In hindsight, General Manager Kevin Colbert tipped the Steelers’ hand some 72 hours before the draft. With the emphasis on upgrading the team’s defense, specifically the team’s defense when the football is in the air, Colbert had been asked to assess the talent pool from which the team would be picking starting on Thursday night.

“I think the cornerback group is good,” said Colbert. “The outside linebacker types, which for us is a 4-3 defensive end for some 4-3 teams, this is probably as good a group at that position as I’ve seen in 10-15 years. It’s really an exceptional group with a lot of impact-type guys.”

And as the picking unfolded, the exceptional group with a lot of impact-type guys largely was being ignored. Dante Fowler Jr. went to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the third overall selection, and Vic Beasley was made the eighth overall selection by the pass-rush starved Atlanta Falcons. Then, nothing..........

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