2nd Round Pick Reaction
Sean Davis (Safety) - Maryland - 6'1" 201 lbs.
Wow, another surprise pick by the Steelers. Time to go bury my mock draft in the back yard. With players like Andrew Billings, Vonn Bell, and Darian Thompson on the board, I would've bet we were going to take one of those guys. I'm not upset though! Davis was obviously their guy, and as I stated in my Artie Burns Reaction article, I trust our organization.
The Steelers discussed earlier in the offseason how they want to address and improve the secondary, and boy they weren't lying. The Steelers have added size and attitude to their secondary in this draft!
Sean Davis is a big bad man; he led the nation with 5 forced fumbles in 2015. He also has ball skills with 3 interceptions. Steeler nation will fall in love with him when they see him destroying guys on the field. Unlike many of the safeties in the draft, Davis is capable of playing in the box as well as in coverage. He brings versatility to the safety position that the Steelers have lacked since the Polamalu/Clark days. I'm sure Kieth Butler has a smile on his and can't wait to play with his new safety duo.
Similar to Burns though, he's a little raw. Lucky for us we retained Robert Golden, giving us the luxury of bringing him along at a steady pace. Davis was used at both cornerback and safety while at Maryland, and surely flipping between positions hindered his development. Being focused at safety will undoubtedly help him out.
Overall I'm happy with this pick and I'm glad the Steelers have addressed the safety position early. For the first time in awhile i'm actually excited about this Steelers secondary.
3rd Round Pick Reaction
Javon Hargrave (Defensive Tackle) - South Carolina St. - 6'1" 309 lbs
Finally! A guy in my mock gets drafted by the Steelers! Also, the first pick that didn't catch me by surprise.
I'm so happy with this pick. Hargrave fits perfectly with what Tomlin wants from a DT. He's a guy who is able to play nose tackle in the 3-4 as well as be used as a pass rusher in the nickel. Beautiful. Surely Cam Heyward & Stephon Tuitt are happy with this pick as well because he's a player that will give them some relief in passing downs.
Though myself and many other fans are jumping for joy, Hargrave isn't a perfect prospect. The jump from a small school to the NFL is a major adjustment so it may take him time to adapt. Raw-ness seems to be a theme for his years draft class. Because of this his impact may only be modest at first. He also has short arms (32") compared to how the Steelers prefer their d-lineman (34").
Criticisms aside, this was a perfect 3rd round pick. The Steelers filled a position of need while potentially getting a major steal. Many fans have been clamoring for a defensive tackle and boy we got one. Pittsburgh should be very excited about this pick.
Day 3 Predictions
The Steelers are in a perfect position going into day 3. Their major needs (CB, S, DL) were all addressed in the first 3 rounds, giving them the luxury of selecting the best player available for the remainder of the draft. Based on need, the positions they will likely be paying close attention to are WR, OL, EDGE, & MLB. Trading back may even be considered depending on who is available.
Some players I could see them taking in the 4th round:
- Pharoh Cooper (WR)
- Malcolm Mitchel (WR)
- Jerald Hawkins (OT)
- Nick Kwiatkoski (MLB)
- Jatavis Brown (LB/S)
- Devontae Booker (RB)
My 4th round prediction: Pharoh Cooper
To reiterate, the Steelers are in a great position entering day 3 and shouldn't feel pressured to reach for any needs. I'm confident they will end the day with some quality players.
No comments:
Post a Comment