Just Say No to a RB

[Mojouw]

The more I think about it, the more I can't get on board with drafting a RB in the first round.

1. Bell is playing in 2018. Like it or lump it - it is gonna happen. We know that when Bell is healthy, he tends to soak up all the snaps. Bell then bolts for greener (get it?) pastures in 2019.
2. Conner is still an unknown. He seems to be okayish at running the ball and decentish at catching the ball and clueless at blocking. Unless everyone is comfortable with that evaluation, Conner MUST play more snaps in order to understand what his ceiling is a player.
3. Every draft class will have multiple capable and really exciting RBs (non Barkley level).

Taking all this together, why take a RB in the first round this year, unless you are convinced that Conner is not an option as an NFL starter? There are rarely enough snaps in Pittsburgh for 2 RBs to get actual NFL game action, let alone 3. No chance to evaluate and develop both Conner and a rookie this year.

Now, granted this changes if the RB selected is outside the first round or maybe 2nd. I don't expect a 3-7 round pick to play heavy snaps in their 1st year.

Same logic can be applied to TE, OL, DL, WR, and specialists. So strictly based on playing time and pace of development - it is a LB or DB in Round 1...?

[Dwinsgames]

I am perfectly fine with RB rd2 and beyond

[steelreserve]

I don't think it's as urgent a need as LB, but as always it depends on who's available. I see a few RBs available at #28 that we "could" justify, but none who are compelling, like "we'd be dumb to pass up" at #28. Lot more players like that at other positions.

Based on our offseason signings (adding a decent safety, not signing Timmons, bringing back Ridley, and (ugh) picking up Dupree's option), I'd say it seems most likely we're looking at Iooking at ILB as the position where we *MUST* add a premium player in the draft, and the other positions as ones where it would be nice to add a good player but we're prepared to go with what we've got if necessary.

If we see a RB we like somewhere in the draft, I wouldn't be surprised if we take him. There is still one more year before it becomes a critical need, though.

[st33lersguy]

RB would not be my first choice in round 1, but if Guice is there at no. 28, especially if the top inside and outside linebackers are off the board, I am not sure you can completely discount him as an option. Bell is probably gone after 2018, and Connor could give 2018 rookie RB a rest. Ridley and Frenchy are not guys you want to give a lot of snaps to. Plus, if they get one of the top RBs, it would allow the Steelers to move on from Le'Veon and his bullcrap. Not to mention Bell is probably going to miss time due to injury and if not, he'll take 4 games to get going again after he inevitably misses all of training camp.

[Mojouw]

Outside of Round 1 I can get behind the idea. But I want my round 1 pick to play significant snaps from day 1 if at all possible. As long is Bell and Conner are healthy and on the roster, a rookie RB will most likely be a gameday inactive and see about 3 snaps of actual action their entire rookie year.

So basically, put it this way - If the Steelers round one pick snapped their leg on the way to the podium, they might still play more snaps than a rookie RB would in 2018.

[Shoes]

I'd be tempted to take Guice in R1 depending on who else was available. I briefly looked at the TE class next year and it doesn't look vey promising imo. James will be a FA next year unless the Steelers extend his contract, Vance can't stay healthy. I think a TE is very much in play in R2-R3.

[pczach]

I wouldn't take a RB in the first round with the defensive needs they have unless Barkley fell to #28.

From the second round on I would be open to it. The best scenario to me would be moving down if there is no impact player when they pick, or they know who they want and could get him later. That would get them the extra picks to make a RB more realistic.

Sony Michel, Ronald Jones, and Rashaad Penny are the kind of RBs you would expect them to take that have a good overall game and IMO fit the scheme that gives them the best chance to try to duplicate what Bell can do.

[Dwinsgames]

I wouldn't take a RB in the first round with the defensive needs they have unless Barkley fell to #28.

From the second round on I would be open to it. The best scenario to me would be moving down if there is no impact player when they pick, or they know who they want and could get him later. That would get them the extra picks to make a RB more realistic.

Sony Michel, Ronald Jones, and Rashaad Penny are the kind of RBs you would expect them to take that have a good overall game and IMO fit the scheme that gives them the best chance to try to duplicate what Bell can do.

Freeman would fit that mold as well and a potential 3rd / 4th round guy

[pczach]

Freeman would fit that mold as well and a potential 3rd / 4th round guy

Sorry, wasn't listing all of them that fit the mold. Just listing the three that popped into my head.

Freeman would also be someone that is an option.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Mike Mayock just selected RB Sony Michel for the Steelers in his mock draft...

[st33lersguy]

Mike Mayock just selected RB Sony Michel for the Steelers in his mock draft...

with Guice available

[hawaiiansteeler]

with Guice available

yeah, he has Guice going to the Eagles at #32...

[pczach]

Mike Mayock just selected RB Sony Michel for the Steelers in his mock draft...

I really like Sony Michel.

[st33lersguy]

Damashek had the Steelers also going Michel at 28 during Sunday's mock draft live special. Versatility may be enticing, but I don't see it happening, pretty sure he hasn't had a visit with them and there was no dinner with him

[Dwinsgames]

Damashek had the Steelers also going Michel at 28 during Sunday's mock draft live special. Versatility may be enticing, but I don't see it happening, pretty sure he hasn't had a visit with them and there was no dinner with him

great do it all player , but like you I do not see it happening at 28 ......that said if anything is certain about the draft 1) Goodell will be boo'd 2) expect the unexpected as anything can happen

[st33lersguy]

Interesting side note, while the last 2 years Mayock has gotten the player wrong, he has correctly predicted what position the Steelers would draft the previous two years (Eli Apple-Artie Burns, Jordan Willis-T.J Watt)

[Shoes]

great do it all player , but like you I do not see it happening at 28 ......that said if anything is certain about the draft 1) Goodell will be boo'd 2) expect the unexpected as anything can happen

[Dwinsgames]

According to The Ringer's Mike Lombardi, NFL teams have concerns Georgia RB Sony Michel has a bone-on-bone condition in his knee.

It can be a career-shortening condition, and contributed to Jay Ajayi's fall in the 2015 draft. NFL Network's Mike Mayock has also alluded to medical concerns surrounding Michel, but still sent Michel to the Steelers in the first round in his mock draft on Thursday night. Lombardi said teams have concerns Michel won't last long enough to play out a second contract.

[BlackAndGold]

No to RB in the 1st.

Yes to RB in the 5th

[BlackAndGold]

According to The Ringer's Mike Lombardi, NFL teams have concerns Georgia RB Sony Michel has a bone-on-bone condition in his knee.

It can be a career-shortening condition, and contributed to Jay Ajayi's fall in the 2015 draft. NFL Network's Mike Mayock has also alluded to medical concerns surrounding Michel, but still sent Michel to the Steelers in the first round in his mock draft on Thursday night. Lombardi said teams have concerns Michel won't last long enough to play out a second contract.

Guess I'll place him on the list of guys who could fall.

If he's there in the 4th(Ajayi fell to the 5th) I'd like to see the team try to move up and get him.

[Dwinsgames]

Guess I'll place him on the list of guys who could fall.

If he's there in the 4th(Ajayi fell to the 5th) I'd like to see the team try to move up and get him.

knowing what we now know .... as much as I like him I am not sure I could take him even in the 4th if say Royce Freeman is still on the board

[Cyphon25]

I am with you. I don't like RB value in round 1 period, let alone for this year when we have Bell for what is likely his final season. I think you take a guy in a later round 3-7 and see what you have there. If you get a 3 down guy maybe he is Bells replacement after 2018 and if not you have FA and the 2019 draft to replace Bell with someone better.

I think if they take one as early as round 1 or 2 it tells Bell the conversations are done with and that could be a major headache for the 2018 season.