Steelers 2015 NFL Offseason Draft Scouting Guide

Now that the 2014 NFL season has ended for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the focus can now shift toward the 2015 NFL draft. There’s no bigger event in all of sports that doesn’t involve a competition than the draft. The collective of 32 fanbases spend several months pouring over players as best they can, in the hope that they can form cogent choices about who is best for their team.

Unfortunately, the random nature of the draft means that many fans don’t get the prospect they want and, for some franchises, hilarity ensues. Pittburgh’s fanbase is smart and informed, albeit sometimes overly loyal to tradition. This offseason there are some pretty clear needs, but finding consensus on that, or the players that fit best will be a challenge.

So, to try and ease some of the work that is involved with looking at all these prospects, I bring you this Steelers guide to the NFL draft. These are the top prospects in terms of fit at all the positions the Steelers could consider targeting. The way the lists will look will vary by position. Some spots, like cornerback, will get the full breakdown of top studs to deep sleepers.

Other positions like running back or safety are relegated to more project and later-round guys. And some positions aren’t on the list at all because the Steelers are in a good spot there, or would be better off seeking players in free agency.

The Picks

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Although the exact draft order for all seven rounds is not set, we do have a pretty good idea of the range where the Steelers are going to select. At this point, all seven of the Steelers primary draft choices should fall in the 22-24 pick range in each round.

This projection does not include any potential compensatory picks that the Steelers could be awarded. Those picks are given to teams who lose a greater number of free agents than they sign, and is used as a way to reward the disparity. Compensatory picks fall at the ends of rounds four through seven, and cannot be part of any trades.

• First Round: Pick No. 22 
• Second Round: Pick No. 56
• Third Round: Pick No. 87
• Fourth Round: TBD
• Fifth Round TBD
• Sixth Round: TBD
• Seventh Round: TBD

1. Cornerback

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If there is an area the Steelers need to address in terms of their cornerbacks, it is in how they compete. How many times during the season did we see wide receivers making catches almost completely uncontested? Whoever the Steelers bring in to compete at cornerback, they need to be able to fight for the football and make life hard on opposing wide receivers.

This means that some priorities are excellent length, acceleration in and out of breaks and an aggressive nature. The Steelers must find players who can come in and command the respect of an opposing quarterback, as well as the wide receiver they are covering. This would give the defense much more freedom in how they apply pressure and the role of their safeties.

Day 1 Stud

Alex Carter, Stanford

Stanford's Alex Carter has all the physical traits you look for in an NFL cornerback. Carter is 6’0” and 200 pounds with a muscular athletic build. He’s got long arms and active hands, and he excels in getting up and jamming a wide receiver. Those free-release plays really hurt this defense in 2014, as wide receivers were able to get behind the secondary far too easily.

Carter is also a willing run defender and sound tackler. His skills in zone coverage are less refined, and he needs to work on his timing, but still he makes an interesting package for what the Steelers like to do on defense.

Day 2 Project

Quinten Rollins, Miami (Ohio)

If not for the fact that cornerback Quinten Rollins plays at Miami (Ohio), he might be considered among the elite of this class. Physically, he’s a clone of Carter and has been incredibly productive during his time in college.

Rollins is more athlete than football player at this point, but he appears very coachable. His backpedal needs some work, but he’s so fluid on the field he makes up for some of those technical shortcomings. His speed is also very good, and this really shows up on film. Everything Rollins does just screams star. Nevertheless, his lack of experience shows up in lapses in coverage and missed assignments. His ability to impact early is less than Carter, which puts him a notch below.

Day 3 Sleeper

Julian Wilson, Oklahoma

Sometimes, doing a lot of things in college can work against you. In the case of Oklahoma’s Julian Wilson, that might be true. Wilson looks the part of a top-flight defensive back, but because he has been moved around so much, some of his skills are untapped and untested.

However, for the Steelers specifically, the fact that Wilson can come in and play safety and eventually transition to cornerback is a huge bonus. Wilson is a downhill player who hits like a truck and is a real intimidator on the field. Wilson is a solid zone player, and his speed shows up every week.

Wilson’s doesn’t do a great job tracking the football in the air, and he can get tricked by clever quarterbacks. However, he’s a very good athlete and can do some damage with the ball in his hands.

2. Outside Linebacker

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If you don’t think that improving the secondary is the top priority in the draft, you probably think improving the pass rush is. There’s a real possibility that there will be significant turnover at the position, so if it isn’t the most pressing need, it’s definitely in the team picture.

Day 1 Stud

Vic Beasley, Clemson

If the entire league drafted off my rankings, there is no way Clemson edge player Vic Beasley is on the board when the Steelers pick. The Steelers have made do with hard-working effort guys on the edge the past several seasons, and that has to change. Beasley is a real burst-and-bend pass-rusher. His balance is ridiculous and at times it looks like there’s no way he can stay on his feet as he turns the corner, but he does.

So, why would he fall? Beasley is a bit undersized at 235 pounds, which could limit him to a pass-rush specialist role. To that I say so what? In a 3-4, if I can have one guy I can trot out and know they can beat their man off the snap on a consistent basis, I draft them. There isn’t a linebacker on this team who can make anything close to that claim right now.

Day 2 Project

Markus Golden, Missouri

If you want a more traditional 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker, Missouri’s Markus Golden might be more your cup of tea. Golden lacks the length and lean cut of some other pass-rushers in this draft, but he is strong, compact and thick. He is also 25 pounds heavier than Beasley at the same height.

This benefits him in the sense that Golden would be much more sound in run support as he can set the edge and use his strength to disengage from blockers. On the other side, all that size and strength means there’s a drop in speed and quickness. Could Golden be a James Harrison type of figure on defense? Perhaps, and if the Steelers believe that, he’d make a nice pick in the third round.

Day 3 Sleeper

Jermauria Rasco, LSU

For all the big names that LSU has produced in recent years, you’ve probably never heard of defensive end Jermauria Rasco. That’s because for all this talent, he was in the unenviable position of being buried on a talented depth chart. Fortunately for Steelers fans that could mean Rasco could slide some and end up a serious value pick.

Rasco is a notch below some of the former athletes at LSU, but in terms of polish, Rasco can more than hold his own. Rasco is a very balanced edge player, which would be great for a team like Pittsburgh who expects their outside linebackers to do a little of everything. Rasco has been steadily productive during his time at LSU, even though he has had to spend the bulk of it as part of a rotation.

3. Free Safety

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Unfortunately, the safety class for 2015 is rather weak. The top prospect, Alabama’s Landon Collins is more strong safety than free safety, and he will be entering the league already dealing with nagging injuries. So for safety, I’m going to switch things up and give you three mid-round cornerbacks who could be converted to excellent NFL free safeties.

• Ronald Darby, Florida State 
• Ladarius Gunter, Miami
• Quandre Diggs, Texas

What these players all share are bodies that look like stout NFL safeties, aggressive attitudes and the ability to finish plays. The downside to all of their games has to do with inconsistency in coverage. The physical tools these players possess are enough that NFL teams need to find ways to get them on the field. The best way to do that is in either a single-high free safety, or as part of a tandem in the Cover-2.

In particular, Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby has some elite NFL safety potential. Unfortunately, his draft stock has taken a hit from inconsistent man coverage and a loaded cornerback class. Any of these players would be nice additions because of their broad skills and ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

4. Running Back

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This 2015 running back class is absolutely loaded. This is a real blessing for the Steelers because while they need a running back to spell star running back Le’Veon Bell, because of how deep this group is, there is no rush to draft one.

Day 2 Project

Mike Davis, South Carolina

Getting South Carolina running back Mike Davis would be a bit risky. Not because he’s a bad player. In fact, quite the contrary. Davis is not only a powerful runner with a lower center of gravity, but he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Would the Steelers really use what would likely be a second-round pick on a running back? Perhaps not, but if they do, Davis would be the guy.

Day 2 Project

Javorius Allen, USC

The reality of the running back situation came to a head at the end of the season when Bell went down with injury. The lack of depth was woeful and was a part of the Steelers' eventual loss in the playoffs.

If the Steelers want a kid who can come in and compete right away with a very similar build and running style as Bell, USC’s Javorius “Buck” Allen is a great pick. Allen is a downhill runner who finishes every run. Allen is also a very natural pass-catcher and is good in the open field once he has the ball in his hands.

Day 3 Sleeper

Storm Woods, Oregon State

Woods’ draft stock can’t get much lower than it is now. The Oregon State offensive line stunk in 2014 making the offense look dismal by comparison. However, don’t rule out Woods as a solid pro. Woods shows nice patience and vision.

He lets his blocks set up and then shows excellent burst through the hole. Woods is also an adept receiver out of the backfield, which fits the Steelers system very well. Compared to the other talent on the depth chart, Woods would have no problems making the team.

5. Tight End

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Oh man, how great would it be if the Steelers needed a receiving tight end in a class where there were actually some great ones to consider? I know I am being subtle, so let me be more blunt. This tight end group stinks. However, if the Steelers are fully committed to adding a tight end, here are some options.

Day 1 Stud

Maxx Williams, Minnesota

Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams saves this class by declaring as a junior. Williams is not going to wow anyone with over-the-top athleticism, but he is an incredibly productive and efficient player. Williams runs great routes, uses his frame well and has incredibly strong hands. Williams would definitely be a great addition, but when you consider it would cost a first-round pick, that would be a questionable move.

Day 2 Project

Nick O’Leary, Florida State

There’s something I just don’t like about Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary’s game. His size isn’t ideal and his athleticism is marginal. O’Leary has been productive during his time at Florida State, but how much of that can be attributed to the amount of talent around him? It’s hard to say, but if the Steelers want an H-back player, they could do worse than O’Leary.

Day 3 Sleeper

Nick Boyle, Delaware

If the Steelers want a big target around the red zone, they could do worse than Delaware’s Nick Boyle. At 6’6” and 270 pounds, Boyle is a mass of humanity. He hasn’t been the most productive player in college, but he’s got good hands and can find ways to get open. Boyle is also a strong run-blocker, which is something the Steelers certainly covet.

6. Nose Tackle

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I still wake up in the night with cold sweats at the thought of another running back cutting back on the Steelers defense and gashing it for big yards. Meanwhile the Steelers never found any consistency from any of the nose tackles on the roster. This isn’t a significant need as all of those players are still under contract, but there’s no harm in considering an upgrade.

Day 1 Stud

Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

Finding a player who can truly dominate from the 0-technique out of college is hard. Many times, players have to grow into the position from a more traditional defensive tackle role. However, Oklahoma’s Jordan Phillips does not fall into that category. Phillips is a massive athlete with tremendous power and quickness. His best bet might be as a one-gap tackle in a 4-3, but I’d have no qualms lining this 6’6”, 334-pound man up right over the center and let him go to work.

Day 2 Project

Joey Mbu, Houston

Like I said, things really drop off at the defensive tackle spot. Houston defensive tackle Joey Mbu is a nice player with good size to anchor at the nose. Mbu isn’t going to wow anyone with his ability to get into the backfield and rush the passer, but he’s good with his hands, and can work down the line and finish against the run game.

Day 3 Sleeper

Terry Williams, DT East Carolina

The reason that East Carolina defensive tackle Terry Williams would make a great late-round pick is because he has the ultimate body type to play nose tackle. Williams possesses exceptional leverage and power at 6’1” and 353 pounds. Similar to Mbu in that Williams isn’t going to offer much in pass defense, Williams is still a nice late-round guy strictly based on his power against the run game.