Trying to get a handle on our first pick

The more I think about it, the less sure I am that I know what direction we'll go in the first round. We have way more needs than usual, and this is the hardest time I've ever had predicting our first rounder. Here's me really just throwing out my random thoughts and what they might mean.



*ILB- Colbert says (I'm paraphrasing) Sean Spence can no longer be seen as a long term answer at ILB. The Steelers are also talking money with Larry Foote.

The Steelers are patient, and slow to make any moves, we all know that. I wish they were talking to Keenan Lewis already but they said they'd wait until after the combine. So the fact that they're already talking numbers with Foote tells me they're worried about the ILB position next to Timmons. I know Foote is a punching bag around here, and he didn't play great last season... but he played WAY better than I expected him to.

That being said Foote's gone 1 year left, that's it. Which means we HAVE to find an ILB that can be ready in a year... which says top 3 rounds to me.

This probably doesn't matter to the Steelers much, but this is a position that really drops off after the top 3. So if they don't grab 1 early they're probably not going to get an impact guy.

Draft Possibilities: Alec Ogletree would absolutely be a perfect fit as far as need and talent at the 17th pick, but his multiple off field incidents eliminate him. That leaves Manti Te'o and Kevin Minter. I think Minter is a reach at 17, and Te'o is very intriguing especially because I think he's the type of guy that could play well early.



*OLB- The Rooneys say after the season that they want to see more pressure on the QB, which typically when they talk the team listens. Harrison is breaking down. This draft has a lot of intriguing pass rushers that could be a value at 17.

I see OLB as a need that can wait simply because I think we might have something in Worilds or Carter, and we HAVE to find out. I'm also reading the coaching staff wants Harrison back so maybe they work something out. For these reasons, I'd say we wait a couple rounds for a pass rusher... But we typically go best player available, and at our spot I think the BPA will certainly be an OLB.

Draft Possibilities: Damontre Moore, Bjoern Werner, Ezekiel Ansah, Jarvis Jones, Barkevious Mingo, and Dion Jordan are all good OLB prospects that would in all liklihood be the best player on the board if they were there. I think it's unlikely that all 6 go before our pick.



*OG- The Steelers are moving to a new ZB scheme. The Rooneys have mentioned they want to run the ball, and if we cut Colon there's a very big hole at LG. We've also met with Jonathan Cooper.

The only reason I list this as a possibility is Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper might be 2 of the top 5 prospects in this draft if you don't consider positional value. Having Cooper/Pouncey/DeCastro is a thought that gives me goosebumps, but is it a luxury we can afford?

Draft Possibilities: Chance Warmack, Jonathan Cooper at our pick.



*WR- Wallace is leaving, Heath is going to miss significant time, BEN. NEEDS. WEAPONS

I think we need a RB too, but Dwyer has shown he's not bad, so we can wait for a RB... Plus this draft is very deep at the position in the middle rounds. We've gone from stacked to hurting at WR in just a few short years. Antonio Brown regressed, and we need someone to take some pressure off of him. Sanders might be a decent #2 but he's always hurt.

This draft has a LOT of talented wide receivers at the top, the problem is their range is all in the 25-40 range in the draft. My favorite scenario (right now) is probably to trade down and grab a WR. At this point, the only way the Steelers are going to get to the playoffs is on Ben's back, and we need to get him some playmakers.

Draft Possibilities: The only guy I like at 17 is Cordarelle Patterson and maybe Keenan Allen. I'd rather trade down and target Deandre Hopkins, Tavon Austin, Justin Hunter, or Terrence Williams.



These are what I see as being the most likely in round 1. My "honorable mentions" if you will...

Running back- As I mentioned above. This draft is VERY deep at RB in the middle rounds, which I think is the sweet spot for a RB anyway. I also read somewhere that Rashard Mendenhall has scared the FO away from going RB in round 1 again.

Safety- Going to be a big need, very soon, but it's a position that's fairly deep in the 2-4 rounds. Seems ideal to grab one there (even though I'm a fan of Vaccaro).

Nose Tackle- This is a position the national media loves to say we need. I think McClendon could be a beast. I wouldn't mind drafting a NT (Hankins or Jenkins), but if we did I'd want to see McClendon at DE, he needs to be on the field.

Tight End- This has been mentioned some. I don't think there's any way in round 1, however I could definitely see us pulling the trigger on Ertz or Eifert if they're there in round 2.

 

This draft is going to be fun to watch as steeler fans. We have needs and positions that needed to get younger last season, and we just can't afford to miss. Hopefully our scouts, Tomlin, and Colbert have really been doing their homework. But I honestly am not sure on what position we go for in the 1st round. I believe we probably will take the top guy who is on our draft board at that time. Whether that be a RB, WR, OLB, ILB, S, G, who knows. Gonna be interesting to watch though.

 

This is the first draft in a while that I feel like I would actually prefer to move back in the draft....if possible twice. I look at it like this, as an ideal.

Move out of 17 for the 24th and a pick. Move out of 24 to say 28th for another pick. You end up with 2 additional draft picks both of which are probably in the 3rd round. You now have...a 1st, a 2nd, 2 or 3 3rds, 1 or 2 4ths depending on the picks you get back for you trades, compensatory pick for Gay, 5th, 6th and 7th. That give you 10 picks in this draft with 6 coming in the top 4 rounds. THAT is what can give this team a draft which has a HUGE impact on this team.

If we stay, I think you laid out our options well.

 

dee milner the top cb is to have shoulder surgery. could drop him in our laps. lots of guys could move up one spot because of it too.

jordan is coming off of shoulder surgery too.

we have no RB's under contract as of now. dwyer's not a good fit for the new blocking scheme.

one good top wr. would do wonders for who we already have here. ( woods)

as you say , they need to find out what we have in worilds,carter and robinson.

we do have brian rolle added to ilb with foote ,timmons,kion wilson and marshall mcfadden ( who played pretty well in preseason and they did activate him later).

we are thin at TE with heath out, and i hate to say not getting younger, but with will johnson and paulson, zack pianalto (< may not be bad) and mccoy ( whose been around here for 3 years now) may be enough to start the season.

we are thin at backups on the o-line but not empty. we will see some udfa's after the draft too. we have a starting 5 and malecki,cheadle,long in the wings so far.

safety we are thin if troy or clark go down. golden and cromartie-smith are it. maybe c-r gets the spot this year. he's been around here a while now. golden has some upside. one would be nice though.

qb? we need 2.

NT? we have 3.

DE? good to go maybe an udfa or two to look at.

 

I think we will know alot more after March 2nd ,I believe that is when
the Steelers are going to make an announcement on who they will be keeping
and who they will be restructuring.If this is correct, we all can start putting our
boards together, until then your guess is as good as mine. COULD THEY
SUPRISE US?

 

we have hall at
olb ilb wr rb s g te dt/de
go to the best player available in every rounds at these positions

 

What a HUGE draft this years draft is for The Steelers! We can't afford to miss!

 

To do all of that you need trading partners and I don't see anyone willing to move up to the 17th spot and give up a pick. I'm hearing that there is not much difference between middle first round and the bottom first round as far as value.