Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades
With a team already full of talent, the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to add the final pieces to what could be a title-contending roster in this year's draft.
For general manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin, that means sticking to the draft plan that has treated them so well in the past. In a study published by the Washington Post, the Steelers were rated as the top drafting team over the past 20 years.
That comes as no surprise for a team with a front office and coaching staff as stable as Pittsburgh’s. Colbert and Tomlin have formed one of the top duos in the NFL and have a proven track record in the draft.
Whether it is drafting elite talent such as David DeCastro in the first round or finding one of the best players in the league—Antonio Brown—in the sixth, the Steelers are forged in the draft.
The Steelers will look to continue this process over the course of this year’s draft as they look to upgrade their defense. Free agency was primarily used to fill holes on offense with the signing of tight end Ladarius Green and tackle Ryan Harris.
With depth in place, Colbert and Tomlin will focus on addressing the team’s biggest needs as they continue to build one of the most talented rosters in the league.
We'll keep you updated with live analysis and grades for each Steelers selection in the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Picks
1 of 8The team's pick board will keep you updated on every selection by the Steelers in the 2016 draft.
The Steelers enter the draft with seven selections after they traded a sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for kicker Josh Scobee and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Brandon Boykin.
They also acquired a seventh-round selection from the New York Giants for punter Brad Wing and were awarded a sixth-round compensatory pick.
Expect the Steelers to focus on upgrading their defense early in the draft. According to Simon A. Chester of Steelers Wire, 25 of the team’s 30 non-local predraft visitors played defense—including 18 defensive backs.
Houston cornerback William Jackson III is the hot name around Pittsburgh, as both Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review predicted he would be the Steelers’ first-round pick.
If not Jackson, safety Karl Joseph, defensive lineman Andrew Billings as well as cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Eli Apple were the likely candidates. Safety Keanu Neal was a dark-horse candidate.
No matter whom they selected, as long as it was a defensive prospect, the Steelers would be an improved team after the opening night of the draft.
Day 1
The Steelers wasted no time once they were on the clock. Almost immediately after the No. 24 selection was announced, Roger Goodell was back at the podium to announce the selection of cornerback Artie Burns.
After nearly two decades, the Steelers finally drafted a cornerback in the first round, though Burns was arguably a second-round prospect. With their top need addressed, Colbert and Tomlin can focus on adding depth to the defensive line, an outside linebacker or a safety on the second day of the draft.
Day 2
Cornerback. Safety. Defensive line.
With their first three picks, the Steelers addressed their top three needs with talented, but raw prospects. On the second day of the draft, Colbert added safety Sean Davis and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave to the defensive lineup.
Both players are physically gifted and have a ton of upside, however, will need time to develop. The coaching staff will slowly integrate each player into the lineup, but do not be surprised to see both take on a significant number of snaps by the end of the 2016 season.
As the Steelers enter Day 3 of the draft, expect them to add one more defensive back to the mix as well as a linebacker. Although there are no significant holes on offense, it is always worthwhile to add depth to the offensive line and you can never count out a receiver.
Day 3
With four selections on the final day of the draft, the Steelers can take a balanced approach after selecting three defenders in the first three rounds. They finally addressed their offense in the fourth round by adding depth to the offensive line with Jerald Hawkins out of LSU.
Without a selection in the fifth round, the Steelers came back with the athletic linebacker Travis Feeney from Washington in the sixth. With the first of their two selections in the seventh, the Steelers selected wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers out of Houston. Pittsburgh's final selection was inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich from Temple.
As expected, Colbert and Tomlin addressed the defensive side of the ball in a big way. They selected five defenders compared to only two offensive players. It was clear that the Steelers wanted to address their biggest needs rather than take the best players available.
Round 1, Pick No. 25: Artie Burns, CB, Miami
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The Steelers were one pick away from William Jackson III, but the Cincinnati Bengals swooped in and grabbed the Houston cornerback.
With Mackensie Alexander and Andrew Billings on the board, Pittsburgh appeared to be in good shape, but it made a surprise move and selected cornerback Artie Burns from Miami.
As the selection was made, you could hear a collective groan from Steelers Nation. Despite selecting a cornerback in the first round for the first time since 1997, it wasn’t the player most wanted. Instead, the team picked an athletic but very raw prospect, as explained by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
"While his tape is average and technique can be nonexistent at times, NFL teams often draft on traits at the cornerback spot and assume that coaching will take care of the rest. Burns has length, speed, ball skills and abundant potential. Keep in mind he was limited in his growth at the position thanks to a spring track schedule, but he is still in the infant stages of reaching his pro potential.
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Although it is easy to dwell on his untapped potential, we must remember that Burns has good size (6’0”, 193 lbs) and long arms (33 ¼"). He developed into a talented playmaker last year at Miami and finished the season with six interceptions.
Burns has all of the physical traits that teams want in a top cornerback, but he will need good coaching and time to develop into a starter.
For a team that is ready to compete for a Super Bowl, a developmental prospect in the first round wasn’t necessarily the best option.
It is worth noting that the Seattle Seahawks traded the No. 26 selection to the Denver Broncos. The Steelers should have explored this move, as they likely could have landed Burns while accumulating more selections.
Grade: B-
Round 2, Pick 58: Sean Davis, S, Maryland
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After selecting a cornerback in the first round, the Steelers continued to address their defensive backfield by selecting safety Sean Davis from Maryland.
The 6’1” and 201-pound Davis had experience at both cornerback and safety at Maryland. The Steelers plan to use him at safety, but defensive backs coach Carnell Lake will consider him at cornerback if needed, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Although Ohio State safety Vonn Bell was still available, the Steelers elected to draft Davis, who was the top safety on their draft board, according to Lake (via Dulac):
"Lake said he had Davis as highest rated safety in the draft. Said no other DB in draft had as many career tackles as Davis (309)
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 30, 2016
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While Bell is a more polished prospect, Davis has a bigger upside with his combination of size and speed. He is a physical defender who finished his career with over 300 tackles. During his senior year, he had three interceptions and forced five fumbles.
While his production speaks for itself, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com brilliantly described Davis in his scouting report: “Davis speaks English, French, Chinese...and the language of pain. At least that's what opposing ball-carriers feel as he flies into them with reckless abandon.”
Pain is exactly what the Steelers want to see from Davis once he steps onto the field. He has the chance to become an intimidating factor in the defensive backfield with his hard hits and attacking style. He learned to love this style of play after watching one of his idols play football.
"I just love hitting," Davis told Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider. "I watched Sean Taylor my whole life. I mimic my play after him."
Defensive coordinator Keith Butler will love the physical presence his new safety will bring to the secondary. However, it may take some time before Davis contributes on a regular basis. Although he is developed as a hitter, he still needs work in coverage.
Davis is still a relatively raw prospect, but he has tremendous upside with his natural athleticism. Davis could develop into a very good safety if his skills in coverage catch up to his abilities as a hitter.
Grade: B
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Round 3, Pick 89: Javon Hargrave, DL, South Carolina State
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As expected, the Steelers continued to add talent to their defense. With their final selection on Day 2, they selected defensive linemen Javon Hargrave from South Carolina State.
Hargrave is an exciting prospect after dominating at the FCS level. Over his final two years, he finished with 114 tackles, 46 tackles for a loss and 29.5 sacks. However, a six-sack game against Bethune-Cookman caught the attention of NFL scouts.
“That one game changed my life—it really did,” Hargrave told the Salisbury Post. “Since that game, lots of scouts have come around to watch me. That game was the spark for a lot of good things that have happened to me.”
Hargrave will compete with Daniel McCullers for playing time, but he figures to play a role in the defensive line rotation as a rookie. At 6’1” and 309 pounds, he has enough size and strength to compete at the NFL level, but his quickness is what will allow him to develop into a quality player.
Part of the reason Hargrave made a living in the backfield was his quickness off the snap. He will not be able to survive on this alone in the NFL and will have to refine his technique. That shouldn’t be a problem as he will be under defensive line coach John Mitchell's tutelage.
Although Hargrave hasn’t stepped onto an NFL field, he at least held his own against some of the top draft prospects in postseason bowl games, per Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus: “Adding a different style of defensive lineman up front, Hargrave brings an up-the-field presence that can pressure the quarterback. Despite playing at the FCS level, he played well every time he was on a bigger stage, including both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.”
Expect the Steelers to develop Hargrave as a three-down player. He is capable defending the run and rushing the passer, which will make him a valuable asset to the defense. He will be a role player early on, but once he develops, the Steelers will have one of the NFL's best defensive lines.
Grade: A
Round 4, Pick 123: Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
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With an early focus on the defense, the Steelers turned their attention to the offense on Day 3 of the draft. Always in search of depth for the offensive line, Pittsburgh selected versatile tackle Jerald Hawkins out of LSU.
The Steelers' depth at tackle was relatively thin with Marcus Gilbert, Alejandro Villanueva and Ryan Harris. Mike Adams is also in the mix, but he must prove that he can return to form after missing the 2015 season with an injured back.
Hawkins started two seasons at right tackle before moving to left tackle for his junior year. His experience in a pro-style offense against SEC competition should help him transition to the NFL. In 2015, he finished with the fourth-fewest pressures allowed among draft-eligible tackles from the SEC, per Pro Football Focus.
Hawkins has a great frame (6’6” and 305 lbs) and long arms (34 ¼"). He is knocked for his lack of knee bend but does good work with his hands and feet. However, he does have plenty of upside and potential as a starter, according to Taylor Wright of Pro Football Focus:
"J. Hawkins to Steelers,Great Body Superb 1st Level blocker. Can struggle in space and use of hands his well in pass protection. Great Future
— Taylor Wright (@PFF_TWright) April 30, 2016
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"J. Hawkins can struggle in space at times but his athleticism and strength give him a great ceiling and he is battled tested out of LSU
— Taylor Wright (@PFF_TWright) April 30, 2016
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The Steelers will likely keep Hawkins at left tackle—the same position he started at last year—and allow him to get comfortable before giving him experience on the right side. He is exclusively a backup this year but does provide offensive line coach Mike Munchak a talented prospect to mold into a future starter.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 220: Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington
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The Steelers continued with their defensive theme in the sixth round when they selected linebacker Travis Feeney out of Washington.
The 6’4” and 230-pound Feeney used an explosive combine to show that he is one of the most athletic linebackers in the draft. He was a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.50 seconds), vertical jump (40 inches), broad jump (130 inches) and 60-yard shuttle (11.71 seconds).
Besides his athleticism, Feeney is coming off the most productive season of his college career with eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. The Steelers will likely use him at outside linebacker, where they can take advantage of his speed and ability as a pass-rusher.
Although he has the speed to play from the outside, Feeney lacks the size and strength that the Steelers typically look for to set the edge against the run. While he lacks in that area, he is a capable option in coverage. If outside linebacker isn’t a good fit, the Steelers could shift him to the inside.
Feeney would like to play on the outside but will do anything the coaches ask of him, via Seahawks.com:
"It’s kind of a case of wherever they want me to play. I’m open to everything. I want to an outside backer, I want to be covering, I want to be playing hook drops, I want to be covering tight ends. But whatever they want me to do, I don’t mind getting after the quarterback either. I wouldn’t mind pass rushing some plays and getting after it. A mix of that would be great for me.
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Feeney is the type of athletic option the Steelers must continue to focus on drafting in the late rounds. Even if he never develops into a starter, he will provide valuable depth and will be an instant contributor on special teams.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 229: DeMarcus Ayers, WR, Houston
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The days of Antonio Brown returning punts may be over. With their first of two selections in the seventh round, the Steelers selected wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers of Houston.
At just 5’9” and 182 pounds, Ayers will be limited to the slot in the NFL. He also timed slow in the 40-yard dash, with a time of 4.72 seconds at the combine and 4.66 seconds at his pro day. His college production was limited early in his career, but he had a breakout season last year with 97 receptions for 1,221 yards and six touchdowns.
Ayers did his best work out of the slot and caught most of his passes over the middle of the field. However, the Steelers didn’t draft him for his work at receiver but rather as a returner.
Ayers averaged 22.7 yards in two years as a kick returner. Last year, he switched to punt returns and averaged 10.5 yards on 28 returns. He also scored one touchdown. Special teams coach Danny Smith stated that he was the best returner in the draft, via the team’s official Twitter page:
"Smith: "We had him listed as the No. 1 punt returner."
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 30, 2016 "
Smith did not mention Ayers as a possible option to return punts, which makes his potential role on the Steelers limited. Given his limited upside as a receiver, he will have a tough time making the final roster unless he is a star at returning punts during the preseason.
Grade: C-
Round 7, Pick 246: Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
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The Steelers went with a throwback football player with their final selection of the 2016 NFL draft.
From character to work ethic to football IQ, Tyler Matakevich has all of the intangibles that coaches love in their players. He was the 2015 Bronco Nagurski Award winner as the nation’s best defensive player and was named to the All-American Athletic Conference first team three times.
Matakevich finished his senior season with 138 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and five interceptions. He also had more than 100 tackles in each of his four seasons at Temple. Despite his college production, he lacks the speed and strength to dominate at the NFL level.
Although his upside is limited in the NFL, Matakevich was the leader of Temple’s defense. He will use the traits he developed while in school to succeed at the NFL level.
“Mat is the heart and soul of that defense, everything goes through him,” an NFC North executive told NFLDraftScout.com during the 2015 season. “That's something that shows up on film and during practice. He knows his physical limitations but works like the devil to max out all of his senses. You don't have as much production as he has just by accident.”
Matakevich has an uphill battle to make a mark on the Steelers defense. Instead, he must make his impact early on special teams. Everything about the way he plays indicates that he will succeed in this area.
Coaches will take notice of his strong work ethic, and given time to develop, he has the potential to start on the inside eventually. In fact, he would be a solid stay-at-home inside linebacker to play alongside the athletic Ryan Shazier. At worst, Matakevich will provide solid depth behind the starters.
Grade: B
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