Steelers 2020 Draft Class

I give it an overall grade of C+. If we include Micha Fitz, then it's a B+. Won't really know for about 3 yrs. Wanted offensive hogs but they didn't follow my instructions

 

Before we even drafted, Minkah alone gives this draft an A, or better.

How many teams will get a pro bowl player in the first round?

 

Minkah makes this an A+

Aside from Minkah, we got a WR in the 2nd and a RG in the 4th that may turn into big time players

 

I am a tough grader. But I'll buy what your selling. Make it an A then. I am just worried about the OL.

 

When Football starts back up in 2025 it will be like Mad Max hopefully these guys are still around

 

Hey jeh1856.

I hope all is okay in your World. All is okay here so far.

Yes. folks around here should not forget about the Minkah acquisition for one second. His acquisition paid off big dividends immediately and will continue to. So, as far as I am concerned, he is definitely part of this year's draft. Obviously, the Defense is a composition of 11 players. However, when Minkah came aboard it just seemed like things took a gigantic leap in the right direction. I realize that he is just one cog in the "D" Machine but what a huge component. This is why we have to keep this "D" together as long a possible. The only weak piece I continue to see is Edmunds. Hopefully, this will be a break out season for him. In addition, as I have stated several times, I want a true NT. A Casey 2.0 prototype. Hargrave was good but was playing out of position. He is more suited for a 4-3 defense as a DE.

How many #1 picks do we have? Shoot we better be dominating on "D". Again, get that big body NT to clog up the middle. I have been saying this for a while now. The once totally dominant "Passing League" is slowly regressing as RBs are becoming more of a premium. In part, this is because there really are not that may good QBs left. Tell me who: Mahomes, Wilson, who else?

The Mannings are gone. So is Luck. Those close to being set out to pasture are: Ben, Brady, Brees and Rivers. When they are gone, the last of the elite are gone. This is why in part, IMO, the RB is making a comeback.


STEELWINDS AKA The East Side Kid

 

C- when you factor Minkah. Deepest draft in awhile. Everybody in our division got better while we did a whole lot of nothing. I think our first 2 picks could have been acquired with trade backs and getting more picks and higher quality players in the 3rd.

 

I give it a B-

 

I give it a C minus. Should have picked Dobbins.

 

Of course you think that way. The sky is always falling in sdot land.

 

Not true. I use to be a very positive person but this team has beat me into being pessimistic the last few years. Letdown after letdown. Two horrible drafts back to back.

 

I liked it. Immediate contributors from Claypool and maybe Dotson. A lot of help on STs with Brooks and possibly McFarland doing KR. Highsmith will take a year to ripen I think.

 

This.


Even Top 10 picks are not guaranteed the Pro Bowl. Have to have some objectivity here. Chase Young is the likeliest to get some serious votes but injuries are apart of the game too. Not saying he will be injury prone but luck does play a factor just as much as performance.

 

I'd give it a C. I would have made different choices on almost every pick. I can't condemn it totally because the team isn't sb caliber and that won't happen overnight with a draft unless you're an already made team that's a piece or 2 away. Idk what to think going forward because giving Ben that money would make you think they are thinking sb for the last few years of his career. Just don't see it happening though unless we get blessed somehow offensively.

 

Will have my thoughts tomorrow @Blast Furnace via a thread. Too many opinions for me to share with one post. I will say this; given the limited resources, I believe the team did very well.

 

One more thing to mention is postion too. For example, Cleveland looks bad for taking myles garrett over deshaun or mahomes. Garrett is a good defensive player and may even be dpoy caliber one day but his impact will never match what a qb can.

 

Ignore him.


He is just concerned that his draft crush is inferior to our own; "Mapletron". Take my word for it!

 

True but Myles Garrett was going number one as both DeShaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes had flaws of their own that crippled their draft stock; Watson's inconsistencies as a full field reader and how well Mahomes would translate to the pros. For Cleveland, I could not blame them for taking Garrett that high as me and @SteelCity_NB both pointed out at the time that, outside some desire issues, his athletic talent, skill set and potential were simply too difficult to pass up.


Keep in mind that Myles Garrett was widely reputed as a "Can't Miss Prospect". Personally, I did not agree at the time as work ethic and desire have to be factored in as well if I am to label a pass rusher such. That said, had Myles not been an idiot, we are likely looking at the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year as he would have caused major damage against Miami and Pittsburgh again; Arizona, Cincy and Baltimore, who they beat would have been next. For that matter, while it is comical to state this, Myles Garrett likely would have made Cleveland capture that final Wildcard as Cleveland's pass rush went extinct. Without him, Cleveland nosedived.



Now, all this said, I still believe that, at the time, the Cleveland Browns should have selected Myles Garrett then packaged their two First Rounders to take Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes as Cleveland had three First Round picks in 2017. Why they did not is truly baffling to me.

 

I thought deshaun should have went number 1 at that time before we know what we know now. He TWICE on the biggest stage in college shredded a STACKED Alabama defense. That was enough for me to say take him. But almost in every draft a positional player outranks a qb. But qb is the most important position. Baker had plenty of issues and they took him number 1. They also passed on wentz. Chase young is a better prospect than burrow and tua and I guarantee if Miami had the 2nd pick they still would have went tua or traded back with someone so they could get chase young. Washington just believes haskins is their guy which I don't. Great as a defender can be they will never match the impact of a qb. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the nfl and not a soul would trade him for any of the top ten qbs in the league. He wouldnt even be traded for kyler murray.

 

I think we addressed just about every major need. Claypool is a complete freak of nature. 4.42 speed on a 238 lb WR. And at 6'4" he has a 40 inch vertical leap. Unreal.
Highsmith gives us much needed depth at OLB. He is a pure pass rusher with 14 sacks last year.
Dotson has a chance to start as a rookie this year and was graded the top run blocking guard in the draft.
Brooks can give the team depth at both safety and linebacker, taking over for Barron.
Davis is a 320 lb run stuffer.
McFarland will be a change of pace speed back behind the often injured Conner and behind Bennie Snell.

 

Well that's certainly reminiscent of the Gabe VS. Dan scenario that we keep playing out over the years.

 

Would Mahomes be Mahomes if Cleveland had picked him? Remember that the Chiefs redshirted him behind Smith year 1 and put him in when he was ready.

If the Browns selected him he’d have been the starter by week 3 and would have been blown up all season behind a terrible line with nobody to throw to and Hue Jackson coaching him, that experience could potentially have destroyed his confidence and his career. Do not underestimate the influence Andy Reid and the overall environment in KC has had on mahomes success.