Pittsburgh Steelers' Initial 2015 Round-by-Round Draft Big Board

With only a handful of weeks until the NFL season culminates with the Super Bowl, it is time for all of the teams not fighting for the Lombardi Trophy to turn their attention to getting better. This entails analyzing the salary cap, assessing current free agents and building that big board for the NFL draft.

The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in a rebound season in 2014. After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, the Steelers rallied to finish 11-5 and secured the AFC North crown. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens. So, for all of its success, it finds itself watching the playoffs unfold and trying to solve how to get better next season.

This is going to be an initial big board for each round of the draft from a Steelers point of view. Keep in mind that while many draft pundits (myself included) will create positional rankings and big boards for the entire league, a team-specific board is a very different monster.

Often, fans will want prospects that are talented but don’t fit the scheme of their particular team. This big board will take into consideration not only the overall talent of these prospects but also where they are good fits for the Steelers, specifically.

All player stats and data are courtesy of the college football section of sports-reference.com.

1st Round

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There are really only two positions the Steelers need to target in the first round. Cornerback and outside linebacker were the two positions in which the Steelers struggled to get consistent performances in 2014. With both positions very deep in this draft, Pittsburgh should have some excellent prospects to pick from.

Keep in mind with this round in particular that with the Steelers selecting No. 22, some prospects are simply not on this board because the likelihood of them being available is so slim. Yes, if Nebraska defensive end/linebacker Randy Gregory is somehow on the board at 22, the Steelers should select him; however, he is not included on this board.

Vic Beasley, DE/LB Clemson

Clemson defensive end/linebacker Vic Beasley is one of the most explosive edge players in the entire draft. Beasley’s ability to bend and turn the corner is as good as any in this class. Beasley finds himself a notch below the top of this group, based primarily on his ability to defend the run; however, for the Steelers, Beasley could be part of a rotation and come in with fresh legs on passing downs where he could just wreak havoc.

I have been asked about a trade up to get a pass-rusher. Philosophically, I do not like trading up unless it is to get a player who can be truly transcendent. For all of his skills, Beasley isn’t a guy you mortgage the future for, so if he comes off of the board early, that is just another player who could slide.

Marcus Peters, CB Washington

If the Steelers choose to target a cornerback in the first round, there is no player that combines overall skill and scheme fit than Washington’s Marcus Peters. Peters is longer than he is tall, and he really competes. Peters is an excellent press-man corner with elite ball skills. He would allow the defense to be much more aggressive in its blitzes because his man will be spoken for.

However, Peters will slide because of some off-field concerns. Yes, Peters was dismissed from the Washington team; however, the circumstances surrounding it are murky. If Peters can clear the air and his name in the process, this pick is a no-brainer.

Alex Carter, CB Stanford

While Peters is the high-profile cornerback in this draft, Stanford’s Alex Carter might be the safest. Being a safe pick can be the kiss of death for a prospect, but in Carter’s case, it is appropriate. Carter is bigger than Peters, and he runs just as well. His coverage skills and run stuffing are a notch below, but his ceiling is high.

Carter is a high-IQ player who can be plugged into a starting lineup for five years without worry. He might never be among the elite in NFL cornerbacks, but he would be a huge upgrade over anyone currently on the roster.

Dante Fowler Jr., DE/LB Florida

Should the Steelers miss out on Beasley; there is a chance that it allows Florida pass-rushing hybrid Dante Fowler Jr. to fall. Fowler is an interesting contrast to Beasley in that he’s much bigger. Beasley weighs in at 235 pounds while Fowler is 261. This is a good news/bad news situation from a Steelers point of view.

Fowler is not the explosive pass-rusher Beasley is, but his ability to beat his man with strength rather than speed is enticing. Fowler’s added beef also makes him inherently better against the run, meaning more snaps on the field. How viable would Fowler be in the Steelers' defensive scheme? With the potential changes coming, Fowler’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways would definitely be a draw for the team.

Shaq Thompson, LB Washington

If Pittsburgh wants to get the best athlete on the board and hope it can coach him up, Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson is the easy pick. Thompson looks like a heat-seeking missile on the field, displaying a level of speed and quickness that is a step faster than anyone Pittsburgh has playing on the outside right now.

However, if the Steelers do draft Thompson, it has to do so knowing he is a project. You cannot teach a player to be as fast and explosive as Thompson, but you hope you can teach him proper play recognition and pass-rush technique. Given the opportunity, Thompson could be the best pass-rusher to come from this draft, but it won’t be something we see right out of the gate.

Jalen Collins, CB LSU

Finishing up the first round, we take the cornerback version of Thompson. LSU’s Jalen Collins certainly passes the eyeball test for NFL cornerbacks. At 6’2” and 198 pounds, Collins is the most physically imposing of the top cornerbacks. Collins is a long, lean athlete, has great arm length and is cut low to keep him flexible in his turns.

However, from the neck up, he is still an emerging player. In studying Collins, you can see that he gets by more on his physical advantage and gifts than by proper technique. That’s not to say he cannot improve in his play recognition, but it is an assumption the Steelers would have to make. Collins is very good once the ball is in the air and is a very good tackler. Should the Steelers draft him, he could find himself as a very good free safety, later moving to cornerback.

2nd Round

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Moving into the second round, there is still plenty of talent on the board. Depending on what direction the Steelers go in with their first pick, they could target any number of spots. A pass-rushing specialist, such as Utah’s Nate Orchard, makes a ton of sense; however, if Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams slides a little, don’t be shocked if he’s the pick.

If the Steelers get their outside linebacker in the first round, Florida State’s P.J. Williams or Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson make sense to fill the cornerback void. Williams has the higher ceiling, but he struggled with consistency, while Johnson has a very thin build and might struggle with the physical nature of the NFL game.

1. Nate Orchard, DE/LB Utah
2. P.J. Williams, CB FSU
3. Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
4. Eli Harold, DE/LB Virginia
5. Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest

3rd Round

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

From this point forward, the Steelers must focus on the top player available. My favorite pick of this board would be South Carolina running back Mike Davis. The Steelers may already have star running back Le’Veon Bell, but that doesn’t matter. The lack of depth on this team became brutally evident when Bell wasn’t in the lineup.

Also, don’t rule out Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, regardless of what happens in the first two rounds. If the Steelers could add a first-round talent in the third round, it would be huge. Ekpre-Olomu is a little undersized, but he is very physical and has tremendous technique. The Steelers could do much worse than draft two cornerbacks in the first three rounds.

1. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon
2. Mike Davis, RB South Carolina
3. Markus Golden, DE/LB Missouri
4. Gerod Holliman, S Louisville
5. Quinten Rollins, CB Miami (OH)

4th Round

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As we move into the third day of the NFL draft, it is time to start hunting down great athletes and players with high potential but perhaps lacking the production to match. This is also a time when the Steelers could really steal a star with Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman. Heuerman is a forgotten player at his position because of all of the talent on Ohio State. He can run great routes, make tough catches and is an excellent blocker.

The other interesting name on the list here to note is Oregon safety Erick Dargan. Dargan is listed as a strong safety, but he has solid man-coverage skills. Oh, and he goes downhill like a runaway truck and can really finish plays. If the Steelers part ways with safety Mike Mitchell, Dargan would be a fascinating replacement.

1. Erick Dargan, S Oregon
2. Max Valles, DE/LB Virginia
3. Chris Hackett, S TCU
4. Jeff Heuerman, TE Ohio State
5. Deontay Greenberry, WR Houston

5th Round

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Honestly, while breaking down this list and looking at players with fifth-round grades, I was shocked at how interesting the talent was here. Oklahoma defensive back Julian Wilson is a cornerback/safety tweener with loads of experience but a lack of polish.

Former TCU edge player Devonte Fields was one of the top players in the country going into the draft. Then, he got the boot from the team, and no one mentioned him anymore.

If the Steelers are thinking less risky, either Stanford defensive end Henry Anderson or Oklahoma State defensive lineman James Castleman both have the look of great Pittsburgh 5-technique defensive ends: strong players with a good punch and relentless motor.

1. Devonte Fields, DE/LB TCU
2. Julian Wilson, CB/S Oklahoma
3. Henry Anderson, DE Stanford
4. Dominique Brown, RB Louisville
5. James Castleman, DT/DE Oklahoma State

6th Round

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At this point in the draft, you really have to dig to find value, but it is there. The Steelers could take a shot on former Oklahoma quarterback turned tight end Blake Bell. At 6’6” and 259 pounds, Bell is built like a tight end but with nice athletic ability and a hard-nosed running style.

The other name on this list to store away is Norfolk State defensive end Lynden Trail. Trail started his career as a highly touted recruit out of high school, who started his career in Florida. He transferred to Norfolk State after head coach Urban Meyer left, and he faded into anonymity. The move was probably a mistake, but the raw athleticism is still there. 

1. Terry Williams, DT ECU
2. Lynden Trail, DE/LB Norfolk State
3. Adrian Amos, S Penn State
4. Blake Bell, TE Oklahoma
5. Spencer Roth, P Baylor

7th Round

David Becker/Associated Press

It is hard to get hopes too high when it comes to seventh-round picks; however, there’s no harm in taking a shot on a player like quarterback Nick Marshall or Washington wide receiver Kasen Williams. Both were incredibly productive college players, but with Marshall, his quarterback skills are a question, and for Williams, he seems to have regressed.

The safest player on this list is Georgia defensive back Damian Swann. Swann has flashed truly elite coverage skills at times, and he offers plenty to work with. If he never becomes any more than a special teams specialist, Swann is worth the pick.

1. Anthony Chickillo, DE Miami
2. Damian Swann, CB Georgia
3. Zack Wagenmann, DE/LB Montana
4. Nick Marshall, QB Auburn
5. Kasen Williams, WR Washington