2019 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers create a two-headed monster at TE

[Shoes]

IMO the two-headed monster would be Hockenson and McDonald, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if they picked Fant. :chuckle: Like I said in another thread, I would do this regardless if AB stayed or departed. TE position would be stable for 10 years.


ThePittsburgh (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) Steelers (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) are not really that ready to move on from Antonio Brown (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108636/antonio-brown), but it has become increasingly inevitable that he is no longer a Steeler come next season. Whether they keep him or not, however, they have to start preparing for some change on the offensive side of the football. Le’Veon Bell is gone, and AB won’t be here that much longer even if he somehow does work out his issues with the organization.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/1/28/18199995/2019-nfl-mock-draft-steelers-create-a-two-headed-monster-at-te-noah-fant-iowa-draft-team-needs

[HollywoodSteel]

This article assumes that AB will be gone but doesn’t paint a scenario for that.

It’s fine to take one of those two TEs you love at#20 if we have an earlier first round pick as well. In that case we can take an offensive weapon AND a defensive weapon in

If we keep AB it will be harder to swallow a TE INSTEAD of a defensive player.

[86WARD]

A TE in the first two rounds is nothing but a disaster. Too many needs at many other positions to be wasting a pick on a TE at that point.

[Shoes]

A TE in the first two rounds is nothing but a disaster. Too many needs at many other positions to be wasting a pick on a TE at that point.

I hear this every year and so they reach for an Artie Burns instead of the BPA or draft a "freak athlete" that other teams pass over and we think we are getting a steal. That is the disaster as is drafting later round TE. This team has forever been drafting LB'ers and DBs with little to show for it. Watt has been the exception, but I was on board for that. :chuckle:

[Rotorhead]

Any article that even mentions us “losing Bell” I won’t even bother to read, we didn’t have him this year, we already lost him, we aren’t going to lose him again. If the writer doesn’t even know that, then they don’t know enough to write about needs. We already replaced Bell, 2x!

[86WARD]

I hear this every year and so they reach for an Artie Burns instead of the BPA or draft a "freak athlete" that other teams pass over and we think we are getting a steal. That is the disaster as is drafting later round TE. This team has forever been drafting LB'ers and DBs with little to show for it. Watt has been the exception, but I was on board for that. :chuckle:

If the TE is the BPA, that’s different. But drafting a TE over equal value at another of about 6-7 positions would be foolish imo.

[86WARD]

Any article that even mentions us “losing Bell” I won’t even bother to read, we didn’t have him this year, we already lost him, we aren’t going to lose him again. If the writer doesn’t even know that, then they don’t know enough to write about needs. We already replaced Bell, 2x!

I need to hear stories of the Steelers filing arbitration cases for that tag that never happened...

[GoSlash27]

A TE in the first two rounds is nothing but a disaster. Too many needs at many other positions to be wasting a pick on a TE at that point.

We must keep in mind the cardinal rule of Steelers drafts: The Steelers do not draft to their needs, they draft whichever player they think is the best on the board at the moment.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

We must keep in mind the cardinal rule of Steelers drafts: The Steelers do not draft to their needs, they draft whichever player they think is the best on the board at the moment. They broke that rule when they drafted Burns. That is why he was such a bad pick.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

IMO the two-headed monster would be Hockenson and McDonald, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if they picked Fant. :chuckle: Like I said in another thread, I would do this regardless if AB stayed or departed. TE position would be stable for 10 years.


ThePittsburgh (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) Steelers (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) are not really that ready to move on from Antonio Brown (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108636/antonio-brown), but it has become increasingly inevitable that he is no longer a Steeler come next season. Whether they keep him or not, however, they have to start preparing for some change on the offensive side of the football. Le’Veon Bell is gone, and AB won’t be here that much longer even if he somehow does work out his issues with the organization.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/1/28/18199995/2019-nfl-mock-draft-steelers-create-a-two-headed-monster-at-te-noah-fant-iowa-draft-team-needs

The notion that Vance McDonald is a "monster" is a bit of an exaggeration IMO. I would still take Fant, Hokenson or Smith over him if they drafted in the first round.

I still think AB will be a Steeler come training camp and that the Steelers will find a ILB, OLB or CB in the first round.

[Shoes]

The notion that Vance McDonald is a "monster" is a bit of an exaggeration IMO. I would still take Fant, Hokenson or Smith over him if they drafted in the first round.

I still think AB will be a Steeler come training camp and that the Steelers will find a ILB, OLB or CB in the first round.


Yep, every year without fail.

[GoSlash27]

They broke that rule when they drafted Burns. That is why he was such a bad pick.

I disagree. They thought he was the best pick at the time. They were wrong, just like they were wrong with Limas Sweed. It happens.
My only point is there's nothing to be gained from pretending that the Steelers are going to draft what is "needed"; they don't operate that way.
If the "best" pick is a TE, OL, or other position that we're relatively strong at... Don't think for a second that they won't take him anyway.

[BEERgods225]

IMO the two-headed monster would be Hockenson and McDonald, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if they picked Fant. :chuckle: Like I said in another thread, I would do this regardless if AB stayed or departed. TE position would be stable for 10 years.


ThePittsburgh (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) Steelers (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) are not really that ready to move on from Antonio Brown (https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108636/antonio-brown), but it has become increasingly inevitable that he is no longer a Steeler come next season. Whether they keep him or not, however, they have to start preparing for some change on the offensive side of the football. Le’Veon Bell is gone, and AB won’t be here that much longer even if he somehow does work out his issues with the organization.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/1/28/18199995/2019-nfl-mock-draft-steelers-create-a-two-headed-monster-at-te-noah-fant-iowa-draft-team-needs

I find it HIGHLY unlikely that with their first pick the Steelers take a TE unless somehow they trade down to the third or fourth round for their first pick.

We have four back ups starting at ILB

We have 1 Starting CB, 3 nickles, and a bunch of specials teamers

Ramon Foster is a Free Agent and Gilbert might be leaving, so OL could be a position of interest

Foster isn't what the team expected and Chickillo is also a free agent

I just can't warrant a TE pick in the first round. We would be heading into 2019 having to score 50 points a game in order to win on a weekly basis.

[st33lersguy]

If they keep AB, TE is very unnecessary. Maybe if AB is traded and they want to run 2 TE sets then maybe ok. But yeah, they do have more pressing needs

[pczach]

If they keep AB, TE is very unnecessary. Maybe if AB is traded and they want to run 2 TE sets then maybe ok. But yeah, they do have more pressing needs



I think how the AB situation is settled will determine their direction in the draft. Clearly, it will help determine team needs

[teegre]

Hockenson is the best offensive weapon in this draft. If he is there at 20, you have to consider drafting him regardless of any other factors (defensive needs, AB).

[Born2Steel]

Hockenson is the best offensive weapon in this draft. If he is there at 20, you have to consider drafting him regardless of any other factors (defensive needs, AB).

I said something similar recently about Njoku.

[86WARD]

We must keep in mind the cardinal rule of Steelers drafts: The Steelers do not draft to their needs, they draft whichever player they think is the best on the board at the moment.

Hasn’t been true in recent years...and you take the best player to a point. If a TE is rated say a 10 and a OLB or another need is ranked an 8.5-9, you go with the need. Need does come into play.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

I disagree. They thought he was the best pick at the time. They were wrong, just like they were wrong with Limas Sweed. It happens.
My only point is there's nothing to be gained from pretending that the Steelers are going to draft what is "needed"; they don't operate that way.
If the "best" pick is a TE, OL, or other position that we're relatively strong at... Don't think for a second that they won't take him anyway. I disagree as well and they wanted William Jackson with that pick. After the Bengals took him a few spots before. They panic and took Burns cause they was desperate for a CB. Was not a BPA pick at all!