The Steelers have a busy day at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, hosting four players for pre-draft visits: North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Washington cornerback Tacario Davis and Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge.
A left-handed passer, Payton is a single-season starter at the FCS level, but is a true dual-threat quarterback. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.56 40-yard dash, and he has good size at 6-3 and 232 pounds. He throws well on the run, but lacks elite arm talent. He was very productive and efficient, completing 71.2% of his passes as a starter in 2025 and totaled 31 rushing touchdowns in his career. Playing at the FCS level, the lack of an elite arm and some significant work needed on mechanics makes him difficult to project.
Perhaps the top linebacker on Day 2, Rodriguez is 6-1, 231 pounds and is a supremely athletic linebacker (9.23 RAS) that attacks the football. He led the country with seven forced fumbles in 2025, adding on four interceptions. He needs some work in his run defense and bringing down his missed tackle rate (13.9% in 2025, per Pro Football Focus), but he's slippery off blocks. With the fine tuning that's needed there, he could be a great addition to the linebacker room, becoming a potential long-term option there. I recently had him the Steelers' second-round pick in my three-round mock draft.
The first thing that stands out about Davis is his ridiculous 6-4 height, which is an outlier at the position. But, he also possesses 33 3/8-inch arms, giving him length coveted by NFL teams. Davis is also very fast, recording a 4.41 40-yard dash at the Combine. Primarily an outside cornerback, Davis needs some serious work with his footwork and mechanics, as he tends to struggle sticking with receivers who know how to run routes well. But, he's disruptive at the line in press man and he stands a good chance of breaking up passes if he's in the vicinity. He's an interesting early Day 3 option.
Rutledge is a Day 2 option at guard that's been on the right side exclusively over the past three college seasons. He stands 6-4 and weighs 316 pounds and is a supreme athlete (9.62 RAS). He plays with a mean streak and really excels in downhill/combo blocks. His pass protection needs some refinement, but he could be a really intriguing option to add to the offensive line, whether or not the Steelers add a guy who could start in free agency.
PRE-DRAFT VISITS (11 of 30 allotted slots used)
• Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL) (March 6) • Ephesians Prysock, DB, Washington (March 5) • Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati (March 16) • Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky (March 16) • Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL) (March 17) • Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (March 17) • James Thompson, DT, Illinois (March 19) • Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State (March 20) • Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (March 20) • Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (March 20) • Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech (March 20)
LOCAL PRE-DRAFT VISITS (Do not count toward 30 pre-draft visits)
• Khalil Dinkins, TE, Penn State (March 5) • Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh (March 19)
THE ASYLUM
Payton among four pre-draft visits
The Steelers have a busy day at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, hosting four players for pre-draft visits: North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Washington cornerback Tacario Davis and Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge.
A left-handed passer, Payton is a single-season starter at the FCS level, but is a true dual-threat quarterback. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.56 40-yard dash, and he has good size at 6-3 and 232 pounds. He throws well on the run, but lacks elite arm talent. He was very productive and efficient, completing 71.2% of his passes as a starter in 2025 and totaled 31 rushing touchdowns in his career. Playing at the FCS level, the lack of an elite arm and some significant work needed on mechanics makes him difficult to project.
Perhaps the top linebacker on Day 2, Rodriguez is 6-1, 231 pounds and is a supremely athletic linebacker (9.23 RAS) that attacks the football. He led the country with seven forced fumbles in 2025, adding on four interceptions. He needs some work in his run defense and bringing down his missed tackle rate (13.9% in 2025, per Pro Football Focus), but he's slippery off blocks. With the fine tuning that's needed there, he could be a great addition to the linebacker room, becoming a potential long-term option there. I recently had him the Steelers' second-round pick in my three-round mock draft.
The first thing that stands out about Davis is his ridiculous 6-4 height, which is an outlier at the position. But, he also possesses 33 3/8-inch arms, giving him length coveted by NFL teams. Davis is also very fast, recording a 4.41 40-yard dash at the Combine. Primarily an outside cornerback, Davis needs some serious work with his footwork and mechanics, as he tends to struggle sticking with receivers who know how to run routes well. But, he's disruptive at the line in press man and he stands a good chance of breaking up passes if he's in the vicinity. He's an interesting early Day 3 option.
Rutledge is a Day 2 option at guard that's been on the right side exclusively over the past three college seasons. He stands 6-4 and weighs 316 pounds and is a supreme athlete (9.62 RAS). He plays with a mean streak and really excels in downhill/combo blocks. His pass protection needs some refinement, but he could be a really intriguing option to add to the offensive line, whether or not the Steelers add a guy who could start in free agency.
PRE-DRAFT VISITS
(11 of 30 allotted slots used)
• Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL) (March 6)
• Ephesians Prysock, DB, Washington (March 5)
• Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati (March 16)
• Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky (March 16)
• Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL) (March 17)
• Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (March 17)
• James Thompson, DT, Illinois (March 19)
• Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State (March 20)
• Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (March 20)
• Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (March 20)
• Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech (March 20)
LOCAL PRE-DRAFT VISITS
(Do not count toward 30 pre-draft visits)
• Khalil Dinkins, TE, Penn State (March 5)
• Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh (March 19)
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