1. Justin Reid FS Stanford
2. Dorance Armstrong OLB Kansas
3. Mason Rudolph QB OK State
5. Antonio Callaway WR Florida
5. Ralph Webb RB Vandy
7. Will Gleeson P Ole Miss
7. Mavin Saunders TE FSU
(assuming the conditional for Cockrell will be a 7th)
1. Justin Reid FS Stanford
2. Dorance Armstrong OLB Kansas
3. Mason Rudolph QB OK State
5. Antonio Callaway WR Florida
5. Ralph Webb RB Vandy
7. Will Gleeson P Ole Miss
7. Mavin Saunders TE FSU
(assuming the conditional for Cockrell will be a 7th)
I can't nail down who to pick by name. I just want the Steelers to BPA a OLB, ILB, S, CB, or TE.
Hater = Realist
What pick do we have?
My first mock from walkthemock (only has the Steelers with 1 7th round pick)
1:28 Malik Jefferson LB Texas
2:28 Quin Blanding FS Virginia
3:28 Luke Falk QB Washington St.
5:9 Jaylen Samuels TE NC St.
5:28 Jalen Jelks EDGE Oregon
7:28 Mike McCray LB Michigan
Just stoooopid early, but here it goes....
Rd1. Terrell Edmunds Safety VT
Rd2. Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise State
Rd3. Chad Thomas OLB Miami
Rd5a. Kenny Young ILB UCLA
Rd5b. LJ Scott RB MichState
Rd7. Shaquem Griffin LB UCF
And there it is.
New format, new info, changing needs. 2nd attempt of 2018.
Rd1. Derwin James, Safety FSU
Rd2. Ronald Jones II, RB USC
Rd3. Josey Jewell, ILB Iowa
Rd5a. Justin Lawler, OLB SMU
Rd5b. Kenny Young, ILB UCLA
Rd7a. Hercules Mata'afa, OLB WSU
Rd7b. Allen Lazard, WR ISU
1) Do you foresee Derwin James sliding? I could maybe see that, because he’s gone from a top 5 pick, to a top 10 pick, to a mid-teens pick... With three months to go, I guess that anything is possible.
2) Don’t be surprised if Jones isn’t the second RB drafted (late-teens). It’s been Barkley, followed by Guice for so long, that everyone just assumes that it will stay that way. But, I could see Jones leap-frogging Guice (that’s not a slight about Guice but rather a confirmation about Jones.)
3) Good pick.
Derwin James is a mystery guy, a lot like Peppers was last year. Not really a true fit for any defense. My thinking is that we need help at so many places in the middle of that defense, and he's such a great athlete, he fits us like a glove this draft. So, a lot of hope in that pick.
LOL. I honestly have no idea yet. With Love opting to return to school, Jones definitely gets a boost in the rankings. Hopefully we will keep Bell and it won't matter as much.
Jewell could very well be gone here too. But if Bell stays, we may get our ILB in the 2nd round anyway.(Darius Leonard?) If that happens, I also like Royce Freeman at RB, and Ade Aruna at OLB. Freeman looks like another Bettis to me, and Aruna may be the sleepiest sleeper in this draft. I saw him play a couple times and Aruna has elite take-off on the edge.
1:28 Rashaan Evans LB Alabama
2:28 Justin Reid FS Stanford
3:28 Uchenna Nwosu LB USC
5:9 Josh Adams RB Notre Dame
5:28 Jaylon Ferguson EDGE Louisiana Tech
7:28 John Wolford QB Wake Forest
Evans and Reid rounds 1 and 2 would be a dream 1st 2 rounds and Josh Adams in round 5 could be a steal
There are a few I like for the 2nd round. Since I don't think Shazier will be back on the field, I look for someone of his style more. I like Jerome Baker, another Ohio State guy, and Christian Sam of Arizona State, and Josey Jewell of Iowa. I think any of those guys could play next to VW.
OK, I'm fine with that. But like you posted in another thread, either Mitchell or Haden gets re-signed, the other is gone. As bad as the safety group would become minus Mitchell, Haden improves the CB group more. With that in mind, and James weighing in at 215lbs, I'd play him at FS. At least until he can bulk up 10lbs minimum. Then I would move James to SS/ILB (a la Bucannon) and Davis(205lbs maybe?) to FS.
Another question for these early round picks is which of this year's prospects match up with some of last year's prospects? Meaning, I think Derwin James is comparable to last draft's Jabrill Peppers, in that he has no true position on the defense, yet plays them all. This draft doesn't have that "WOW" factor when you immediately look at it. But there are some quality guys there. Who is the TJ Watt in this draft? Who is the Hassan Riddick? Or even who is this draft's Lawrence Timmons? This is really a cookie cutter class so far.
I'm more of the mind now to take the best Safety available in R1. If that happens to be Reid, I'm fine. If it happens to be a SS, then move Davis over. Either way, cut Mitchell, extend Haden.
Inside Linebacker. With that said it's very worrisome to look at the Linebacker situation on this team especially after the numerous picks in the last 4-5 drafts, what does this team really have to show for it? Shazier (future uncertain) and Watt (looks promising).
I'm curious: if they let Bell walk, how does that affect everyone's mock?
If Bell is gone, I'd go RB in the 2nd. If he's tagged, I'd go RB in the 4th and if he's signed, I'd go RB in the 7th. I like Guice or Chubb in R2.
Round 1
Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama, Height: 6'3. Weight: 231.
Evans keep showing up on mock drafts as the Steelers first pick and for good reason. Shazier will probably never play another down of football and Williams is a wave player that could be upgraded.
Round 2
Sony Michel, RB, Georgia, Height: 5'11. Weight: 212.
Solid runner, good receiver, and can block. Played behind Nick Chubb at Georgia and still had a 7.9 yard average with 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bell is about to talk his way out of Pittsburgh and let's be honest...With the NFL being a passing league, I can think of better place to lay 50 million dollars...like on the defensive side of the ball.
Round 3
Kyzir White, S, West Virginia, Height: 6'2. Weight: 218
In 2017 White had three interceptions, four passes broken up, 94 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one sack. More than any other position in football...early draft picks at the safety position do not always equate to value. White has the potential to be a day one starter and is DEFINATELY an upgrade over Mitchell.
Round 5
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, OLB/DE, Arkansas State, Height: 6'2. Weight: 244.
Try-hard competitor with 26.5 sacks over the last two years. Add 40.5 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles over that time period. Dupree isn't going anywhere, (at least for this next year) so a fifth round flyer on Rolland-Jones is good value.
Round 5
Michael Joseph, CB Dubuque, Height 6'1, Weight 190.
D-3 prospect and Senior Bowl invite who racked up 56 tackles, 8 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and 16 passes defended this last year. if you think he isn't worth a shot in the 5th round...well...31 out of 32 NFL teams have sent scouts to look at him.
Round 7
Brendan Mahon, OG/OT, Penn State, Height: 6'4. Weight: 315.
Local kid who played a lot of tackle but would be an offensive guard for the Steelers. Good run blocker but will need a season or two to mature as a pass protector. Move to the inside should help
Round 7
Richie James, WR, Middle Tennessee, Height: 5'9. Weight: 180.
Diminutive but productive receiver who could make Rogers expendable. Missing 7 games last year has dropped him on most draft boards... but if you do your homework you can see that previously, over a two year span, he had 213 catches, 2,971 yards, and 20 TD's
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --
@LLT
I love the Kyzir White pick. But, do you think he’ll still be there in R3. He had a great Senior Bowl week, which raised his draft stick...
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --