Cajun's mock draft 2.0

That's exactly why I can see the Steelers using a relatively high (3rd or 4th round) draft pick on a QB that can sit behing Ben and develop into a quality starter. I don't think there are any elite QBs in this class, but there are some intriguing mid-round picks that can make all the throws and have the intangibles to become a quality QB in the NFL.

 

One issue on me. I don't nico Johnson will fall that far. I see a reach for someone in the early 4th and still a solid early 5 if not late 4th.

Thats me though. I haven't seen him going past 5 10th pick from what I remember.

 

You've pointed out my biggest fear. I'm hoping that since he never became the clear starter at Ala coupled with his sports hernia and no combine he'll slide to us. there's also 7 higher ranked ILB ahead of him and ILB is not usually a position that garners a "gotta have" attitude. I'm hoping those teams needing ILB help and/or depth will by now have their man and other teams in the 6th and 7th rd are looking for the "gem" skill players or Lineman.

If he is gone I may go after Bruce Taylor ILB from Va. Tech

Cajun-

 

A mock draft with no receiver the Steelers need to replace Wallace's speed.

 

But I do have a receiver, TE McDonald. He's 6'4" @ 270lbs who ran a 4.69 40... that's fast for his size. He has a 33.5 vert and is strong with 31 reps on the bench. He played most of his career in college at WR playing the slot. He is a matchup nightmare... a weapon...

Too many are caught up on wallace's speed. That speed didn't help us that much this year but it did get him paid. The patsies don't have that speed, look at their passing game and/or offensive power.

I will say since it's looking like we're now loosing sanders. which gave us two fast and quick WRs, I'm most likely gonna have to re-think the no WR issue.

Cajun-

 

We have a fundamental difference in opinion. You think TE is a Luxury and I don't. Sure, we have Miller but his career is winding down and will be on the PUP to start the season. Spaeth is back and is good but he isn't a franchise TE. Neither is Paulson who I like but he's strickly a part-timer. A Top TE is a need in today's NFL. Though Eifert may be the top TE in this years draft McDonald would be the better value in the 3rd vs. Eifert in the 1st or even Ertz in the 2nd. No way does McDonald make it to the 4th rd.

Quick question- who do you like in the 3rd as far as safeties/WR go? With Sanders probably leaving I will need to re-do my mock and draft a WR somewhere and I'm debating safety vs WR in rds 2-4.

Cajun-

 

I won't speak to how Miller's season begins, because I have no idea if he'll start week 1, be on the PUP list, or do it Mendenhall style. But assuming he eventually recovers from this knee injury, what do you mean his career is winding down? What is he, like 30? As a tight end, and especially the type of tight end he is (not based on speed, smart, strong blocker, reliable hands and routes), I don't see why he won't be able to play through his mid 30s.

I wouldn't mind a 2nd tight end if we can find one at some point, but if you draft one high enough, it means you're looking for Miller's replacement, and Heath will be here for longer than any rookie's first contract. Now, if we were the type of offense that started two TEs like New England, that would be different. And if we make that change, they absolutely draft one. But based on last year's offense, we are primarily a one tight end team. So I'd put off looking for Heath's successor.

I'd compare it to drafting Worilds in 2010. I like Worilds, and always have, but it was silly to draft a guy with a 4 year contract when the guy he's replacing will be there for 3 more years. Yes, we did get use out of him due to injuries, but that draft pick could have gone to an inside linebacker, where we had a need coming up much sooner. I think everyone could agree in 2010 that Farrior's career was ending sooner than Harrison's. I would have been fine taking an OLB in that draft for depth, but a 2nd rounder means a starter, and so we're only going to get one year out of that draft pick. Shoulda gone with Sean Lee or Navarro Bowman. They could have started at least a year sooner, probably two.

 

and we have the luxary and need for a backup at the same time. if he's better then gradkowski we win. if he's better then lefty and charlie at this stage we win also.

grad i think will be OK but i don't think he's better then either lefty or batch, just younger and healthier. if we get more then that out of a new guy we really win. nothings to say we don't draft a top pick when ben decides to go, let the new guy slug it out with this guy.

7 out of 32 starters were not 1st rounders, so the odds are not that bad. qb's are coming out with alot more readiness nowdays. if landry were there in the 4th, i'd have to say it wouldn't be a wasted pick. if it's griffen in the 6th or 7th it's still not a bad pick and since we have no money for another vet, it's a cheaper and smarter move for a 3rd guy. heck maybe john parker wilson looks good, who knows. i can't wait to find out though.

 

I speak of the PUP not of my own accord but from others who have more knowledge than I. I know he tore/damaged his ACL-PCL-MCL at the end of the season which in all likelyhood is gonna require some healing time and rehab time more than a few months.

I speak of nearing the end of his career because he has 9 seasons under his belt. He has in all likely played more snaps than he will play and hat count may now be nearing a 2:1 ratio. Shannon Sharpe, played 14 seasons. If we draft a TE this year, Heath will be entering his 14th season at the end of of rookie contract. One more injury to Heath's knee after he does return and it could end or shorten his career.

I seriously believe if we had a dominating TE to go along with Heath we would be using more 2 TE sets. We'd rotate them in & out keeping them fresher. I also feel McDonald could eventually be Heath's replacement. What's wrong with that? No player should be without competition with the exception being maybe a franchise QB.

Speaking of worilds, its a good thing we did draft him. As far as Bowman is concerned. There's alot of NFL teams wishing they had drafted him earlier. He was drafted in the 3rd rd. Maybe we should have drafted him instead of sanders. Hindsights is 20/20.

We have to remember drafting BPA is almost always better than drafting a need.

Cajun-

 

I will tell you where I am at right now. My draft comes out weird, but I like what it accomplishes.

1. Tyler Eifert, TE ND
2. Kevin Minter, ILB LSU
3. Steadman Bailey, WR WVU
3. Terrance Williams, WR Baylor
4. Shamarko Thomas, S Cuse

Now, in order for this to happen, the draft would have to go exactly our way, but I like the talent we have added in this mock. 2 good receivers, a TE who I think eventually will be dominant, and 2 eventual starters on D.

 

i like shamarko and mentioned him as a guy to watch before last season was over, but he's not a guy to build a secondary around. he's not very good against the pass at all. we also need some speed at rb. the two you have on defense are nothing more then decent role players. we need some playmakers on defense. we need turnovers. to me those are two reaches for a position.

 

I am not sure Barner will be there at #5, but if he is it will be an absolute steal. Great quick runner, especially in space. He is stronger than you would expect.

 

That may be true. I think positionally, this is what I would like to see in the first 4 rounds. Add a RB in round #5 and I am pretty happy.

 

Film? Yes I have. Fairly low level competition? Baylor, Louisana tech, Texas and Houston I wouldn't call low level.

I like him because he is a height/weight/speed guy who has played the slot. He played on not the best team with not the best QB. I've seen him drop a few passes,most were catchable but still bad throws. I've seen him make some tough catches too. He has a good attitude toward blocking but you're right, he hasn't gone against top DEs or OLBer in the NFL yet. He needs to bulk up and get stronger and improve technique in blocking buts what we have coaches for and we don't need him to be our #1 TE for a couple years. He's also a long snapper.

If we were looking for Millers replacement I'd say go for Eifert @17 or Ertz in the 2nd rd. Getting McDonald in the 3rd gives us time to develop him. We got Sanders in the 3rd and he hasn't play much either.

Cajun-

 

Im not particularly interested in who we draft except maybe in the 1st round but more so on the positions we draft to address the needs of the team.
I don't think we need a quarterback, nose tackle, or specialists. I think any other position is fair game regardless of round.

My first round pick is either Cooper or Vaccaro.