The NFL Draft begins tonight, and I'm here to give you everything needed to follow Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers when they're on the clock.
Let's run it down:
I've reviewed the top inside linebackers, cornerbacks and offensive weapons the Steelers should consider drafting in various rounds. This piece puts together all the research and notes to help you get through the next three days and have an idea of which players to keep your eyes on.
TOP PROSPECTS
The lack of any turnover creators on defense particularly at inside linebacker and in the secondary has forced a mostly young defense to make more disciplined plays than it could put together.
That led to needs at inside linebacker, cornerback, safety and edge rushers on defense. Colbert and Tomlin will look for prospects with good ball skills or exceptional pass rushers early. The below chart ranks those players I see Colbert considering in the first round of the draft.
I expect all the top-10 and top-15 prospects to be drafted before the Steelers' 20th overall pick. But there are always surprises on draft day, so those are the players on which to keep your eyes. Although I project some players to be drafted higher than what I value them for the Steelers, such as T.J. Hockenson, these rankings are purely for where I think the Steelers should select them should they trade up or down in the draft.
MOCK DRAFT
I hadn't put a full first round mock out there yet, so here's a full list:
- Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma - Cardinals
- Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State - 49ers
- Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama - Jets
- Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky - Raiders
- Devin White, ILB LSU - Buccaneers
- Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State - Giants
- Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida - Jaguars
- T.J. Hockenson, TE Iowa - Lions
- Ed Oliver, DT Houston - Bills
- Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- Broncos
- Devin Bush, ILB Michigan - Bengals
- Noah Fant, TE Iowa - Packers
- Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma- Dolphins
- Rashan Gary, DE Michigan - Falcons
- D.K. Metcalf, WR Mississippi - Washington
- Brian Burns, EDGE FSU- Panthers
- Jonah Williams, OT Alabama - Giants
- Garrett Bradbury, C/G NC State - Vikings
- Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson - Titans
- Byron Murphy, CB Washington - Steelers
- Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State - Seahawks
- Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State - Ravens
- Chris Lindstrom, C/G Boston College - Texans
- Greedy Williams, CB LSU - Raiders
- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Florida - Eagles
- Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State - Colts
- Joshua Jacobs, RB Alabama - Raiders
- Andre Dillard, OT Washington State - Chargers
- Darnell Savage, S Maryland - Seahawks
- Nassir Adderley, S Delaware - Packers
- Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State - Rams
- Dexter Lawrence, DT Clemson - Patriots
I have made no secret about my favor of Murphy as a future NFL star. He's the top of this class, and the Steelers have rarely had the opportunity to draft a class' top cornerback. Artie Burns and Senquez Golson represent the only cornerbacks Colbert has selected in the first two rounds of any draft since Bryant McFadden was taken in 2005.
Mike Tomlin made it clear to Stephen A. Smith on ESPN during last season that they recognize the lack of investment into the position and that similar claims were made about the offensive line prior to the rise of Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro.
This is the perfect opportunity for Tomlin and Colbert to get their cornerback of the future, and I see Murphy or even Williams as too good of prospects to pass up.
PICKS TO WATCH
There are always teams that share positional needs with the Steelers and this year those teams make a difficult obstacle for Colbert to get one of the top inside linebackers in White or Bush. Teams that pick before the Steelers with linebackers among their top positional needs include the Raiders, Buccaneers, Broncos and Bengals.
Each of those teams come in the top 12 picks in this draft, which presents the opportunity for any of them to get aggressive in other positional needs. I expect White to be gone at least by the Buccaneers' fifth, which means Bush would need to get past the Broncos at 10 and the Bengals at 11 before the Steelers could have a clear path to getting their inside linebacker star.
DAY 2 PLAYERS
When the second and third rounds begin Friday, I expect the Steelers to be active with their 10 draft picks to be aggressive with trades and move up to get any player they value on their board. Here's a breakdown of the different positions I see in play for the Steelers Friday and the top players from each group:
Inside Linebackers
- Mack Wilson - Alabama
- Blake Cashman - Minnesota
- Joe Giles-Harris - Duke
- David Long - West Virginia
- Bobby Okereke - Stanford
Should the Steelers not get Bush or White, these are my top picks remaining. Wilson most likely would require a trade up and presents the best threat as a middle defender against the pass. Other prospects such as Cashman and Long look to be good players who could grow into the role of an inside linebacker, but would need more time.
Wide Receivers
- Deebo Samuel - South Carolina
- A.J. Brown - Mississippi
- N'Keal Harry - Arizona State
- JJ Arcega-Whiteside - Stanford
- Terry McLaurin - Ohio State
Ben Roethlisberger could use another receiver outside the numbers to challenge secondaries and be a premiere playmaker. Arcega-Whiteside is the player I have at the best value as I see him available in the third round and being a great fit for Randy Fichtner's offense.
Cornerback
- Deandre Baker - Georgia
- Julian Love - Notre Dame
- Rock Ya-Sin - Temple
- Justin Lane - Michigan State
- Trayvon Mullen - Clemson
Baker and Love project as talented ballhawks at cornerback while Ya-Sin looks like a physical fighter that would be welcomed in any secondary.
Safety
- Juan Thornhill - Virginia
- Amani Hooker - Iowa
- Deionte Thompson - Alabama
- Taylor Rapp - Washington
- Johnathan Abram - Mississippi State
Thornhill is my top free safety of this draft and would be a steal for the Steelers in the second round. Rapp and Abram both are box safeties but if they're still around in the third they're worth the look.
Keep an eye out for edge rushers and running back in the second and third rounds as well. Quality prospects like Chase Winovich of Michigan and Darrell Henderson of Memphis look as great fits if they fall to the Steelers in the third.
