2016 NFL Draft All-Names Team

I'm not afraid to admit that i'm no NFL draft scout. What I can analyze though, is player names. What I did was research the best names at each position for the 2016 draft class, simple as that. Some names are bizarre, some I just thought were cool; regardless, I hope you have as much fun reading this as I had compiling it.

So i would like to formally present,

 the 2016 NFL Draft All-Names Team:

QB: Christian Hackenberg - PSU

RB: Storm Barrs-Wood - Oregon State

FB: Soma Vainuku - USC

WR: Geronimo Allison - Illinois

WR: Leonte Carroo - Rutgers

TE: Darion Griswold - Arkansas State

OT: Clint Van Horn - Marshall

OT: Willie Beavers - Western Michigan

OG: Rees Odhiambo - Boise St

C: Graham Glasgow - Michigan

DE: Dadi Nicolas - Virginia Tech

DE: Bronson Kaufusi - BYU

DE: Silverberry Mouhon - Cincinnati

DT: Luther Maddy - Virginia Tech

LB: Scooby Wright III - Arizona

LB: Cassanova McKinzy - Auburn

CB: Fabian Moreau - UCLA

CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun - Minnesota

S: LaDarrell McNeil - Tennessee

S: Jeremy Cash - Duke

K: (John Christian Ka'iminoeauloameka'ikeokekumupa'a) Ka'Imi Fairbairn - UCLA 

P: Will Monday - Duke

Steelers Mock Draft Roundup - 2/22

A lot of mock drafts were released today. This is because the annual NFL combine is right around the corner and will cause the draft landscape to shift. To make it easier to see what people are saying, I'll be recapping and analyzing some of the notable drafts:

• Dave Bryan of Steelers Depot's 7 round mock draft.
• Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot's 7 round mock draft. 
• Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report's 4 round mock draft

I included the link to each mock so I highly recommend checking out each mock to read why each writer made their selections. 

Dave Bryan - Steelers Depot 

Round 1: Hunter Henry/TE/Arkansas 

Round 2: Darian Thompson/S/Boise State 

Round 3: Jordan Jenkins/OLB/Georgia 

Round 4: Jihad Ward/DE/Illinois 

Round 7: Cassanova McKinzy/ILB/Auburn 

Round 7: Taveze Calhoun/CB/Mississippi State 

Round 7: Donavon Clark/G-T/Michigan State 

My thoughts: 

Not gonna lie, Dave's draft is my favorite. Its hard to tell if players like Thompson and Jenkins will fall to us, but I would be ecstatic if our draft played out like this. 

I've seen mixed reports on Henry. Some say he's the top tight end in this class, some say he is overrated. Regardless, he'd be a day-1 starter and added more versatility to the position. 

I don't really expect Thompson to fall to us in the 2nd, but I'd love if he did. Another day-1 starter who will allow Butler to have a lot of fun using two play-making safeties. 

Jenkins is another play i'm a fan of. Although it may be difficult adding another linebacker to the roster, I really believe we need to start developing a guy for when we (most likely) don't have Jarvis or Harrison next season. I'd be happy even if we took him in the 2nd. 

Ward has received a lot of praise lately. Many analysts believe he'll end up a 2nd round selection due to his athleticism and raw talent. I wouldn't want him too high, but i'd be happy to have him in the 4th. 

Alex Kozora - Steelers Depot

Round 1: Darian Thompson/S/Boise State 

Round 2: Jihad Ward/DE/Illinois 

Round 3: Nick Vannett/TE/Ohio State 

Round 4: Jonathan Jones/CB/Auburn 

Round 7: Alex Lewis/OT/Nebraska

Round 7: Morgan Burns/CB/Kansas State 

Round 7: Nick Kwiatkoski/ILB/West Virginia 

My thoughts:

I'm a huge advocate for taking Thompson in the 1st round. It's been said before that the Steelers look for special talent in the 1st, and Thompson offers this. 

I'm not really on board with Ward in the 2nd. I understand he has talent, but I'd rather get a starter or future starter in this round. Ward is raw and likely wouldn't play much in year 1, so i'd much prefer the Steelers address the d-line in free agency and in later rounds. 

I would love Vannett in the 3rd round. He may not be an instant starter, but he would certainly be our long-term starter. Efficient as both a blocker and receiver. Plus, the Steelers-OSU connection is real. 

I'm on board with Jones in the 4th. I've always found this round tricky because you start leaning away from starters and impact players and more towards projects. I understand Alex's logic for taking Jones and it seems like a solid Steelers pick. 

Luke Easterling - Bleacher Report

Round 1: William Jackson III/CB/Houston

Round 2: Vonn Bell/S/Ohio State 

Round 3: Christian Westerman/G/Arizona State 

Round 4: Darion Griswold/TE/Arkansas State

My thoughts: 

You can tell that Luke is the only non-Steelers writer here. Look, I'd be very happy if the Steelers took a corner in the 1st round, but history shows that it most likely won't happen. Corner has been a need for years and yet every year we see the same thing. Not denying Jackson's talent or saying I don't want him,  just saying I'd bet on the Steelers not taking a corner in the 1st. 

I'm a big big fan of Vonn Bell in the 2nd. He's very intelligent and reliable in both coverage and run support. Another one of those guys who i really don't expect to fall this far, but i'd be ecstatic if he was our selection. 

I see Westerman being a very common Steelers pick. An underrated, nasty prospect at guard. If Foster doesn't return he could maybe come in and start; if Foster does return, he would provide very valuable depth. 

Not gonna lie here, i'd never heard of Darion Griswold. My first thought was if he was in any of the Vacation movies. Some quick googling shows me that he is more of a modern tight end, less of a Steeler tight end; primarily a receiver and not much experience blocking. I don't foresee him being selected by the Steelers. 

Final thoughts: 

There are a lot of common trends between these three mock drafts. 

All 3 have the Steelers taking a safety within the first 2 rounds. This is no surprise considering the Steelers don't currently have more than 1 starting safety on the roster. A playmaking safety would be a huge upgrade for this defense. 

All 3 have the Steelers taking a tight end within the first 4 picks. With Heath Miller's retirement expect almsot every mock to include a tight end. I expect Hunter Henry and Nick Vannettr to be two of the primary targets at the position for the Steelers. 

The biggest trend? D-E-F-E-N-S-E. Although the Steelers need help on the o-line and at tight end, I expect this to be a very defense-heavy draft. Depth is needed at virtually every defensive position. 

 One thing that surprised me was that Dave Bryan was the only writer to include an OLB. I can understand why some don't have one because with Chickillo and Harrison on the roster, the depth chart is crowded. This is edge rusher class is also one of the weaker positions this year. I see it as a position that the Steeler's will address if the right player falls to them, but won't be surprised if we don't end up with somebody. 

Thanks for reading guys. 

Valentines for Steelers Who Need Some Love

Hey guys. In the spirit of love and Valentines Day, i'm going to write a couple valentines for players who need and/or deserve some love. Break out the tissues and pause The Notebook, it's gonna get gushy. 

Dear Ryan Shazier,

Your 2015 was basically a Nicolas Sparks story. Everything started off perfectly, then conflict happened and things got rough for a while, then in the climax, in the heat of the moment, you pulled through and had the crowd cheering. You made Steeler nation proud with your play in the playoffs, and now we're all rooting for you to continue your rise to dominance next season. Keep working hard you bald-beauty. 

Dear Martavis Bryant,

In a way, you also lived a love story. Brant had his well-known slump for a large portion of games after starting off strong, but played great against the Broncos when we were without AB. Martavis (yeah i know, i'm getting personal here) we all love your big play ability. Nobody can forgot your toe-tapping touchdown thrown by Landry Jones, or your ridiculous screen pass touchdown where you juked out 15 guys and a waterboy. Keep working hard, we're all behind you! 

Dear DeAngelo Williams,

Nobody expected much from you. We expected to relieve Bell every couple drives, and probably start a game or two due to injury. However, Bell got hurt, and somehow, his absence was basically unnoticed. DeAngelo you're the perfect teammate, you care far more about the team winning then your own stats or playing time. Your demeanor, as well as your support for breast cancer is inspiring. You're the kind of player that us fans take for granted and don't deserve. You're basically Batman. 

Dear Roosevelt Nix,

Oh baby. I can't even contain myself. You're story is the underdog story. The ugly girl nobody believed in. But in the end, you were the prettiest girl at the ball and everybody wanted to dance with you. Seriously though, you're a beast. You bring so much fire when you play, whether you're run blocking or destroying guys on special teams. You're absence was noticed during the playoffs and its crazy to think how a d-lineman turned fullback became so valuable to this team. Keep doing you Rosey, don't change. 

Dear Steve McLendon,

Oh Stevey, you're so underrated. So my fans falsely believe that you're the issue with our defense and with a true nose tackle everything will be fixed. Those guys are dead wrong. Almost every time I see you on the field you're in the backfield disrupting plays. I wish you got more playing time but the Steelers just play nickel more often now-a-days. That doesn't make you less valuable though, and I really hope you get resigned this year and you finish your career in Pittsburgh. 

P.S. sorry for frequently spelling your last name wrong. 

Dear Darrius Heyward-Bae,

DHB, you don't get the credit you deserve. You're valuable on special teams, our best run-blocking receiver, and have been able to rise up to the challenge when we have to throw the ball your way. You're great because you understand yourself and know what you're able to contribute to this team. Like D-Will, you're a team-first guy and i've really become of fan of yours over time. Even if you don't get resigned this year (which I hope you do) I appreciate your contributions to the team. 

Dear Todd Haley,

You're time in Pittsburgh has been kind of like a college student: your first year or two you're kinda weird and still trying to find yourself, but by your 3rd and 4th year you have things figured out. I don't know why you get so much crap from Steeler fans. Sure you make bad calls occasionally, but what coordinator doesn't? You have helped create arguably the top offense in the league, as well as drastically lower Ben's sack numbers. You're work deserves a lot of praise and I hope you don't go anywhere anytime soon. 

Dear Landry Jones

I'll admit, I was one of those Steeler fans rooting for you to be cut this offseason. However, after seeing you get playing time I was converted to a believer. I understand that you're clearly not our future starter, but I believe you're capable of being a career back-up, and that's why you were drafted. While your play this season was a mixed bag, what is important is that you showed growth. You made some terrible throws, but you also made some great throws. I hope you work hard this season and continue trying to prove the doubters wrong. 

Much love to you all,

                                  Eric

                                           XOXO 

NFL Suspensions Headed in the Right Direction

Steeler fans rejoiced in unison yesterday. It was announced that the league had upheld Vontaze Burfict's 3-game suspension after his vicious hit on Antonio Brown. I see this as a major victory for the NFL and player safety.

It seems like nowadays everybody expects suspensions to be reduced, whether its LeVeon Bell's suspension reducing from 3 games to 2, or the more drastic Greg Hardy suspension being reduced from 10 to 4. I imagine I wasn't the only person worried that Burfict would get off easy. So I was, and still am, thrilled to see the league sticking to its guns regarding the issue of player safety.

It appears that the like the league is finally taking the right steps towards enforcing player safety. I'm sure many fans and fantasy footballers recall Odell Beckham Jr being suspended for 1 game after his cheap shot on JoshNorman. As well, Aqib Talib was suspended for 1 game this year after pokingDwayne Allen in the eyes.

Extreme circumstances like these two certainly call for suspension, but Roger Goodell recently hinted at taking things even further. Last week he had this to say:

"I believe the league should pursue a policy where if there are two personal fouls in a game, there's an automatic ejection of a player, I believe that that's consistent with what we believe are the safety issues, but I also believe it's consistent with what we believe are the standards of sportsmanship that we've emphasized."

This statement has caused a lot of controversy, but I personally support this idea. I think this proposal would enforce accountability for the actions of players much more than a measly fine would. I think two personal fouls is fair as well. Accidental personal fouls, such as grabbing the face-mask, do happen sometimes. Rarely though do you see multiple personal fouls in a game unless these fouls are intentional

One popular tweet during the Super Bowl was "According to Roger Goodells idea, Aqib Talib would be ejected from the game." This fact stirred some people up. However, Talib later announced that he intentionalgrabbed Corey Browns face-mask.

"(Talib regarding the facemask) One I just did on purpose, and I just had to show him."

Now I'm not gonna lie, part of me kind of likes what Talib did. Aggressive, rough football, showing-him-who's-boss football. A lot of fans, including myself, enjoy this. However, I understand that plays like this is are dirty, could cause injury, and have no place in the NFL. Plays like this shine a poor light on football and the NFL. It's currently TBD whether or not the league i going to take action over this.

With all the news about concussions now-a-days, player safety needs to be emphasized more than ever. It seems pretty common lately for a story to be released about a former player having CTS; and surely the movie Concussion has helped inform people. Players are even starting to retire early due to this. Take former San Franciso LB Chris Borland for example. He had a great rookie year and showed a lot of potential, but chose to retire due to concerns over concussions and safety. Nobody blames him either.

To wrap things up, I'm happy with the direction the NFL is headed in. Are things going to get perfect and fixed instantly? Of course not. But knowing that they understand the need to start suspending overaggressive players is a great first step. The NFL needs to show players like Burfict and Talib that they will not stand for intentionally trying to harm players.

Thanks for reading. 

Matt Miller 7 Round Mock Draft - Steelers Picks Recap & Analysis

I imagine anybody who follows me also follows Matt Miller, so no need to explain who he is. One of the best guys in the industry. Matt Miller released a full on 7 round mock draft this morning which you can view here:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2613603-2016-nfl-mock-draft-matt-millers-post-super-bowl-predictions

For this article, I'm going to post his Steeler picks and what he wrote about the first round pick.
I'm also going to include my take on who he chose for the Steelers, as well as list other players that were available for that pick that are options for the Steelers.

For those who don't know or forgot, the Steelers traded away their 5th round pick (Brandon Boykin) and their 6th round pick (Josh Scobee). 

Let's go.

Round 1: Taylor Decker - OT (Ohio State) 

What Miller said:

"The 2016 offseason will be a telling one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Does general manager Kevin Colbert finally address the secondary with an early pick, or does he continue to build the middle of the roster through the first rounds of the draft while focusing on the edges with middle- and late-round gems?With pick No. 25, it makes sense to add a cornerback or safety if the Steelers like the value, but the best player on the board is Ohio State’s Taylor Decker. That brings up an interesting decision, because Kelvin Beachum and Ramon Foster are both set to become free agents in March. Does Pittsburgh trust Alejandro Villanueva as its everyday left tackle?Decker is currently the third-best left tackle in the class, and he has the tools to slide right onto the roster as a left or right tackle for Week 1 and for the next five seasons."

To sum up Miller's main points:

1) Taylor Decker is a great value at pick 25.
2) Do the Steelers trust Villanueva?

Both of those are excellent points. The Steelers know they have to keep Ben healthy if this team wants to make a Super Bowl run, so it wouldn't surprise me if they went this route. They also have a history of investing highly in offensive lineman. The Steelers are a team that knows not to reach for needs and taking the best player available, so if Decker falls to the Steelers they will surely consider him.

I do think the Steelers trust Villy. He steadily improved over the course of the season and is a solid option for them. Decker would be an upgrade over him, but Villy would be able to hold his own if he ends of being the starter again. It's also a possibility that Beachum is resigned.


Other Players Available

Darian Thompson - S (Boise State)

My first round pick in my Steeler's mock. Would be a great first round pick, but if the Steelers have Decker higher on their board than Thompson, they'll have a lot of thinking to do.

Leonard Floyd - EDGE (Georgia)

Skinny guy, but a great pass rusher. I wouldn't bet on the Steelers taking him, but he's the higest rated edge rusher still available for the Steelers pick.



Round 2: Kendall Fuller - CB (Virginia Tech)

This is a pick I would certainly be happy with. Fuller would be a great investment to help out our secondary. Ideally he would be given the opportunity to battle with Cockrell/Blake for the #2 outside corner spot. How the Steelers feel about Cortez will play a huge role in us drafting a cb too. Currently on our roster we have Gay, Cockrell, Golson, Blake, Grant, Allen. Unless they plan on moving Grant to safety, not re-signing Blake (which I think they will) or cutting Allen, there isn't really room for another cb.

I don't expect the Steelers to go against their usual trends and draft a cb in the first round, so between the 2nd and 4th round will most likely be where the Steelers target somebody.

Other Players Available:

(Unfortunately the main players I'd want in the second round, Vonn Bell & Jordan Jenkins, are unavailable in Matt Millers mock)

Joshua Garnett - G (Stanford)

I'm sure Steeler fans would riot if we took two offensive lineman with the first two picks, but Garnett would be a fantastic pick in the second if he's available.

Jayron Kearse - S (Clemson) 

At 6-5, Kearse is intriguing from a physical standpoint. We'll have to watch during the offseason to see if the Steelers show interest in him.

Nick Vannett - TE (Ohio State)

Vannett is sure to see his stock rise over time. He was criminally underused at Ohio State and shows a lot of upside as one of the most well-rounded te's in the draft.


Round 3: Keanu Neal - S (Florida)

I'm indifferent about this pick; in this spot there are many safety options for the Steelers. From what I've read Neal is more of an in-the-box safety than a coverage safety. My knowledge about Neal is limited, so there's not much I can say. Regardless though, safety is a huge need and must be addressed within the first 3 rounds.

Other Players Available

Karl Joseph - S (West Virginia) -

A human missile. Joseph is arguably a boom or bust player with his playing style, but I would love if the Steelers got him.

Jihad Ward - DE (Illinois)

Tomlin showed interest in Ward at the Senior Bowl. The Steeler's know they need DE depth, making Ward an option.

Justin Simmons - S (Boston College) 

Not quite as dynamic as Joseph, but a very well-rounded player. Capable in both run support and pass coverage. Like with Joseph, i'd love if the Steelers took Simmons.


Round 4: Austin Hooper - TE (Stanford) 

Hooper would be a great fit with the Steelers - a big tight end who can both catch and block. Similar to Jesse James, he would need time to develop as both a catcher and a blocker, and he does show upside in both areas. Considering he only has a year or two left, the Steelers have to draft Heaths replacement eventually, could it be Hooper? Is it James? Guess we have to wait and see.


Other Players Available

Maurice Canady - CB (Virginia)

Would be a good option if they haven't addressed the cb position at this point.

Denver Kirkland - G (Arkansas)

Kirkland would provide needed offensive line depth for the Steelers.

Kevin Byard - S (Middle Tenn. State)

Byard has interest in the Steelers (he grew up a Steelers fan), but its TBD if that interest is mutual. Byard showed his coverage ability and upside at the Senior Bowl and i'm sure he will be on the Steelers radar this draft season.


Round 7: Josh Forrest - LB (Kentucky)

Guys, this is a 7th round round pick in February. I don't have much to say here.


Recap & final thoughts: 

Round 1: Taylor Decker - OT (Ohio State)
Round 2: Kendall Fuller - CB (Virginia Tech)
Round 3: Keanu Neal - S (Florida)
Round 4: Austin Hooper - TE (Stanford)
Round 7: Josh Forrest - LB (Kentucky)

Mock drafts at this point are made to reflect team needs and player value. Most likely this isn't exactly how the Steelers draft will go, but Miller's draft reflects the issues the Steelers need to address this offseason. This mock also helps fans like me get a better idea of where certain guys will be drafted. One of my fears for the draft is that the Steelers won't be in a position to draft an edge rusher this year, and that fear is reflected here because no edge rushers of value are available during any of the Steelers picks.

Hopefully the Steelers get more picks as well. We should get a 7th round compensatory pick for Brice McCain, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers try and shop some of their players for some late round picks. I anticipate them trading Suisham for a late round pick, but if that happens its hard to tell if they do it early on or in training camp.

Overall, I'm a fan of Millers mock draft, a lot of the Steeler's needs are addressed. Regardless of who we end up drafting, we all hope our picks can have an impact during their rookie years and be components for a Super Bowl run.

How Have Other SB-Losing QB's Handled the Press?

A hot topic right now is Cam Newton giving short answers at his post-game press conference and walking out. This article isn't on my thoughts on how he handled it, but showing how a few past losing QB's have handled the same situation.

Russell Wilson - Super Bowl 49 

Peyton Manning - Super Bowl 48 (press conference starts at 2:12)

Tom Brady - Super Bowl 46 

Now compare those to Cam Newton. The differences are pretty clear to me.

Did The Steelers Get Bailed Out For Drafting Dri Archer?

May 2014, I’m sitting in my bedroom watching the NFL draft. It was the 3^rd round and the Steelers were almost up, of course I was excited. I was hoping we take either Pierre Desir or Martavis Bryant. Then out of nowhere, boom, Dri Archer was drafted.

                I’m sure I wasn’t the only Steeler fan confused by this choice. We had all these needs, and we took a running back. FAST FORWARD.  Steeler fans are excited about Dri Archer. He's blazing fast and the common narratives are “lightning in a bottle” & “he’s a threat to score anytime the ball is in his hands.” FAST FORWARD TO NOW. Dri Archer is off the team. Cut for Jacoby Jones (which still perplexes me btw).

                Many Steeler fans are probably upset over this wasted draft pick, but a closer look shows the Steelers may have been bailed out.

Notice in anything from the picture? The Steelers are now in possession of Ross Cockrell, cb, who was taken twelve picks after Archer. It’s not ridiculous either thinking the Steelers were considering taking Cockrell with their pick. According to SteelersDepot.com, Ross Cockrell was brought in for a pre-draft visit for the Steelers back in 2014.

                That’s not the only recent bailout though Steeler fans. Landry Jones is a giant question mark currently. Can he be a long-term reliable back-up for the Steelers? Nobody knows yet. It’s worth noting though that the player the Steelers may have taken over Jones is a former Steeler.

Like Cockrell, Webb was brought in for a pre-draft visit in 2013. Webb ended up spending time with the Steelers during the 2014 season and the 2015 offseason but was unable to make the final roster.

                So there you guy Steeler fans. I personally find some comfort knowing Dri Archer & Landry Jones weren’t entirely wasted picks. B.W. Webb had his shot, and Ross Cockrell shows promise and has another year to prove himself. I hope you find some comfort in all this too.  

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_NFL_draft

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NFL_draft

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2013/04/steelers-2013-pre-draft-visits/

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2014/04/steelers-2014-pre-draft-visit-tracker/

Steelers 2016 Mock Draft - 3 Rounds

Hello there. Welcome to the Steelers Grind Mock Draft 2.0.

First off, I’d like to preface how a lot is going to change between now and the NFL Draft. Decisions need to be made on Gay, McLendon, Foster, & more. So yeah, the Steelers main draft needs could change a lot pending on who we re-sign, and what free agents we bring in. This mock draft is for fun. I enjoy making them, and hopefully you enjoy reading it. Anyway, let’s get this rolling.

Round 1: Darian Thompson – SS - Boise State – 6’2, 215

In my first mock I was between Vonn Bell & Darian Thompson for the first round pick. I chose the former, and after the senior bowl, I discovered I made the wrong choice. A lot of fans want the Steelers to go secondary in the first round; if it happens, it’ll be a safety, not a corner.

 Safety is a need for the Steelers. Even if they resign Golden, Thompson would be a huge improvement to the secondary. Thompson is capable of helping in both coverage and run support due to his football IQ, athleticism, & physicality. You can’t forget his ball-hawking skills too; breaking the all-time Mountain West Conference record this year with 19 interceptions. His presence would also open up possibilities for Mike Mitchell. Having another safety capable of dropping back like Mitchell did a lot last season gives the Butler & the defense a lot of flexibility.

Would he be an instant starter? Not sure. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Thompson & Golden split reps while Thompson still learns. Regardless, Thompson would be a great asset for the Steelers. The Steelers like to take playmakers in the first round, and Darian Thompson is just that. Let’s just hope his stock doesn’t rise more putting him out of the Steelers’ range.

Round 2: Jordan Jenkins – EDGE – Georgia – 6’3, 253

The Steelers need pass-rushers, enter Jordan Jenkins. The Steeler’s prioritize their edge rushers; it wouldn’t even surprise me to see them take one in the first round. A lot of fans are tired of us taking linebackers, but that’s just how the Steelers roll. Pressure from the front seven improves the secondary. I think Jordan Jenkins fits well.

Jenkins played in a variety of fronts at Georgia, playing both DE & OLB. The Steelers would most likely have him shed weight and play OLB. The Steeler’s prefer their OLB’s to be able to both rush the pasher & drop into coverage, and Jenkins is able to do that. A lot of his issues are rooted in technique, strength, & condition. I could see Jenkins playing limited reps and primarily taking his rookie season to develop and iron out all of these issues. With Jarvis Jones potentially leaving after a year and James Harrison potentially being done this year, the Steelers need to invest in a pass rusher.

If you compare Jenkins to former Steelers, you see Jenkins body type is similar to some recent edge rushers they’ve drafted. Jason Worilds was 6-1, 254 coming out of Virginia Tech. Lamarr Woodley was 6-2, 266 coming out of Michigan. The Steeler’s love taking college 4-3 DE’s and converting them to OLB, and Jenkins could be their next project.

Round 3: Christian Westerman – G – Arizona State – 6’3, 296

Guys, I’m so torn with this pick. I juggled between g, cb, & dl with this pick. Ultimately though what I think will happen is the Steelers will invest in cb & dl in free agency. Not high-end starters, but solid rotational guys similar to the level of Brice McCain & Cam Thomas (hopefully better than him though). Any cb we could draft in this round would likely have a minimal impact anyway. That leaves me with guard.

            I think the offensive line is a position the Steelers invest in regardless of who they bring back. Even if Foster returns, it’ll likely only be a 2-year deal. As we learned this year, having o-line depth is vital. I think Westerman is a guy that could be groomed to replace Foster. He plays with intelligence, power, & tenacity. I have full faith in Mike Munchak that he could turn this kid into a full-time start.

            Westerman’s issues have to do with both technique & his physical ability. With time to develop, he can master his technique & learn how to use this technique to overcome physical deficiencies.

            I’m sure this pick would upset a lot of fans, but it just seems like a smart Steelers pick. Drafting for the future, instead of reaching for needs.

Other Player's Considered:

Kenny Clark - DT

Clark intrigues me. He could play both DT & DE for us. It's certainly possible the Steelers go d-line early. Will the Steelers consider Clark? Idk, i'm not Colbert. 

Joshua Garnett

If Foster isn't resigned, the need at guard elevates. Would be a great choice for first round pick. 

Nick Vannett - TE

Vannett will probably end up being one of the top, if not the top, te's in this draft. His stock gets a huge bump though due to the lacking te class. Maybe an option for the Steeler's in the 2nd, but I think there's better value picks. Can't deny the Steelers/OSU connection though. 

Vonn Bell/Jayron Kearse/Justin Simmons/Kevin Byard - S

The Steelers have a lot of options at safety in this draft. If they wait till the 2nd or 3rd round to pull the trigger on one, these guys are all options. This is kinda cheating listing four guys, but I don't care haha. 

Deiondre Hall - CB

Nobody can deny the Steelers need at cb. However, I think a team will overdraft Hall due to his measurables. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my mock. Thank you for reading.