Anthony Chickillo to Pittsburgh: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

With their second pick of the sixth round in the 2015 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Miami defensive end Anthony Chickillo. This pick represents tremendous value for the Steelers and brings a great deal of promise and versatility on this defense.

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With the 212th overall selection in the 2015 #NFLDraft we have selected Anthony Chickillo, LB, Miami. #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/XyaPFfQmbT

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 2, 2015"

As you can see, the Steelers continue to stock up on players who are going to be able to come in and have immediate impacts, in particular on defense. This is one of those drafts that we might look back on in a decade as one of the best of general manager Kevin Colbert’s tenure with Pittsburgh.

But for now, here is more on the pick. Chickillo is an interesting prospect because his body type is quite similar to that of first-round pick Bud Dupree, which makes one wonder what the plan is for this new Steelers defense. 

Before we delve into projections and positions, let’s take a closer look at Chickillo

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 267 pounds

40-Yard Dash: 4.79 seconds

Bench Press: 27 reps

Vertical Jump: 34.5”

3-Cone Drill: 7.17 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.25 seconds

Career Tackles: 124

Career Sacks: 12

Career Tackles for Loss: 17.5

Physically, Chickillo is very much a tweener. This was a disadvantage for him at Miami because coaches weren’t sure what to do with him. Because of that, he was moved all over the defensive line and was never able to really get adequate reps at any one position.

On film it's apparent that Chickillo’s strength is coming off the edge as a defensive end. He has a strong punch, shows good extension at the snap and can re-direct offensive tackles on his way to the football. He flashed in every Miami game I studied.

He doesn’t have overwhelming speed, but he displayed nice anticipation at the snap and never let up on a play. Another strength for Chickillo is that he keeps his head up, can find the football and finishes in a violent manner.

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He always showing up on the field, he has a live motor - Joey Porter on Anthony Chickillo

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 2, 2015"

Obviously, the downside to Chickillo’s game is that none of the skills you want to see from him is fully developed. He isn’t as explosive as one would like off the edge, so can he play a 3-4 outside linebacker? And because he isn’t the most fluid athlete, his ability to drop into coverage is limited, as well. But with a kid like this, nothing is out of the question.

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Colbert: we are listing Anthony Chickillo as a LB. Has the skill for LB once we get him to the right weight

— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) May 2, 2015"

That means when you look at it closely, he really only has a couple of options. Pittsburgh could keep him right where he is at 267 pounds and make him a strong-side defensive end when it goes to a 4-3 front. Chickillo can anchor against the run and is powerful enough to overwhelm a tight end, so he has value there. 

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Steelers asst Joey Porter on 6th rd pick Anthony Chickillo: "You can never have enough pass rushers the way the game is played now."

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 2, 2015"

The other option is for the Steelers to keep him tucked away, playing on special teams, and then see if they can pack some meat on his bones. If Chickillo can get up to around 285 pounds, he could be a downright scary 5-technique defensive end. Those violent hands and motor would be welcome as part of a rotation with defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt down the line.

In the final analysis, the selection of Chickillo is all about value. He is a player who isn’t sure how good he can be, and Pittsburgh isn’t sure either. However, these high-upside guys are what the third day of the draft is all about.