Friday, February 5, 2016

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. 


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