Best Possible Outcomes for Pittsburgh Steelers' Top 3 Draft Picks
As the NFL draft approaches, the Pittsburgh Steelers and general manager Kevin Colbert will review the countless scenarios that may occur on draft day. More specifically, he will focus on where he can address the team’s top needs.
The Steelers’ top two needs—outside linebacker and cornerback—are clear, and it’s almost certain that they will address these positions somewhere in the first three rounds. As obvious as the top two priorities are, the third-biggest need is up for debate.
Pittsburgh could use a young safety to compete with Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas. Another option could be to add talent on the offensive or defensive line, where there is an immediate need for depth and potential openings in the starting lineup as soon as next season.
While anyone could present a legitimate argument for any of those positions, tight end should take precedence over any of them. Heath Miller will turn 33 years old during the season, and the Steelers do not have another receiving threat at tight end on the roster and can take a proactive approach to prepare for the future.
Although the Steelers do not have to draft these three positions in the opening three rounds to have a successful draft, they would provide them with the best possible outcome in addressing the present and future needs of the team.
Rather than examine all of the various scenarios that the Steelers may experience on draft day, we will examine six different combinations of draft picks to address the top three needs to determine the best options for Pittsburgh.
Scenario 1: Maxx Williams, Alex Carter, Lorenzo Mauldin
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With depth at running back and wide receiver, the only skill position that the Steelers could use help at on offense is at tight end.
Maxx Williams is the top tight end in this year’s draft who is primarily a pass-catching option but has potential as a blocker. He did not time well at the combine (4.78 40-yard dash) but plays much faster—evident by his 16.2 yards per reception while at Minnesota.
The Steelers wouldn’t need Williams to start as a rookie, but rather he could offer another receiving target to open up the middle of the field as well as work in the red zone.
By shoring up the offense in the first round, Colbert would have his eyes on the defensive side of the ball in the second and third rounds.
After re-signing James Harrison on Sunday, per the team's official website, the immediate need for a rookie starter at outside linebacker lessened. Instead, the Steelers can wait and find a prospect who can sit and develop behind Harrison and Arthur Moats for one season. That will enable them to draft a cornerback in the second round.
The 6’0”, 196-pound Alex Carter has good size for a cornerback in Pittsburgh’s scheme. He plays a physical style of football and is a good tackler.
Carter would not need to start as a rookie with William Gay and Cortez Allen returning next season. Instead, he will compete with Antwon Blake for the team’s nickelback role. After a year as a role player, he will have the opportunity to compete for a job in the starting lineup.
The most interesting option in this draft is Lorenzo Mauldin.
At 6’4” and 259 pounds, he is more than big enough to hold down the strong side of Pittsburgh’s defense but will need to develop as a pass-rusher. Based on his character, this may not be much of an issue.
"He overcame a tough childhood and developed a mindset that nothing is going to stop him. He works his butt off and he wants to be great,” one NFC North scout told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. “I'm cheering hard for this kid and I'll bang the table for him when the time is right.”
Mauldin finished his career at Louisville with 20.5 sacks and was named first-team All-ACC in 2014. He will have to sit a year or two before he is ready to join the starting lineup but will make an immediate impact on special teams.
Scenario 2: Maxx Williams, Markus Golden, Senquez Golson
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If the top edge defenders and cornerbacks are off the board, there are multiple scenarios that could bring Maxx Williams to Pittsburgh. With that in mind, the Steelers must consider different options in the second and third rounds as well.
Rather than place an emphasis on the secondary, finding a pass-rusher in the second round may be the priority. Here, the Steelers could consider selecting the teammate of one of the top defenders in this year’s draft.
Pittsburgh was well-represented at Missouri’s pro day, where Mike Tomlin and three staff members watched Shane Ray and Markus Golden undergo a variety of workouts. While Ray may be out of the Steelers’ grasp in the first round, Golden is an option in the second, and they are definitely interested.
"#Mizzou OLB Markus Golden had dinner with the Steelers last night.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 19, 2015"
Golden had an impressive senior season with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss. Beyond his ability to rush the quarterback, he “can set and hold the edge against the run,” according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Without much natural athleticism, new defensive coordinator Keith Butler will have to utilize his scheme to maximize Golden’s potential as a pass-rusher.
Waiting until the third round to select a cornerback is a risky move for the Steelers, but it is one that could pay off if they were able to grab Senquez Golson.
The 5’9”, 176-pound Golson is undersized but does not let that show on the field, as he was one of the best playmakers in the nation last season. The first-team All-American had 10 of his 16 career interceptions and set a school record with 162 interception-return yards.
Although he may be limited to a nickel role in the NFL, Golson’s ball skills would be a welcomed addition to Pittsburgh’s secondary and would provide the Steelers with terrific value in the third round.
Scenario 3: Bud Dupree, Quinten Rollins, Nick O’Leary
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Pittsburgh’s defense thrives when it has a dominant pass rush, and the only way to get back to this style is to add elite-level talent at outside linebacker.
It’s unlikely that the Steelers will nab one of the top four pass-rushers in this year’s draft, but they will have numerous second-tier options to choose from at No. 22. One of the top names they will consider is Bud Dupree of Kentucky.
One of the top defensive athletes in the draft, Dupree would bring a combination of power and athleticism to the strong side of the defense. The 6’4”, 269-pound edge defender ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and has explosive ability on the field, but he needs to develop consistency.
Although Dupree finished his career with 23.5 sacks, he only had 7.5 last season, and his tape doesn’t match his potential, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. That is a risk the Steelers may take considering that their defensive system is designed for players like Dupree to thrive.
In the second round, the Steelers will take another risk, but this time with cornerback Quinten Rollins. He was a four-year starter for Miami’s basketball team but stepped onto the football field in 2014 and was named the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Rollins had seven interceptions, and the Steelers would be thrilled to draft a cornerback with his ball skills, although his straight-line speed may hold him back at cornerback.
With two risky selections in the first two rounds, Nick O’Leary would present a safer pick in the third. He is a classic tight end with the ability to stay in as a blocker yet have plus traits as a receiver. Although he is not in the tall, athletic mold that many teams crave, O’Leary (6'3", 252 lbs) can settle into a role as a No. 2 and perform at a high level.
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Scenario 4: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Ronald Darby, Jeff Heuerman
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While the previous scenario took a couple of risks early in the draft, this one delivers with classic football players, starting with Owamagbe Odighizuwa.
Odighizuwa is not particularly skilled as a pass-rusher, with only 12.5 sacks in four years, but he does have the look of a well-rounded football player. As NFL.com's Mike Huguenin notes, Mike Mayock of NFL Media called him “a freaky athlete” after impressive performances in the 40-yard dash (4.62 seconds), vertical jump (39") and broad jump (127").
Odighizuwa (6'3", 267 lbs) is big enough to hold the edge as a run defender on the strong side and has enough power to develop as a pass-rusher. He has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or as a stand-up linebacker, but he will have to develop in coverage.
Selecting Odighizuwa in the first round would represent a reach, but that would be fine if the Steelers could find a falling cornerback such as Ronald Darby in the second.
Darby has elite speed—4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash—and enough upside to eventually develop into a No. 1 cornerback. Despite his athleticism, he only has two interceptions in his career. He also is not a strong defender against the run, which can be forgiven if he lives up to his potential in coverage.
To address the tight end position, the Steelers will visit one of their favorite schools—Ohio State—to select Jeff Heuerman. At 6’5” and 254 pounds, he has the prototypical size that Pittsburgh likes in its tight ends.
Heuerman has the talent to eventually develop into a top receiving threat at tight end, even though he only had 52 career receptions. His blocking will need some work, but a year in an NFL strength program will assist with that.
Scenario 5: Marcus Peters, Danielle Hunter, Ben Koyack
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Is 2015 finally the year the Steelers bite the bullet and select a cornerback in the first round? If so, they need to select the best available option—Marcus Peters.
Although Peters’ red flags raise some concerns, his talent is too good to pass up. He has ideal size—6’0” and 197 pounds—and good enough speed—4.53 seconds in the 40—to develop into a starting cornerback.
Peters has the willingness to play aggressive at the line but also has the ball skills to locate the ball while in coverage. In three seasons at Washington, he had 27 passes defensed and 11 interceptions. Besides his talent in defending against the pass, he also is willing to step up against the run and had 9.5 tackles for a loss in his career.
Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will have to do their homework on Peters, but as long as he checks out, he could become the shutdown cornerback who's been missing from this defense.
Once they lock down a cornerback, the Steelers need to find a pass-rusher, and Danielle Hunter is an option in the second round.
Hunter was a highly productive player at LSU, where he had 73 tackles last season, including 13.5 for a loss. However, with only 1.5 sacks, can he develop into a top pass-rusher at the next level? He has the explosive ability, but his production did not match.
Ben Koyack has untapped potential after finally breaking out during his senior season at Notre Dame. In 2014, he finished the season with 30 receptions for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He must prove that he can continue to develop at the next level but has upside as a dual-threat on offense.
Scenario 6: Jalen Collins, Clive Walford, Hau’oli Kikaha
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The lack of depth at cornerback may force the Steelers to wait until the second round to address the position. It is real possibility that they’ll miss out on the top two options, which will leave them with players such as Jalen Collins or Kevin Johnson to choose from.
Both are talented players, and the Steelers couldn’t go wrong with either. But in this particular scenario, they are going to take a chance and select the bigger option. At 6’1” and 203 pounds, Collins has tremendous size to match up against the bigger receivers in the league yet does not give up much speed (4.48 in the 40-yard dash).
Collins only started 10 games in his career yet has more upside than just about any cornerback in the draft. It will be up to defensive backs coach Carnell Lake to tap into this potential and develop him into a top cornerback.
There is a distinct possibility that the Steelers will then enter the second round without a viable option at outside linebacker. Instead, a player such as Clive Walford would be a nice consolation prize.
Walford is arguably the second-best tight end in this year’s class. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com called him “a combo tight end who can help a team in the running game and through the air.” That is exactly what the Steelers want from their tight ends.
A strong blocker already, Walford could ease himself into the passing game for a year or two until Heath Miller retires. If nothing else, he will help provide the Steelers with a quality No. 2 option for years to come.
Hau’oli Kikaha was one of the most prolific defenders in college football last season. He had 14 straight games with a sack and finished the season with 19. This stat can stand on its own, but when it is combined with the 13 sacks he had in 2013, it is clear that Kikaha knows how to get to the quarterback and is a borderline steal in the third.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, all combine results are courtesy of the NFL.com Draft Tracker, all draft rankings are courtesy of Matt Miller of Bleacher Report and all roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.
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