What the Steelers need
Secondary help, defensive tackle
The Steelers are a good football team, so their areas of improvement are not extremely wide. However, as we all saw in 2015, the secondary needs a lot of help, and this draft class is a good place to get it. I have been saying for the past year that the Steelers need help in the secondary; I still stand by that sentiment. Yes, the Steelers lost an important part of their defense this winter when Steve McLendon signed with the New York Jets, leaving the Steel Curtin without a nose tackle. However, with the deep core of talented corners in this draft class, the Steelers can't afford not to draft one of them. The defensive tackle is an important position, but not nearly as important as it was in the days of Mean Joe and the boys. The NFL is all about passing, and corners are more important than ever, and the Steelers have to get with the times. Therefore, in the first round, Kevin Colbert, and Mike Tomlin need to come to an agreement on drafting a cornerback with pick #25.
Now that we know what the Steelers should take, let's look at who the Steelers should take.
Secondary help, defensive tackle
The Steelers are a good football team, so their areas of improvement are not extremely wide. However, as we all saw in 2015, the secondary needs a lot of help, and this draft class is a good place to get it. I have been saying for the past year that the Steelers need help in the secondary; I still stand by that sentiment. Yes, the Steelers lost an important part of their defense this winter when Steve McLendon signed with the New York Jets, leaving the Steel Curtin without a nose tackle. However, with the deep core of talented corners in this draft class, the Steelers can't afford not to draft one of them. The defensive tackle is an important position, but not nearly as important as it was in the days of Mean Joe and the boys. The NFL is all about passing, and corners are more important than ever, and the Steelers have to get with the times. Therefore, in the first round, Kevin Colbert, and Mike Tomlin need to come to an agreement on drafting a cornerback with pick #25.
Now that we know what the Steelers should take, let's look at who the Steelers should take.
What Mel Kiper thinks
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
''The secondary is the top priority in this draft if I'm drafting, and the availability of Apple late in Round 1 makes him an easy call. He has length, outstanding athletic ability and a willingness to tackle. He needs to refine his cover skills, but that goes for just about any young cornerback, and Apple has tremendous talent.''
- Mel Kiper as stated in his three-round mock draft article for ESPN.Com http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2016/insider/story/_/id/15189670/mock-draft-2016-nfl-draft
I like Eli Apple. He is what Kiper says he is, and played a massive role in Ohio State's 2014 National Title team. However, as Kiper said, he does need to refine his cover skills, and for that, I think the Steelers should pass on him.
What Chirs Burke (NFL.com) thinks
Karl Joseph, WVU
This is an interesting idea. Joseph's style of play could be described in 4 words: Balls to the wall. The man is reckless, and will do whatever it takes to make a play. Before missing most of his senior season at WVU due to a knee injury that was not a result of careless play, Joseph turned in a fantastic career in the Blue and Gold, which included starting every game for the Eeers as a Freshman and Sophmore and being an All-Big 12 performer as a Junior. Three things would make me advise the Steelers not to draft Joseph.
The first is his durability. Sure, one should not throw a red flag every time a college kid gets hurt, but the way Joseph plays makes injury seem more likely, and the Steelers can not afford an injury prone career. Second is that the Steelers don't need a safety as much as they need a corner. Will Allen and Mike Mitchell are both veterans and are by no means superstars, but they outperformed whatever Pittsburgh threw on the edges last year, and are not as big of an issue as the corners are. The third is that he went to WVU, which has not worked well for the Steelers in the past (see Amos Zereoue and Ryan Mundy).
What Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) thinks
Mackensie Alexsander, CB, Clemson
Flash, Brash and hella talented. That's Mackensie Alexander for you. The Clemson corner played a big part in getting the Tigers to the National Title game in 2015. Alexander is a shutdown corner, which is something the Steelers might like to have. Although many college football fans were not fond of Alexander's confidence, being confident is a trait that every athlete needs, and if it needs to get to the point of being arrogont, so be it. Alexsander would be a solid choice at #25. The problem is, I do not expect him to drop that far. I have a gut feeling that Oakland will draft him at #14.
Who I think
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Jackson is similar to Eli Apple. Both have great upside, but both struggle to play press coverage. However, I'd like the Steelers to draft Jackson over Apple because
1. I like the small school guy
2. Jackson will be better at reading a QB's mind
Jackson is a little small, but he is quick. He struggles with press coverage at times, but that is an area that can get better. A lot of the NFL Draft is all about gut feel, and my gut tells me the Steelers should and will go with Jackson. But you never know.
Thanks for reading, and happy draft day.
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
''The secondary is the top priority in this draft if I'm drafting, and the availability of Apple late in Round 1 makes him an easy call. He has length, outstanding athletic ability and a willingness to tackle. He needs to refine his cover skills, but that goes for just about any young cornerback, and Apple has tremendous talent.''
- Mel Kiper as stated in his three-round mock draft article for ESPN.Com http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2016/insider/story/_/id/15189670/mock-draft-2016-nfl-draft
I like Eli Apple. He is what Kiper says he is, and played a massive role in Ohio State's 2014 National Title team. However, as Kiper said, he does need to refine his cover skills, and for that, I think the Steelers should pass on him.
What Chirs Burke (NFL.com) thinks
Karl Joseph, WVU
This is an interesting idea. Joseph's style of play could be described in 4 words: Balls to the wall. The man is reckless, and will do whatever it takes to make a play. Before missing most of his senior season at WVU due to a knee injury that was not a result of careless play, Joseph turned in a fantastic career in the Blue and Gold, which included starting every game for the Eeers as a Freshman and Sophmore and being an All-Big 12 performer as a Junior. Three things would make me advise the Steelers not to draft Joseph.
The first is his durability. Sure, one should not throw a red flag every time a college kid gets hurt, but the way Joseph plays makes injury seem more likely, and the Steelers can not afford an injury prone career. Second is that the Steelers don't need a safety as much as they need a corner. Will Allen and Mike Mitchell are both veterans and are by no means superstars, but they outperformed whatever Pittsburgh threw on the edges last year, and are not as big of an issue as the corners are. The third is that he went to WVU, which has not worked well for the Steelers in the past (see Amos Zereoue and Ryan Mundy).
Mackensie Alexsander, CB, Clemson
Flash, Brash and hella talented. That's Mackensie Alexander for you. The Clemson corner played a big part in getting the Tigers to the National Title game in 2015. Alexander is a shutdown corner, which is something the Steelers might like to have. Although many college football fans were not fond of Alexander's confidence, being confident is a trait that every athlete needs, and if it needs to get to the point of being arrogont, so be it. Alexsander would be a solid choice at #25. The problem is, I do not expect him to drop that far. I have a gut feeling that Oakland will draft him at #14.
Who I think
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Jackson is similar to Eli Apple. Both have great upside, but both struggle to play press coverage. However, I'd like the Steelers to draft Jackson over Apple because
1. I like the small school guy
2. Jackson will be better at reading a QB's mind
Jackson is a little small, but he is quick. He struggles with press coverage at times, but that is an area that can get better. A lot of the NFL Draft is all about gut feel, and my gut tells me the Steelers should and will go with Jackson. But you never know.
Thanks for reading, and happy draft day.
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