2016 DRAFT

[trsteel70]

just my opinion everyone but i want our first two picks in the draft to be defensive backs

[st33lersguy]

At least the first round pick should be defensive back, but first two rounds as DB would be a good idea

[Born2Steel]

First draft in a few years that we aren't desperate for a pass rusher. I saw a short article somewhere about our secondary woes. The thing that stood out to me was the safety position. With Allen at 34+, Shamarko an injury magnet, and Mitchell, who is playing better than last season, and the only certain future safety for this team. Not forgetting Golden, but there it is. So, all that to say, I hope a future HoF safety falls to us at 25.

[steelreserve]

I am pretty OK with Mitchell and Golden as the starting safeties as long as we bring in someone for depth. Could be through the draft, could be an average free agent. It's too bad Holliman didn't make it through training camp cuts; that could've solved a problem for us.

We need a better starter at NT. McLendon isn't that good, and apparently McCullers is more project than player. I'd put that tied with CB on our needs list; improve that position and it should be a cascading improvement to the rest of the defense as well. Still think we should take a CB in the first two rounds, though. Hopefully Golson is the real deal and with someone else good across from him, we'll have a hell of a defense.

Obviously, if a superlative talent falls to us at any of those three positions, you take him first and ask questions later. That specifically does NOT apply if it's another linebacker.

[polamalubeast]

A NT is a good idea,only if he is a 3rd down player.

[steelreserve]

A NT is a good idea,only if he is a 3rd down player.

Why do people still say this? It's just psyching yourself out with statistics. Whether it's two downs or three, you cannot afford to have a defensive lineman on the field who sucks. The first two downs are all the more important since they dictate what happens on the third.

I only think the "two-down" label really applies in defenses where the NT's ONLY role is to stop the run. If it's a guy who's capable of messing up the pocket - a GOOD NT, in other words- there's no reason not to leave him out there on passing plays and skip your least effective linebacker instead. It's not like our linebackers can cover a slot receiver or a pass-catching specialist TE anyway; that's a mismatch. People talk about the game changing; well, that's another way that it's changed too.

[Born2Steel]

Anybody have any good info on this guy? A 6-5 safety?


Jayron Kearse*, S, Clemson
Height: 6-5. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2016): 2-3.
1/16/16: Kearse started the 2015 season strongly and finished with 62 tackles, six passes broken up, an interception and a forced fumble. He played well for Clemson, but wasn't all that impressive going against Florida State and running back Dalvin Cook.

Sources say that Kearse could be a man-coverage safety to go against pass-receiving tight ends in the NFL. One team told me they had him as a second- or third-rounder. Another team said they had him a a third- or fourth-rounder as there has never been a successful safety in the NFL who was 6-foot-5.

8/17/15: Kearse notched 60 tackles with two interceptions and five passes broken up in 2014. He had a quality season and was a bigger presence than the numbers indicate. Kearse has nice size and length to help him match up against tight ends and big receivers. His stock could rise.

Straight off Walter Football.

[hawaiiansteeler]

A NT is a good idea,only if he is a 3rd down player.

or if he can also rotate in with Heyward and Tuitt at DE when we take the NT off the field...

[86WARD]

I'd like to see a NT or CB in round one...but realistically, I'd rather see the best player taken. They can use depth over the whole team...25 is a tough spot to pick and get the #1 player at any position.

[steelreserve]

Anybody have any good info on this guy? A 6-5 safety?


Jayron Kearse*, S, Clemson
Height: 6-5. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2016): 2-3.
1/16/16: Kearse started the 2015 season strongly and finished with 62 tackles, six passes broken up, an interception and a forced fumble. He played well for Clemson, but wasn't all that impressive going against Florida State and running back Dalvin Cook.

Sources say that Kearse could be a man-coverage safety to go against pass-receiving tight ends in the NFL. One team told me they had him as a second- or third-rounder. Another team said they had him a a third- or fourth-rounder as there has never been a successful safety in the NFL who was 6-foot-5.

8/17/15: Kearse notched 60 tackles with two interceptions and five passes broken up in 2014. He had a quality season and was a bigger presence than the numbers indicate. Kearse has nice size and length to help him match up against tight ends and big receivers. His stock could rise.

Straight off Walter Football.

Sounds like exactly the kind of guy who could help us in nickel or dime situations where the pass-catching tight end burns one of our linebackers for 15 yards on 3rd-and-12. For a mid-round pick, that kind of role player isn't bad.

If I recall, Merton Hanks was 6-3 and had a pretty damn good career. Probably just that most players that tall get pushed to be receivers, tight ends and linemen. But who knows about this guy specifically; I've got no inside information.

[Shoes]

Daniel Jeremiah's frist mock.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/mock-d...eremiah/275602

[steelreserve]

Daniel Jeremiah's frist mock.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/mock-d...eremiah/275602

Tight end? Really?

[katmandu]

Mel Kiper mock draft: Steelers grab cornerback Kendall Fuller at 25

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/201...-fuller-at-25/

Kiper wrote:

The Steelers have been a mess on the back end for much of the season, and could add multiple cornerbacks in the draft. (Remember, they will get back Senquez Golson, however.) Fuller comes from a line of NFL players in his family (his brother is a cornerback for the Bears) and has tremendous talent.

He missed much of 2015 after trying to play through a cartilage injury in his knee, but he should be in great shape for the draft process.

By: Neal Coolong | January 14, 2016 2:43 pm ET

The Steelers and Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller wasn’t a match meant to be in 2014. The Chicago Bears grabbed Fuller with the 14th overall pick, one spot ahead of the Steelers. Pittsburgh took Ryan Shazier instead. If you go off ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, they might get a shot at his younger brother.

Kiper’s first mock draft of the year came out Thursday, and the Steelers, with the 25th overall pick, took the Virginia Tech cornerback.

Injuries will sometimes send a talented player that far down in the draft, and the Steelers, who could go several directions with the pick, would be happy to take him.

Draft Wire senior analyst Jon Ledyard sent Stanford guard Joshua Garnett to Pittsburgh in his pre-Christmas mock draft. That pick makes more sense, considering the lack of depth along the Steelers’ offensive line. Left guard Ramon Foster is a free agent and left tackle Kelvin Beachum is in the middle of extensive rehabilitation for a torn ACL that occurred in October.
Not that cornerback doesn’t have its share of concerns, too. While, as Kiper pointed out, Senquez Golson will return after spending his first year with the team on injured reserve, but only Ross Cockrell, an exclusive rights free agent, should be considered a lock to return. Antwon Blake had a brutal 2015 season and is facing free agency. Will Gay’s three-year contract expires this offseason and the team would want to keep him if the price is right.

[teegre]

Anybody have any good info on this guy? A 6-5 safety?

Big, athletic with huge "upside"... a word that scares me. He reminds me of Martavis Bryant: phenomenal on one play, but then on the very next play, he can't seem to do the simple things.

Red flag: he disappeared in the championship game.

Why take him: splash plays


For a very long while, I have wanted either him or Su'a Cravens at 31. Currently, I'm on the Kenny Clark bandwagon, and then drafting a safety in R2 or R3. But, if it is Kearse, I would be fine with that.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Daniel Jeremiah's frist mock.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/mock-d...eremiah/275602

Karl Joseph in Round 1?

[Shoes]

Karl Joseph in Round 1?

My thoughts also.

[teegre]

Karl Joseph in Round 1?

Joseph is a big-time hitter, and he was leading the NCAA in interceptions prior to his injury.

But, "injury" is the operative word.

As it is now, I'd take a run at him in R3, and I've seen him mocked in R2. But, I just do not see him making it into R1.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Joseph is a big-time hitter, and he was leading the NCAA in interceptions prior to his injury.

But, "injury" is the operative word.

As it is now, I'd take a run at him in R3, and I've seen him mocked in R2. But, I just do not see him making it into R1.

I don't see him making it into R1 either.

and I'm willing to bet on it...

[Galax Steeler]

Has everyone forgot about Golson we drafted?I would like to see more of him before we jump to the conclusion of drafting two corners.

[polamalubeast]

Why do people still say this? It's just psyching yourself out with statistics. Whether it's two downs or three, you cannot afford to have a defensive lineman on the field who sucks. The first two downs are all the more important since they dictate what happens on the third.

I only think the "two-down" label really applies in defenses where the NT's ONLY role is to stop the run. If it's a guy who's capable of messing up the pocket - a GOOD NT, in other words- there's no reason not to leave him out there on passing plays and skip your least effective linebacker instead. It's not like our linebackers can cover a slot receiver or a pass-catching specialist TE anyway; that's a mismatch. People talk about the game changing; well, that's another way that it's changed too.

It's just you can not drafted in the first round a player who not play 50% of the snap because the opponent is almost always in passing formation.

This NT needs to be a complete player who is not just a run stopper.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Has everyone forgot about Golson we drafted?I would like to see more of him before we jump to the conclusion of drafting two corners.

Golson is 5`9" 180 lbs. He will never be a #1 CB and most likely won't be anything more than a nickel.

[Steelman]

Anybody have any good info on this guy? A 6-5 safety?


Jayron Kearse*, S, Clemson
Height: 6-5. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2016): 2-3.
1/16/16: Kearse started the 2015 season strongly and finished with 62 tackles, six passes broken up, an interception and a forced fumble. He played well for Clemson, but wasn't all that impressive going against Florida State and running back Dalvin Cook.

Sources say that Kearse could be a man-coverage safety to go against pass-receiving tight ends in the NFL. One team told me they had him as a second- or third-rounder. Another team said they had him a a third- or fourth-rounder as there has never been a successful safety in the NFL who was 6-foot-5.

8/17/15: Kearse notched 60 tackles with two interceptions and five passes broken up in 2014. He had a quality season and was a bigger presence than the numbers indicate. Kearse has nice size and length to help him match up against tight ends and big receivers. His stock could rise.

Straight off Walter Football.

Dude is mammoth for a DB but I hate his game. He takes the worst angles and in the biggest game of his life he was literally jogging behind plays. He has a massive amount of raw potential but I have my doubts as to him realizing any of it at the NFL level. He's extremely hot/cold.

With Mitchell as our resident heat-seeking human missile who also frequently takes bad angles, I don't want Kearse. We need a guy who can cover.

I'm currently high on Justin Simmons out of BC. He can be had in the early-mid rounds and he has a very well-rounded skillset.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Yes, we absolutely need a guy that can cover. That's more important than big hits IMO.

[teegre]

He takes the worst angles and in the biggest game of his life he was literally jogging behind plays. He has a massive amount of raw potential but I have my doubts as to him realizing any of it at the NFL level. He's extremely hot/cold.

Spot on.

There are times when I am like: WOW!!!

Then, there are times when I am like: Wow...

[Mojouw]

Spot on.

There are times when I am like: WOW!!!

Then, there are times when I am like: Wow...

So Shamarko Thomas in a bigger package?

[tube517]

Golson is 5`9" 180 lbs. He will never be a #1 CB and most likely won't be anything more than a nickel.

They were looking at him for the slot, at least initially.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...#axzz3c5RJmYYS

[Rotorhead]

I am thinking we really just need 1 starting level CB to fix most of our ailments on defense. We of course need to keep Golden and Gay and I would imagine we could resign W Allen for one more season as a backup also. I understand the want for a top level NT for sure, but if they are on the clock and a top level NT or CB are on the board I will have to go with the CB. I doubt Boykin comes back after the way he was treated. So hopefully Grant pans out as a solid slot CB, Gay and new CB on the outsides with Cockrell in the nickel. That backfield would be good enough to compliment our offense. We were already top 5 against the run, get us top 10 or so against the pass and a top 10 defense will get us a Lombardy. I personally would rather get a CB in FA over the draft so we have a known talent and no guess work or hope needed. A FA CB also frees up a higher draft slot for other needs like OL depth, DL depth and OLB depth. This is really the best year for us to have a chance at #7 before we start losing key players to the cap, I am not usually one for building a team to win for now, but if there were ever a time to do it, it is next season.

[hawaiiansteeler]

It's just you can not drafted in the first round a player who not play 50% of the snap because the opponent is almost always in passing formation.

This NT needs to be a complete player who is not just a run stopper.

I agree.

Steve McLendon only played 17 snaps against Denver, is that worth using a first round pick for?

[katmandu]

This NT needs to be a complete player who is not just a run stopper.

Big Snack wasn't a pass rusher but occupying two OLs on nearly every play. That certainly helped the other Defenders get after the QB.

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I agree.

Steve McLendon only played 17 snaps against Denver, is that worth using a first round pick for?

He doesn't require to be double teamed.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Big Snack wasn't a pass rusher but occupying two OLs on nearly every play. That certainly helped the other Defenders get after the QB.

- - - Updated - - -

He doesn't require to be double teamed.

the problem is that other teams are now spreading the Steelers out in order to get the NT off the field...