Nailed it!

[stillers4me]

If you ask any current or former NFL scout how long it takes to determine the quality of a draft class, they will quickly suggest waiting at least three years.

However, in the age of instant gratification/analysis, we are effusive in praise and criticism of draft classes before the players even step on the field for minicamps or organized team activities. This approach certainly draws the ire of NFL executives, but this is the world we live in.

We will continue to revisit the 2013 NFL Draft (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013) over the next few years, but here are my initial thoughts on who nailed it:


Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-team/dt-by-team-input:pit): There isn't a better team at drafting players who ideally fit the system than Pittsburgh. GM Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/player/miketomlin/2527518/profile) deserve kudos for identifying top talents with the skills to excel in the scheme. Jarvis Jones (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/jarvis-jones?id=2540137) is a James Harrison (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/player/jamesharrison/2504844/profile) clone with the first-step quickness and burst to pummel opponents off the edge. He was the best pass rusher in college football over the past couple seasons and should continue that dominance in the NFL. Le'Veon Bell (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/le'veon-bell?id=2540175) is a big, bruising back with nifty feet and outstanding hands. He is a rare three-down back capable of staying on the field in every situation, which will make him a star in Todd Haley (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/player/toddhaley/2515611/profile)'s offense. Markus Wheaton (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/markus-wheaton?id=2539291) should fill the void created by Mike Wallace (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/player/mikewallace/2507763/profile)'s departure in free agency. The Oregon State product is a legitimate speedster on the perimeter, with better route-running skills and a more polished game than his predecessor.

Read more @ http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap1000000165023/article/2013-nfl-draft-winners-minnesota-vikings-detroit-lions-nail-it

Hears hoping they will still be saying this an a couple of years.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGOdZTr8CEM/UCgtQ6x1-iI/AAAAAAAAAMA/7VDUmtnGh2E/s1600/Fingers-crossed1.jpg (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=fingers+crossed&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=dSP3v2TRoUpGBM&tbnid=-L11F1Y9uGBi9M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffreewillsf.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F 11%2Ffingers-crossed-get-out-and-vote.html&ei=ZGF9UYCoDJDp0QHzl4GwDw&bvm=bv.45645796,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNGNEwvTQgAFbPTvc0d7n1GHMXR0SA&ust=1367257800894415)

[steelreserve]

My prediction for this year:

- One guy develops into a somewhat dependable role player or almost-starter (Jones?)
- One guy is injured for most of the season
- One guy shows flashes but remains a question mark because of limited playing time
- Two guys are taking a while to get it and limited to special teams
- One guy looks promising but is buried on the bench (probably a DB)
- Landry holds a clipboard the entire season
- 6th-round WR gets put on the practice squad then signs with the Ravens
- 7th-round DT doesn't make the team

I think that's everyone.

[Moose]

Ditto. I like everything I'm reading and hearing about all of our drafts, and kudos to K.Colbert and Coach Tomlin again on doing their homework and hopefully getting the bodies to fill our voids. So, I guess it's now wait and see on camp and who does/doesn't fill the spaces. Go Steeler's

[ALLD]

What do we do about the OL?

[blackngldblood]

they already stated they arent shutting the door on Max Starks. Why not sign him? He is about as dependable as they get.

[Psycho Ward 86]

What do we do about the OL?

seriously? we spent our 1st 2 picks in the draft last year and the year before that so its time to let them loose and (hopefully) enjoy.

- - - Updated - - -


they already stated they arent shutting the door on Max Starks. Why not sign him? He is about as dependable as they get.

so theres this thing called the salary cap...

[blackngldblood]

yeah sure. he'd be a vet min. and you know it. if they need him back they'll make it happen.

[Count Steeler]

yeah sure. he'd be a vet min. and you know it. if they need him back they'll make it happen.

Ben may even pay his salary to keep him around, unless Gilbert or Adams has developed since last year.

[GBMelBlount]

What do we do about the OL?

Hopefully Bicknell kicks their asses into shape....and teaches them how to defend themselves against Gilbert.

[vtw8lftr]

What in the hell is with all the naysayers... do you really think that we could have another mendenhall/sweed draft... 2008 was an anomaly and yet all of the so called "steelers faithful" use that as the only draft they consider relevant... "man I wish we were the Patriots, that Bellicheck sure is swell and he picks a heck of a draft, look how he manipulates the draft picks"

[steelreserve]

We have two left tackles on the team and both were drafted highly. It would be silly to stretch ourselves for a third one, again. Sink or swim time; we can't baby them along forever.

And much as Starks was a good fill-in when our other options were rookies and Jonathan Scott, his performance was not really rated very highly by most standards last year. Adequate at best is what I'd call it. Time to cut the cord.

[SteelerEmpire]

Yea. I read from more than one reporter that the Steelers did the best at the draft than any. Kudo's to the recruitment staff.

But that's just step one of a long series. I'm just worried about, in the end, the fact that this team develops "star players" AND can afford to pay them to stay in the burgh when their at their best ??? Like this is some "elite player factory" for every other team, and not for this one ???

[vtw8lftr]

We have two left tackles on the team and both were drafted highly. It would be silly to stretch ourselves for a third one, again. Sink or swim time; we can't baby them along forever.

And much as Starks was a good fill-in when our other options were rookies and Jonathan Scott, his performance was not really rated very highly by most standards last year. Adequate at best is what I'd call it. Time to cut the cord.

But they are both young and if anything I blame our coaching staff for baby stepping all of our rookies, almost like we are afraid to throw them to the wolves... and if that is the case then yes we can blame poor coaching, but I just don't see how our drafting is any worse than any other team. These were very solid picks this draft... I thought they made a mistake skipping on Jones in the 2nd but they have the inside line and I am a schmuck on my couch reading the internet... I had Jones, Bell, Shamarko, Landry in my mock but missed the round on 3 of them... hopefully their salary cap issues forces their hand and exposes the new draft picks as soon as possible.

[GBMelBlount]

We have two left tackles on the team and both were drafted highly. It would be silly to stretch ourselves for a third one, again. Sink or swim time; we can't baby them along forever.

And much as Starks was a good fill-in when our other options were rookies and Jonathan Scott, his performance was not really rated very highly by most standards last year. Adequate at best is what I'd call it. Time to cut the cord.

Agreed.

I am counting on Bicknell to beat the laziness and complacency out of this line.

We drafted some of these players knowing this and accepted it as status quo.

Last year was embarrassing.

[TomlinSteelTribe]

Yeah, the OL MUST step it up this season. Certainly seems within the realm of possibility considering the investments that were made.

It is a concern, imo, how we keep pushing our cap problems into the future. It does come back to bite eventually. I doubt the Steelers wanted to let Lewis walk but the cap handcuffed 'em to a degree. We're lucky Allen has panned out.

On the draft: I'm more than satisfied. Keeping my fingers crossed that Bell is the answer.

[steelreserve]

I'm just worried about, in the end, the fact that this team develops "star players" AND can afford to pay them to stay in the burgh when their at their best ??? Like this is some "elite player factory" for every other team, and not for this one ???

This worries me quite a bit too. Our cap problems meant that most of our good rookies from a few years ago were just 3-4 year rentals.

That's the nature of the cap, though ... what we're going through is basically rebuilding mode in disguise. Most teams go through rebuilding by dumping their veterans and go young all at once and accepting that they'll have a couple of losing seasons. We hung on to our veterans and lost a crop of young players - I guess the hope is that the young players we're getting now will be the foundation of the team going forward, and they'll be the ones we can afford to re-sign once all the big contracts are off the books, and in the meantime we won't lose so much. Great if it works, or it could be a train wreck if not.

[Steeldude]

Initial grades are usually about need/position drafted, the value and when the pick occurred.

[fansince'76]

This worries me quite a bit too. Our cap problems meant that most of our good rookies from a few years ago were just 3-4 year rentals.

That's the nature of the cap, though ... what we're going through is basically rebuilding mode in disguise. Most teams go through rebuilding by dumping their veterans and go young all at once and accepting that they'll have a couple of losing seasons. We hung on to our veterans and lost a crop of young players - I guess the hope is that the young players we're getting now will be the foundation of the team going forward, and they'll be the ones we can afford to re-sign once all the big contracts are off the books, and in the meantime we won't lose so much. Great if it works, or it could be a train wreck if not.

I honestly don't see how the cap can't go up significantly in the next couple of years due to the new TV contracts despite reports to the contrary. After all, the players are supposed to get a set percentage of the league's revenue and I think the NFLPA might have a decent case for collusion if the cap continues to stay flat.

[steelreserve]

I honestly don't see how the cap can't go up significantly in the next couple of years due to the new TV contracts despite reports to the contrary. After all, the players are supposed to get a set percentage of the league's revenue and I think the NFLPA might have a decent case for collusion if the cap continues to stay flat.

I don't see how the cap hasn't already gone up significantly. Every year the league is shouting from the rooftops about record revenue and how they're in full-on gold rush boomtown mode, and the cap has barely moved an inch. It's the same as it was in 2009, and it's gone up like 10% in 7 years. It's damn suspicious, to say the least.

But like I said in a different thread, even if the cap goes up by, say, $20M, I don't think that would help us. We'd get a little breathing room, but so would everyone else. Teams that weren't in cap trouble would suddenly have a ton of money to spend, and they'd outbid us for our own free agents just the same. In a market where Wallace could demand $16M a year with an entirely straight face, people were banging down the door to give Lewis $10M, where Timmons was making $12.5M instead of $9M, Woodley's contract was a $75M albatross instead of $60M, and every halfway-decent QB got $25M ... well, I think we'd be facing the exact same problems, just with different numbers attached.