Seven.

You are the moron. You do realize that when guys like Saban or Swinney play utterly inferior competition they play up their opponent. Sure they dont want their players to get complacent but they need to sell the dog shot pile game to the media and fans as much as possible so their 75 point wins seems better than it is. They could play you and your high school friends and Swinney would be saying you have Ray Lewis Traits at Linebacker. They k ow Charlotte sucks. They know all their players are below their 3rd string

 

[CoolieMan]

You are the moron. You do realize that when guys like Saban or Swinney play utterly inferior competition they play up their opponent. Sure they dont want their players to get complacent but they need to sell the dog shot pile game to the media and fans as much as possible so their 75 point wins seems better than it is. They could play you and your high school friends and Swinney would be saying you have Ray Lewis Traits at Linebacker. They k ow Charlotte sucks. They know all their players are below their 3rd string

this post proves you are a ******* idiot

 

[Sevenisheaven]

could you type your bullshit so it is easier to read?

as I said before though...your opinion just doesn't ******* matter...

hell my high school son knows more about football than your whiney ***** *** does.

Your son must be ******* brilliant. Of course I owi g how smart he is you might want to talk to your wife and find out who the father really is

 

[Steelworth]

Not sure if I ever saw Sutton Smith do this (boy has some power):

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">INCOMING <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> Alex Highsmith <a href="https://t.co/seVWqp1kQr">pic.twitter.com/seVWqp1kQr</a></p>— Steelers Depot ���� (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1253907034073821186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[CoolieMan]

Your son must be ******* brilliant. Of course I owi g how smart he is you might want to talk to your wife and find out who the father really is

you should really spell check your **** before you hit submit...

he could be mentally challenged and still know more than you.


many here know that both of my boys are adopted so....your lame attack is useless *****

 

[Steelworth]

Baldy breaking down Highsmith's array of pass rush moves:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Baldy on Alex Highsmith <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/j0hlmIyfSe">pic.twitter.com/j0hlmIyfSe</a></p>— Steelers Depot &#55356;&#57286;&#55357;&#56401; (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1253901764098588672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gridiron]

You are the moron. You do realize that when guys like Saban or Swinney play utterly inferior competition they play up their opponent. Sure they dont want their players to get complacent but they need to sell the dog shot pile game to the media and fans as much as possible so their 75 point wins seems better than it is. They could play you and your high school friends and Swinney would be saying you have Ray Lewis Traits at Linebacker. They k ow Charlotte sucks. They know all their players are below their 3rd string

Dumb **** this was AFTER the game

 

[Sevenisheaven]

you should really spell check your **** before you hit submit...

he could be mentally challenged and still know more than you.


many here know that both of my boys are adopted so....your lame attack is useless *****

Well I find that awesome! My sisters both gave up kids to adoption. High praise Mark's for you! Seriously. Of course that. Of course that being said it helps explain why they are so smart....(you know the apple doesnt fall far from the tree thing(