Cajun's way too early 1st Mock Draft

Only a 4 rd mock so here we go.

Rd1) Kevin Dodd DE - At 6-4 & 280 he'll be the perfect fit in what we do and help give Heyward/Tuitt help.

Rd2) Deiandre' Hall CB- A Tall but rangy CB with solid skills

Rd3) Nick Vannett TE- A Solid Run blocker who has shown very good hands when thrown to. If he isn't here then I'll go with Maurice Canady, another tall CB with solid skills.

Rd4) James Cowser DE/OLB- I see him switching to OLB and I see him being a steal here.

Cajun

 

I would prefer them to find DL depth in the later rds, I think a pass rusher or secondary is the priority. I like the 3rd pick of Vanett, never heard of the 2nd pick Hall.

 

A few questions. How do you feel Dodd fits in our defense? Is he going to be a DE I'm 34 base and DT in nickel? If so, I think it's a waste to draft a position in the first round that we are a,ready very set at. Heyward and Tuitt are a great DE tandem, if we are looking for depth then we should look at FA or later rounds of the draft. I kinda see it as a luxury pick.

Idk anything about Hall other than he went to Northern Iowa. Small school guy. I'd have to look into him more to offer a legitimate opinion.

Vannett would be a great pick. He's big, an excellent blocker, and shows some decent hands when he has an opportunity to get thrown the ball. Ohio State isn't that good at getting the ball to its TE's, but we always manage to have some guys that can really play the position. They are asked to block all the time, so guys from OSU would be a perfect fit for what we like to do with the TE position.

Don't know Cowser. Don't even know what school he goes to.

 

I love the dodd pick. I think you can do a lot with him. kinda like a more athletic kesiel. you can stand him up or put in at de. he seems unblockable one on one.

 

What makes you think DL can't be a pass rusher?

In the great 3-4 vs 4-3 debate Im on the side of 4-3. While I'm not advocating that total shift here I will say adding another top DL will do nothing but help this team including but not limited to pass defense.

Pressuring the QB is vital to pass defense and wore out DL in the 4th QTR is NOT the recipe for SB success.

Cajun

 

we still do have last years draftee that could fill a role as a backup, LT walton already here and a year in the system.

 

I'm excited to see him year two. He's a big boy with surprising athleticism so hopefully he can take the next step up. Someone has to be able to supplant Cam Thomas.

 

DL can definitely be a pass rusher... But why draft another 5 tech? We have two good pass rushing 5 techs already. They are scheme versatile too, and both do well playing DT in the 4 man front in nickel. I just don't see how that is any type of value. If it was a guy who could play OLB in base and the 7 or 9 tech in the nickel, then cool. Is Dodd that guy? Ogbah? Idk.

 

dodd can play de in a 4-3 , maybe even as a 3-4 olb .

 

I agree they need DL depth, OLB is a more pressing need IMO. They really need a OLB who is capable of getting double digit sacks, a disruptive speed rusher like Von Miller.

 

There aren't that many guys like that in the entire league... Let alone chillin at pick 25. We gotta hope Dupree pans out and try to bring in another guy who can get after it this year's draft too

 

Exactly, we need game changers. Got to get that safety whether it be thru the draft or FA.
This is one of the pieces missing.

 

we will give chickillo a shot this year. who exactly will they dump for this new phenom? dupree? jones? chickillo? silverback? moats? do you see this guy being better than any of them his first year? do we have the cap room to spend a bunch on a double digit sack guy? is he even out there? our defense is evolving to the place that one OLB'er isn't going to be "the guy" like we had before, it's more of a mix of several guys getting a few. we increased our totals last year by a bunch doing it this way. i think it will continue like that.

 

He could take the place of Harrison, he can retire they need a speed rusher.

 

Basically the only two guys they won't dump are Dupree and Jones, and JJ could be gone the year after next. Harrison has been fine, but he won't play forever. We will have to move on from him at some point, so why can't it be this season? Moats is a decent player, but he's hardly a guy we would pass on a top edge rushing option on because of. Chickillo will be given a chance but he's fighting for a roster spot, not a starting spot. There's no guarantee he even makes the team again. There's a realistic chance that a guy we draft could be better than everyone we have. We are fairly thin at OLB at least in terms of sacks generated from the position.

We certainly can't afford a pass rusher in FA, so we have to hit in the draft. I wouldn't lock in on OLB, but if we really like someone at 25 we should take him. We have one long term option at OLB now in Dupree. JJ is solid, but is a 2 down/rotation guy until he starts getting after the QB a little more. Moats is a filler depth guy and Chickillo is a late round flier that we would love to start some day, but realistically it will be a win for us if he just turns out to be a solid back up/rotation guy for 4-5 years before he is replaced by someone else in the draft.

 

i just don't see us ever having 5 first rounders at the LB'er spot. not with the money tied up with timmons. somebody would sit the bench at first round money. not going to happen.

 

You do know Von Miller is a 4-3 DE in Wades Dominating SB winning 4-3 Defense.

Cajun

 

Hear me out.... this is my preliminary predraft thinking.

We cant rebuild, so we must play with and add to.our strenghts. On DL we have two studs who can play DT in a 4-3. Move Heyward to the 1-tech And the quicker Tuitt to the 3-tech. Make Dupree Full-time 4-3 LDE. Draft Dodd for RDE. Resign McLendon and With LT As Backups.

We dont have zero tech NT... If Deebo plays next season it will be his last, and we have no other proven 3-4 OLB except Maybe DUPREE. Moats and JJ are really 4-3 OLB playing out of position for us.

Cajun

 

I'm seeing the Steelers having a solid shot at signing Weddle and not having to break the bank. Lose shark and W.Allen Resign Golden who played well when given snaps AND move D. Grant to FS.

Cajun

 

So change to a base 43? I think we can realistically play both, which is an advantage for our defense. I'd be fine with drafting an edge rusher who is primarily a 43 DE since were going to be in nickel most of the time on downs where we would need pass rush... We need to draft an edge rusher early anyways IMO, so I just want a guy who can get to the QB.

It's not a bad idea, I just had some reservations about his game. My question was at his size, is Dodd athletic and fast enough to be a big time edge rusher in the league? He seems to be built like a 5 tech. I haven't watched a ton of him honestly, but the games I watched live he certainly seems like a really good player. I was just curious as to how he would fit. I don't know enough about him to make that call, but I don't want to force him at 43 DE if he isn't best suited for it.

 

Wrong, Jackson and Wolfe are the DE Ware and Miller play OLB in the 3/4.

 

No, not really..........

Wade is a classic 3-4 DC, Dallas with Ware as his key OLB and the Texans and when he relaced del rio in Denver he was primed to have a dominating 3-4, two solid DE, great edge rushers and a real good supporting cast.

Thing is Wade didn't stay locked into the classic 3-4 scheme just like the Steelers aren't locked into it as our most used lineup. Jackson and Wolfe pkayed alot of 1 & 3 Tech especially during the playoffs and SB With Miller and Ware lining up at DE. They played mostly a 4-3 & 4-2 fronts in the SB and Cam Newton couldn't handle it.

So while they were drafted and have played mostly OLB in their careers they have infact played DE and did it well....MVP well!

Cajun

 

This is correct. And also the direction I have been advocating for the Steelers to move in.

 

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I've found a friend.