Draft Do-Over -- What Would You Have Done?

Rules

• List your ideal draft, based on the way the actual draft played out.
  • That means either keep the player the Steelers selected, or a player that came after him.
• No trading. We can't assume what kind of deal we could have gotten. Use the same picks the Steelers used.
• Explain, or don't.

Mine:

1. Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB

I do see some risk with him, but I don't see who would have been a better pick. If I didn't like Bud, trading back would have been the next step.

I almost picked: N/A

2. Senquez Golson, CB

I shocked myself with this one. Still? Even with all the options?? I fully admit when I saw the pick I thought, "REACH!" ...But looking at who was selected after, there isn't anyone I want more. As the draft unfolded live, Quinten Rollins was my pick, but there was something uneasy about him in the back of my mind. The same feeling I had about Rowe and Alex Carter - all of them are either corner/safety hybrids or corners whose value largely comes from having safety as a fallback position. So, high levels of play at multiple positions like Rod Woodson? Or Jack of all trades and master of none, like Trai Essex? I don't want to draft a CB that has to morph into a FS. I want an awesome CB. It's still a very close call, and if Rowe was on the board he'd probably be the pick, but I'll go with the guy who has the best chance of getting turnovers, Golson.

I almost picked: CB Quinten Rollins

3. T.J. Clemmings, OT

A foot injury dropped him, but I don't think it's that serious. I see real potential for him to be the next Mike Adams (that's bad), but I think that's his floor. He could also be better. He gives us a real backup at two positions, and an emergency plan if we lose Beachum to FA. I like Coates, but I feel like this is equal or greater value at a position we need more. I also like Carl Davis, but feel like Michael Bennett gives us a better pass rush, and two rounds later.

I almost picked: DL Carl Davis, WR Sammie Coates, DL Henry Anderson

4. Doran Grant, CB

Perfect.

I almost picked: N/A

5. Michael Bennett, DL

Really hard to get rid of Jesse James here, who I liked a lot more after we drafted him and looked at him more closely. But I feel like Bennett is a better player than the guys we got in the 6th in the real draft. I think he could be a nickel pass rusher to start with, and learn another position as time goes by. That's the Brett Keisel path, isn't it?

I almost picked: TE Jesse James, FS Derron Smith

6a. La'el Collins, OL

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the NFL said he can't re-enter the draft next year. What are his options? Play for us or don't play. This team is a great situation for him. Block for an elite quarterback and running back. Play for a winner. No pressure early. Learn from the best coach in the game. He could backup both guard positions and compete with Clemmings for RT, and become our starting LG next year. Then we re-sign him to a reasonable contract a year after that. Hopefully the fact that he's our first 6th round pick soothes his ego.

I almost picked: WR Tre McBride, WR Darren Waller

6b. Gerod Holliman, FS

This one was a hard call. I initially scrapped him for red zone threat Waller, but I'm running with the theme of my late round picks: go big or go home. Probably he either turns into the playmaker for us after a couple years, or he fizzles out as a rookie.

I almost picked: TE Ben Koyak

7. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB

Redshirt 2015. Sean Spence with more potential, at a position we desperately need high talent. 3 CBs in one draft is a lot, but there will be space for Ifo in 2016. All we need is his health.

I almost picked: Gerod Holliman here, with Darren Waller at 6a and La'el Collins at 6b.


Those three final picks are extremely boom/bust, but most 6th/7th rounders are more like bust/bust, or maybe special teamer/bust. If just one of the last three pans out, it's a win. What do you think? What would you have done?

 

Bennett had some serious Injury Issues that dropped him, and, he makes zero sense for us cause he is strictly a 3-technique D-Linemen. Best for a Tampa-cover 2 system. And there is maybe 3 or 4 total NFL teams that. Also Collins....maybe in the 7th round just to secure his draft rights. But any sooner would be Nuts. Not knowing his situation.

 

I'm bringing in Bennett for a pass rush. We're in nickel half the time. There's no rush for him to learn another position, but I think he can do it. He has a year or two. If he pans out in base defense that's great, but if not, it's no big loss.

I've had the Collins debate before so I don't want to get into likelihoods of his playing, but I think it's weird you are totally fine with drafting him in the 7th, but think the 6th is "nuts."

 

The steelers will never ever be the team that gets collins, too busy taking the high road and acquiring fine young men

 

at the end i'm satisfied of what they have done ..hope they coach them up well if yes we can have something .. again this draft is difficult to grade because every players were not sure things .. hope we choose the right ones . btw we will need time to be contender for a superbowl .. unless allen shazier jarvis shamarko will take a big step up

 

why ? if is cleared he is like all the others .. innocent and while i don't think they will win the bid war , would be nice to add collins . a first round talent at lower price .. we have need at guard at ot ....would be the ice on the cake

 

ah ok .. but if is cleared we should have at least make a try

 

of course the foot master has already had dinner with Collins though...

 

1. Dupree - no change
2. Golson - no change
3. Henry Anderson - Coates has huge upside, but I would have taken a prototypical 3-4 DE to bolster the depth and rotation. He seems to be the type of player that would be solid for a long time. Second choice - Xavier Cooper
4. Grant - no change
5. Kenny Bell - Prospect for the 4/5 WR. High character, great work ethic, willing blocker. I would have preferred defense all four rounds to start it off.
6. Walton - no change, love this pick
6. Tre McBride - another WR with KR experience. Him and Bell fight it out. I think Chickillo would have been an UDFA and doubt he would have signed with us after his comments from the article I posted in the draft thread. Said he didn't like the 3-4 and would prefer the 4-3.
7. Holliman - no change

I'll still root for Coates, James, and Chickillo obviously, and thought the actual draft overall was good.

 

Some of the Pittsburgh sports writers who have the inside scoop says Clemmings' medical condition is he could have a shortened career. He says he doesn't feel pain now, but then 4 to 5 years he could just be done as a player.

 

That's one hell of a prediction.

 

Well before I do this I want to say I am happy with our draft and I trust the front office with what they are thinking. Hell they know a hell of a lot more then me but that is why I am here posting and they are not, lol. With that said here are my chenges.....

Round 1 - I would keep the same, I think the pick like it or not was the pick the Steelers had to make. I am just hoping we get the next JH and not another JJ!

Round 2 - I would have went Alex Carter and the reason is cause he plays more of a zone system, so that is what the experts say. I am coming around to the Golson pick but I would have went Carter here.

Round 3 & 4 same

Round 5 - Max Valles OLB Virgina, I liked the James pick but there were still TE's out there I liked and our 2 biggest needs(OLB & CB) would have been addresses without any reach. Valles looked good with what I watched on him.

Round 6A - Same

Round 6B - Koyack TE, I feel just as good as James.

Round 7 - Same, however I would have liked Iko here but as everyone knows Holliman was the one guy in this draft I wanted.