The AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers will look to rebound after being ousted in the first round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh possessed one of the best offenses in 2014 with a trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell. Having said that there are still a number of holes on the roster to fill. Which direction will the Steelers pursue come draft day?
The consensus around Pittsburgh is the team will pursue defensive upgrades early in the draft. The most glaring need resides in the secondary. After the loss of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, the Steelers will need to upgrade their personnel to combat the loss. In my mock draft I selected Landon Collins from Alabama. Troy Polamalu has played his last game for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Mitchell has not lived up to expectations. Collins fits the Steeler mold; a tough hard hitting safety. Collins is a strong safety better in run support much different from Haha Clinton-Dix from a year ago. The days of Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu are over; Landon Collins can help restore that tough Steeler football.
Pass rusher is another huge need for Pittsburgh. Jason Worilds has retired and James Harrison can’t do it forever. The Steelers would love to land Vic Beasley from Clemson, but he is unlikely to become available after a dominant combine. A player who could interest the Steelers is Eli Harold from Virginia. Harold reminds me of Jason Worilds. An explosive edge rusher who can play either outside linebacker position. Hau’oli Kikaha and Nate Orchard are two players who could interest the Steelers in rounds two or three.
The Steelers could also shock the world and go offense in round one. The lone possibility is tight end Maxx Williams from Minnesota. This would allow Pitt to have a double tight end offense with the incumbent Heath Miller. With the emergence of Martavis Bryant a year ago, the Steelers are unlikely to target another skill position besides tight end early in the draft. In the end I expect Pittsburgh to address the defensive needs early and select a tight end later in the draft.
Below is the list of players the Steelers have met with as well as every Steeler draft selection come draft day.
Prospects associated with the Steelers:
» Cameron Clear, TE, Texas A&M: Clear has private workout scheduled with Steelers
» T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh: Steelers OL coach checks out Pitt pro day
» Jalen Collins, CB, LSU: Collins dines with Steelers’ Tomlin
» Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke: Steelers coaches check out pro day
» Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami: Steelers OC chats up Dorsett at pro day
» Kyle Emanuel, OLB, North Dakota State: Steelers will work out Emanuel
» Devin Gardner, QB/WR, Michigan: Gardner says he’ll visit Steelers
» Markus Golden, DE, Missouri: Steelers have dinner with Golden
» Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska: Steelers LB coach puts Gregory through pro day workout
» Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU: Hunter dines with Steelers’ Tomlin
» Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest: Steelers GM watches Johnson’s pro day
» Matt Jones, RB, Florida: Steelers schedule workout for Jones
» Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB, Louisville: Mauldin dines with Tomlin before pro day
» Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida: Steelers GM gets good look at speedy WR
» Clive Walford, TE, Miami (Fla.): Tomlin, Haley scheduled to meet with Walford
First round: 22nd overall selection
Second round: 56th overall selection
Third round: 87th overall selection
Fourth round: 121st overall selection
Fifth round: 160th overall selection
Sixth round: 198th overall selection and 212th selection
Sixth round: 212th selection
Seventh round: 239th overall selection
