Steelers Draft Grade

[Badcat]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this draft class. Roman Wilson is a terrible pick IMO; straight line speed and he needs to be in motion to get him off the line. Good hands but he'll get dropped where he stands. No YAC yards from this guy. Troy is a serviceable tackle and Zach will be a decent Center, ton of grit and he's a wrestler,,,so tough as nails. Worry about Peyton Wilson's injury proneness, if he's healthy, what a steal in the fourth. the rest was Meh for me.

Initial reaction of course, waiting to see what they do in camp. Giddy Up!

 

[SteelerFan448]

Lets say Fautanu cannot beat Moore and becomes a G. The Steelers will have drafted 4 of 5 OL within the past 370 days if McCormick can also start. That means an inexpensive OL for 3+ years, above recent quality, and the ability keep 2/3 for second contracts based on results.

The potential of a trade for a top WR like Sutton now makes more sense because the O looks to be "under budget" for the next couple years, depending on Fields deal.

I would have liked another CB/WR/DL in the 4th, but really like the idea of a young, talented OL augmented with a few vets....really wish Big Dot stayed and Moore left.

Time will tell....

If Fautanu doesn't beat out Dan Moore for a tackle position he is absolutely not going to beat James Daniels or Isaac Seumalo for a starting guard spot.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this draft class. Roman Wilson is a terrible pick IMO; straight line speed and he needs to be in motion to get him off the line. Good hands but he'll get dropped where he stands. No YAC yards from this guy. Troy is a serviceable tackle and Zach will be a decent Center, ton of grit and he's a wrestler,,,so tough as nails. Worry about Peyton Wilson's injury proneness, if he's healthy, what a steal in the fourth. the rest was Meh for me.

Initial reaction of course, waiting to see what they do in camp. Giddy Up!

Who are your picks?

 

[Confluence]

If Fautanu doesn't beat out Dan Moore for a tackle position he is absolutely not going to beat James Daniels or Isaac Seumalo for a starting guard spot.

Right?
So now the Steelers have what looks like 7 starters competing for 5 spots. Feel badly for Anderson and Herbig

 

[Stlrs4Life]

A+ Overall grade!

 

[CoolieMan]

Mike Tomlin said Fautanu was going to be a tackle

I will take his judgement and that of the scouts and GM over the message board analyists who think they know better

 

[Litos]

Mike Tomlin said Fautanu was going to be a tackle

I will take his judgement and that of the scouts and GM over the message board analyists who think they know better

So you mean they aren't going to move him to Center? ...

 

[SteelerFan448]

So you mean they aren't going to move him to Center? ...

Competition between Fauntanu, Frazier, McCormick, Daniels, and Herbig at center.

 

[CoolieMan]

So you mean they aren't going to move him to Center? ...

not day 1

 

[slashsteel]

not day 1

Not day 1
Not day 2
Not eating ham and eggs
Not even if you turn blue
Not even if you win the lotto
Not even in a luxury auto
Not even if I close my eyes and count to ten
Not ever ever for the win

 

[Hypocycloids]

I'll wait a couple of years before grading this draft. I want to know how they perform, not how we hope they perform.
On paper and in college highlights they look great but so did Bush and the rest of the busts/players that didn't live up to their perceived potential.
That said, I'm pretty happy with the Steeler's picks and look forward to seeing them in real play!

Thats cheating!
Why wait a couple of years? Why not one year, why not 3 or 4?
The only time to grade a draft is now.

But then again, I've never thought of draft grades as a way of predicting how good a player may perform down the road anyway.
I've always thought the object of grading a draft is a combination of how well a team filled its needs, the quality a college player drafted, or "steals" teams were able to take advantage of.....stuff like that.

So there' really is no wrong or right grade, it's about how you feel the day after the draft...well, except that anyone who feels this draft gets a D or F has got a screw loose.

From what I've read on these players I knew nothing about, I grade this draft an A.

 

[Litos]

Competition between Fauntanu, Frazier, McCormick, Daniels, and Herbig at center.

Yeap, we can put Dan Moore there to compete too, hell, let's try little Heyward there, that meatball is a Jack of all trades

 

[Badcat]

Who are your picks?

I dont have picks. I'm a casual fan who gets to arm chair QB what the professionals do, just like you and Mel Kiper JR.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I dont have picks. I'm a casual fan who gets to arm chair QB what the professionals do, just like you and Mel Kiper JR.

That's what I was asking. If you got to be the GM, who would you have picked instead?

 

[topseed]

1) B+
Fautanu's injury history scared the hell out of me initially, but everything I've watched is really impressive. They'll move Jones back to LT where he belongs, and Fautanu will learn to play RT, a process made easier since he'll still be operating opposite of the QB's blind side.

2) A+
Loved Frazier from the first day I saw him play in person at the WVU/Oklahoma State game. Exactly what the Steelers needed, and also put my mind at ease that they were possibly considering moving Fautanu to center.

3a) A-
Roman Wilson is a good compliment to Pickens. Some inside info from a guy who coached him at Michigan: "He can FLY!!!...great person...good ball skills...great side to side movement...elite fast...he will be a good NFL player." There were some other options I might have taken at WR, but hearing this is good enough for me.

3b) A+
Payton Wilson might end up being the steal of the NFL draft at #98. Sick athlete who is a throwback player. Tough, physical, fast, and always seems to be in the right place. The important thing about his injuries is that he's years removed from them -- and he's not showing any signs of being slowed down. I see him starting sooner than later. Wilson could have been a first-round choice without the medical issues, and he's healthy, so I see no need to hesitate in getting him on to the field.

4) B+
Was a bit puzzled at first when this pick was announced, but upon closer review, it appears that McCormick was a good value choice in this spot, as he was a late riser on many boards. Crazy athleticism with a 9.96 RAS score, the 7th highest number out of 1400+ eligible guards since 1987. Being from an FCS school, it's probably wise to let him get acclimated to NFL competition for a year, then hopefully he can step in at RG if/when Daniels leaves in free agency next season.

6a) B
Lee is another good athlete who appears to be a good fit for the Steelers. Sixth round seems about right for this guy; if he can add some weight to his slippery pass rushing ability, he could make the team as a rotational player on the DL.

6b) B+
Personally, I love big corners, and Watts fits that bill and then some. 6-3, 208 lbs., and length to spare. Perfect late round project player who doesn't mind playing against the run, and could end up at safety.


OVERALL: A-
Five out of seven of these players will likely be starters by next year at the latest, and the two late picks have a good chance to make the roster. More great work from Khan and company.

 

[Steelmann]

3B. Payton Roman. IF he stays healthy, good pick, but that's a BIG IF. No ACL in the one knee, Hines and Elway played without 1. But durability is a fairly big risk here. Crossing fingers.

Your namesake also famously played without one.

 

[str8liner]

All I wanted was a real O-line again.....Might have got that in spades.....For me this draft was A+.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Right?
So now the Steelers have what looks like 7 starters competing for 5 spots. Feel badly for Anderson and Herbig

Not tyo badly though, competition is always good for the betterment of the team.


Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

Mike Tomlin said Fautanu was going to be a tackle

I will take his judgement and that of the scouts and GM over the message board analyists who think they know better

****, why should I keep posting......................


Salute the nation

 

[Badcat]

That's what I was asking. If you got to be the GM, who would you have picked instead?

Round 1, I'd have done the same as the Steelers, wait it out. Round 2, I would have chosen Adonai Mitchell to bring in that play making WR that they STILL need. I would have signed Connor Williams from the Dolphins to solidify the Center position allowing me to select the first pick in Round three to be a Jarrian Jones or Elija Jones and had a solid nickel CB rather than Ryan Watts who will be lucky to be on the practice squad. Payton Wilson was a great pickup, hope he can remain healthy.

So in my scenario: OT, WR, C, CB, IL are addressed adequately.

Steelers: OT, IL addressed adequately. Frazier is a work in progress and if the Steelers are in a "Win now" mode, this is a gamble. They can still get Williams and I hope they will. Roman Wilson, blech, The Steelers wasted this pick IMO. They still need a WR and it'll cost them in some sort of trade scenario.

But, like I said...I'm just an arm chair QB who gets to shoot his mouth off on a message board with no repercussions to his decisions. WTF do I know? nutt'n

 

[slashsteel]

Round 1, I'd have done the same as the Steelers, wait it out. Round 2, I would have chosen Adonai Mitchell to bring in that play making WR that they STILL need. I would have signed Connor Williams from the Dolphins to solidify the Center position allowing me to select the first pick in Round three to be a Jarrian Jones or Elija Jones and had a solid nickel CB rather than Ryan Watts who will be lucky to be on the practice squad. Payton Wilson was a great pickup, hope he can remain healthy.

So in my scenario: OT, WR, C, CB, IL are addressed adequately.

Steelers: OT, IL addressed adequately. Frazier is a work in progress and if the Steelers are in a "Win now" mode, this is a gamble. They can still get Williams and I hope they will. Roman Wilson, blech, The Steelers wasted this pick IMO. They still need a WR and it'll cost them in some sort of trade scenario.

But, like I said...I'm just an arm chair QB who gets to shoot his mouth off on a message board with no repercussions to his decisions. WTF do I know? nutt'n

Thing is Connor is still rehabbing and the Steelers didn’t have the luxury of waiting to see the time table for his return. It would have been a huge risk rolling that dice as the Steelers literally had nobody at the position. Imagine starting the season with a C that is a worse version of Cole. That is a good way to get a QB killed. Think about how bad KG was at the position. We actually want to go forward not backwards in building the Oline and keeping the QBs upright.

 

[Badcat]

Thing is Connor is still rehabbing and the Steelers didn’t have the luxury of waiting to see the time table for his return. It would have been a huge risk rolling that dice as the Steelers literally had nobody at the position. Imagine starting the season with a C that is a worse version of Cole. That is a good way to get a QB killed. Think about how bad KG was at the position. We actually want to go forward not backwards in building the Oline and keeping the QBs upright.

Considering Payton Wilson doesn't even have an ACL, it didn't stop the Steelers from signing him.

 

[slashsteel]

Considering Payton Wilson doesn't even have an ACL, it didn't stop the Steelers from signing him.

I am not saying he potentially couldn’t be signed. He could be but you can’t bank on him being ready game 1. You are comparing a player that has been healthy for two seasons to a player currently rehabbing that has no time table for a return. That is why he isn’t signed yet as he wanted to get fully healthy before looking for a team.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

Your namesake also famously played without one.

I had forgot about that, and that man could PLAY.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Round 1, I'd have done the same as the Steelers, wait it out. Round 2, I would have chosen Adonai Mitchell to bring in that play making WR that they STILL need. I would have signed Connor Williams from the Dolphins to solidify the Center position allowing me to select the first pick in Round three to be a Jarrian Jones or Elija Jones and had a solid nickel CB rather than Ryan Watts who will be lucky to be on the practice squad. Payton Wilson was a great pickup, hope he can remain healthy.

So in my scenario: OT, WR, C, CB, IL are addressed adequately.

Steelers: OT, IL addressed adequately. Frazier is a work in progress and if the Steelers are in a "Win now" mode, this is a gamble. They can still get Williams and I hope they will. Roman Wilson, blech, The Steelers wasted this pick IMO. They still need a WR and it'll cost them in some sort of trade scenario.

But, like I said...I'm just an arm chair QB who gets to shoot his mouth off on a message board with no repercussions to his decisions. WTF do I know? nutt'n

Don't sell yourself short, you articulate quite well.......................... !!!
(sarcasm alert)

Salute the nation