INDIANAPOLIS -- It is NFL Combine week!
Writing this from my hotel room in Indianapolis, I couldn’t be more psyched as we prepare for the testing and on the field workouts to get kicked off. This city is buzzing with NFL folks, rumors and speculations.
But, this is the biggest interview of these player’s lives and critical to where they land at the end of April.
Who should you be focusing in on and how do they affect the Steelers?
Here is an alphabetical list of some key players in that regard.
BRYAN BRESEE, DT, CLEMSON
There might not be a player at the Combine that this week is more important to than Bresee, and how that goes could really impact if the Steelers consider drafting him in the first round.
Talent isn’t a concern at all for Bresee, a player that has uncanny similarities to Cam Heyward as a power player with great alignment versatility. But, Bresee went through a very difficult season last year. He suffered an ACL injury in 2021 as well as a kidney infection and a shoulder injury this past year, so his medicals will be critical. More importantly, Bresee tragically lost his younger sister to brain cancer before the season and who is to say how that impacted Bresee’s performance on the field.
Teams like the Steelers surely will want to sit down and talk with Bresee who could end up being Heyward’s heir apparent.
JACK CAMPBELL, LB, IOWA
Campbell is a great football player, and his tape is outstanding. He is highly productive and really understands the game while bringing a lot of physicality to the position. He was exceptional in coverage at Iowa. But, Campbell is a taller linebacker and somewhat highly cut. Often such players at this position struggle to change directions. If Campbell tests well in the short shuttle and 3-cone drills, he could really alleviate those concerns and should then be in the Day 2 mix for the Steelers.
Campbell won the Dick Butkus Award this year as the nation’s top linebacker.
JALIN HYATT, WR, TENNESSEE
Hyatt is a Will Fuller-like prospect. He has a slight build, but immense speed and big-play ability. Hyatt’s weigh in and body composition will be very important for his draft stock, and just how fast is he truly? Hyatt is sure to burn up the track, but teams might be scared off by his body type.
In an offseason that should be centered around creating more explosive plays on offense, the Steelers should be quite focused in on Hyatt, who could be in the equation to kick off the draft’s second day. Hyatt could end up being the fastest player at any position this year, and is also a pretty polished receiver, although he wasn’t asked to run a diverse route tree at Tennessee.
Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award this year as the best wide receiver in the country and put the ball in the paint on 15 occasions while averaging 18.9 yards per reception. Even when Hyatt isn’t getting the ball, his mere presence backs defenders off the line of scrimmage, opening room in the run game. Anyone can see Hyatt’s impact on every game in this video below.
BRODERICK JONES, OT, GEORGIA
Jones very well could be off the board before the Steelers make their first selection.
He is an excellent prospect, and we all know that true left tackles like Jones don’t last long on draft day.
But, Jones is a little on the short side for offensive tackle and there are some questions about his arm length. He is clearly light enough on his feet and talented enough overall to make for slight deficiencies in these two departments, but those measurements could be the difference if Jones is long gone or available at 17 for the Steelers, who probably already love his nasty demeanor.
DAWAND JONES, OT, OHIO STATE
Jones is an insanely large human being. He measured in over 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds at the Senior Bowl. But, guys like him often don’t shine in Indianapolis, with the Chiefs' Orlando Brown -- who had as poor of a Combine in recent memory -- as a prime example.
Jones built up a lot of momentum with his short time spent at the Senior Bowl, but it will be very important for him not to squash that momentum with a poor showing without pads on. In his case, it might just be good enough if Jones doesn’t have a bad showing, but what if he exceeds expectations and does really well? Then we could really see him linked to Round 1 and possibly to the Steelers.
No matter what Jones does this week though, he should be an option for the Steelers in the second round. Jones didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit in 2022.
WILL MCDONALD IV, EDGE, IOWA STATE
McDonald isn’t the biggest or thickest edge defender, but he has freaky athletic traits and tremendous length to possibly become a great NFL pass rusher off the edge.
McDonald has an impressive background in baseball, basketball and track. His explosiveness as a discus thrower as well as a high jumper could really show up during his athletic testing this week. The Steelers might have to pounce on him to mix in with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. He had 35 sacks in college.
NOAH SEWELL, LB, OREGON
The Lions’ Penei Sewell’s younger brother, Noah, is a big thumping throwback linebacker. He punishes blockers and ball carriers and brings a lot of energy to the defense.
The Dick LeBeau defenses in Pittsburgh would have adored this guy. But, the NFL has changed drastically, and athletes that cover a lot of ground and can play in space are now required. If Sewell shows that there are not issues for him during testing, but especially during drill work, the Steelers should become quite interested in acquiring his services at a position of great need.
This video below provides many examples of what Sewell can bring to a defense:
MAZI SMITH, DT, MICHIGAN
Smith made few impact plays at Michigan for someone with his traits. But, his athletic testing could become something of legend in Indianapolis. It is like Smith was built in a lab to line up at nose tackle for the Steelers. His jump numbers as well as his change of direction and 10-yard splits will likely entice every defensive line coach in attendance.
Smith is someone every good coach will want to mold and develop.
JOE TIPPMAN, C, WISCONSIN
The drill work will be very important for Tippman, who rivals John Michael Schmitz as the top center prospect in this draft.
Tippman is very tall for the center position, and probably won’t excel on the bench press. But, much more importantly, he needs to show that he can sink his hips and play low with well-bent knees and ankles. Tall centers can scare teams because it is too easy for them to lose the leverage battle, but Tippman’s tape in college is very impressive.
The Steelers could be very interested on Day 2 if he shows he can stay low at the Combine. The short shuttle will be critical for Tippman, but the tape shows an excellent pulling center that can really run.
THE ENTIRE CORNERBACK CLASS
While there isn’t an elite prospect in this cornerback class that is guaranteed to go in the top five overall, this group of corners is extremely deep and that bodes very well for the Steelers with their three picks in the top two rounds.
As a whole, this group features many outside cornerbacks with the traits you are looking for -- namely size and length. But, what is so important about this week is that many of these cornerbacks that should be selected in the top 75 picks are very clustered right now.
Their time in Indianapolis could break a lot of ties for the Steelers and every other team in the cornerback market.
