Steelers/NFL
Round 1 Draft Buzz
From Kevin Colbert to Mike Tomlin, those running the show for the Steelers always say they will take the best player available in Round 1 and that every position except quarterback is in play.
Facts are the Steelers almost always target a specific need in Round 1 and that’s what they plan to do again tonight.
Believe it or not, the team has full intentions of addressing the secondary by selecting a cornerback or safety with the No. 25 pick.
Expectations are it will be secondary or trade down tonight.
Will Be Gone well before Pick No. 25
The cornerback class is led by Jalen Ramsey, Florida State (6-1, 207) who is head and shoulders above the rest of the class. Considered to be the best defensive back prospect since Patrick Peterson, Ramsey has it all from size to running a 4.38 forty. Scouts believe he will be a great player whether he’s a corner or safety.
A potential top-5 pick who certainly won’t fall out of the top-10.
Unlikely Group
Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves (5-10, 206) is the consensus No. 2 cornerback but he has some short comings with his size and raw talent. He’s one of those wildcards who some feel could go as high as No. 9-10 or fall into the 20’s because of his size. Would be phenomenal value at No 25 if he fell.
The Top Contenders to be selected at No. 25
What would the Steelers love to play out?
To have their choosing of cornerbacks Eli Apple, Ohio State (6-1, 202), William Jackson III, Houston (6-1, 187), MacKensie Alexander, Clemson (5-11, 190) and safety Karl Joseph, West Virginia.
There’s a good chance at least two or three of them will still be on the board.
The buzz in Steelers circles has been that Eli Apple is the player they desperately covet.
The Steelers love Ohio State players and they love young players as Apple is only 20 years old. Tremendous upside but some scouts and personnel men have concerns about Apple’s off field issues, namely he’s not very smart.
One scout blasted Apple in Bob McGinn’s excellent position draft features he does every year. “I worry about him because of off-the-field issues. The kid has no life skills. At all. Can’t cook. Just a baby. He’s not first round for me. He scares me to death.” Wonderlic was 21,” a scout told McGinn of Apple.
Whether he can cook or not has anything to do with covering receivers, I’m not sure.
Houston’s William Jackson has been a popular player linked to the Steelers for months and during Jackson’s pro-day the Steelers weren’t shy right in front of other teams of how much they like Jackson.
Jackson has the makings of being a very safe pick for anyone in the mid-to-late first round. Has really good ball skills, great speed (4.35) and long arms that evaluators love from corners.
Between Apple or Jackson, a bigger year one impact would likely come from Jackson.
Clemson’s MacKensie Alexander (5-11, 190) has drawn mixed reviews. Some scouts love him, comparing him to Darrelle Revis, others see him as a third round type talent.
The Steelers are said to be one of the teams that see him as a legit first round prospect who will get strong consideration at No. 25.
That’s what you have after the first two-three corners in a deep draft at the position. There’s not a lot of separation between No. 4 – No. 8, which could also put the Steelers in play to trade down if one of their top targets is off the board.
Cornerbacks who are considered tweeners in this class, the type of who are not widely considered first round prospects but are from a few select teams include Miami’s Artie Burns (6-1, 190). Runs a 4.4 forty, had 6 interceptions in 2015. Long and fast but mainly considered a press corner.
The other is Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller (5-11, 188).
Safety Talk: Go Joseph in Round 1, Corner in Round 2?
West Virginia’s Karl Joseph (5-10, 2010) To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Damn bengals
Those fuckin pricks. I hope they rot in hell.
Myles Jack? Man, hard to pass up at 25.
I’m suprised to see that the DE’s have not flew off the board yet.
Ok. William Jackson it is, or trade down. Was kinda hoping for Joseph.
Even Neal went. The secondary is getting scooped up like crazy.
Lovejoy!
Keep smoking pot morons.
New mock: trade down pick up a mid 2nd and 3rd, and a 1st next year. Make it happen.
I would love to see Keanu Neal in the 1st round
See him do what? Hopefully not become a Steeler. That dude cant cover shlt. They have plenty of those already.
I don’t see Joseph being the pick. It takes Safeties forever to pick up the Steelers defense and this guy won’t physically be ready to go till the 4th week? I think they’ll look for more immediate help and make sure they get Jackson OR take Billings and then make sure they get Alexander (i hate) or Fuller in the 2nd.
Butler simplified the defense, and the Steelers havent had a 1st round talent developing at safety in over a decade to really know the true learning curve. The players they had could have picked up the system quick, but were lacking physical talent. With that said. Id be happy with any of the 3 players you mentioned.
3 round mock:
1) S Karl Joseph
2) CB Kalan Reed/Kendall Fuller
3) WR Sterling Shepard
Or
1) CB William Jackson
2) S TJ Green/Sean Davis
3) DL Javon Hargrave
Interested to see how Hackenbergs career turns out over time. Is he shlt, or is James Franklin shlt? Im leaning toward both.
Tyler Boyd will be as good as his QB. Great route runner and excellent hands, but neither matters if his QB cant read and anticipate coverage.
Would be amazing playing for Tom Brady and the Pats…but U would vomit every Sunday rooting for him.
Seen speculation that will take Billings. They need DLine depth and it would probably be a good pick but (for whatever reason) id be disappointed if they don’t take. DB.
For whatever reason, lol. That reason is this tltty-ass secondary needs help.
I really like Joseph but fear he will be gone.
Im risking a thumbs down from Sam, to tell you I agree.
Same has no life skills either. He is very dumb.
I guilted DePaoli into this coverage.
Its funny to read on hear that the Steelers are “desperately coveting” Eli Apple after read a few articles talking about how poor a fit he is for the Steelers scheme. Im not saying Apple wouldnt be the pick, but thatd be a lucky guess more than actual insight from “Steelers Circles”
Matt Williamson reiterated this today on TribLive radio.
Dont hear “hes a great kid off the field” for a WVU player too often.
Hoping and predicting for either Joseph or Jackson in the first.
Love that.
Brown is not leaving in FA. That is not going to happen. They’ll restructure other contracts and sign him by next offseason. Steelers don’t need to use a draft pick on a receiver. Sammy Coats will be just fine.
They’re going to draft a WR.
Where do you guys think Tyler Boyd will go? I think he’s going to blow up. I follow hockey a lot closer, but with Martavis being an idiot and Brown possibly leaving in free agency somewhat soon, is Boyd an option in the second round?
Most mocks I’ve seen have him late 2nd round at the earliest and most have him in the 3rd round so availability shouldn’t be an issue but I don’t see the fit personally, I’m still undecided on whether I think Boyd will be anything more than an average pro receiver and I don’t think he’s going to be an early impact player.
I’d love him in the 4th…any earlier and we have bigger needs. Coates wheaton brown bey are fine for this year. Bryant is sort of like a high risks/high reward draft pick next year. He’s either a stud or suspended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNN9nL2vppM
They want Jackson III, who will be gone, and will take KJ.
Second round corners are better than second round safeties
On another Steeler topic… Would anyone be against the Steelers picking up AJ Hawk as a backup? After losing 2 insider backers, bringing in the vet for 1 or 2 years might be a decent idea……
Hargreaves is basically undersized and slow – doesn’t exactly make the CB class sound extraordinary.
I like the idea of going safety 1st, corner 2nd, D-line 3rd. If Hackenberg falls into the 4th Rd maybe get him as a backup….. I do like the idea of Jaylon Smith but not for anything higher than an acquired 5th Rd pick. He is the next coming of Sean Spence.
I don’t really like the idea of anything until I see what happens in the 24 picks before it’s their turn.
So I have to say that I’m very impressed that most reporters in the area have no real clue what the Steelers are targeting in Round 1 but D has the sources to know for sure that it’s cornerback or trade down(which the Steelers never do). You would think with those type of sources D would be battling Schefter for top insider in the game.
I see Apple as Mike Adams in a corner body………..
Joseph seems like a trade down guy. Why take a guy without elite athleticism coming off an injury in the 1st round. Seems like an early to mid 2nd pick.
Would love to grab an early 3rd as part of a trade down and then grab Jaylon smith as a redshirt candidate with an extra pick.
I’m less sold on going corner in the first. I like the grouping, but seems like corners are tougher to evaluate than other positions.
Joseph will be gone in the first