Could CB Eli Apple fall to the Steelers at No. 25?
The Steelers were ousted in the divisional round of the playoffs last season by the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos as injuries and a poor defense ultimately caught up to them.
They will presumably have injured stars Le’Veon Bell and Maurkice Pouncey healthy to start the season, but Martavis Bryant’s suspension and a poor secondary do create some potential weaknesses for the team.
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2015 Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 22: Bud Dupree (OLB- Kentucky)
- Round 2, Pick 56: Senquez Golson (CB-Mississippi)
- Round 3, Pick 87: Sammie Coates (WR-Auburn)
- Round 4, Pick 121: Doran Grant (CB-Ohio State)
- Round 5, 160: Jesse James (TE-Penn State)
- Round 6, Pick 199: L.T. Walton (DT-Central Michigan)
- Round 6, Pick 212: Anthony Chickillo (DE-Miami)
- Round 7, Pick 239: Gerod Holliman (S-Louisville)
Bud Dupree started a bit slow for the Steelers but seems to be next in line to be a very solid pass-rusher for the Steelers. Both Senquez Golson, due to injury, and Sammie Coates, due to the depth chart, had little or no impact on the Steelers’ season but both will likely have larger roles this season.
Jesse James made a nice impact in the red zone as Heath Miller slowed down, but the signing of Ladarius Green will minimize his impact yet again this season.
The rest of the Steelers’ draft class had little impact last season, though L.T. Walton could see some time as a depth piece along the defensive line and Doran Grant could become a nickel cornerback if the Steelers fail to add to their secondary early in the draft.
2016 Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 25
- Round 2, Pick 27 (58)
- Round 3, Pick 26 (89)
- Round 4, Pick 25 (123)
- Round 6, Pick 45 (220)
- Round 7, Pick 8 (229)*
- Round 7, Pick 25 (246)
* from NYG
Top Draft Needs
Cornerback
The Steelers were absolutely torched by opposing pass offenses as they surrendered the third-most passing yards per game, and were 18th in yards per attempt and 19th in passing touchdowns allowed. Cortez Allen was recently released and 2015 starter Antwon Blake departed in the offseason for the Tennessee Titans. This leaves only William Gay and Ross Cockrell as cornerbacks who played a significant role for the team last season. If they fail to make a day-one selection on a cornerback, the Steelers will have to rely heavily on either Doran Grant or Senquez Golson.
First-Round Fit: Eli Apple – Ohio State
The Steelers like cornerbacks who are big and can tackle. Apple is big for the position but has been criticized at times for his inability to make open field tackles. He is also known as being aggressive while the ball is in the air, and he defensed 22 passes over the years at Ohio State. Finally, he is known as a hard worker and should see improvement at the NFL level. This is the type of player the Steelers will like and desperately need to help their thin cornerback situation.
Day-Two Pick: Mackensie Alexander – Clemson
Alexander doesn’t have eye-popping college stats, he never recorded an interception in his time at Clemson, but he has gotten good reviews as a cover corner. He also is known for being ultra competitive, sometimes to his detriment, which could allow him to make an immediate impact and fill a need for the team.
Deeper Selection: Tavon Young – Temple
Young is a smaller corner, similar to Golson in that regard, as he is just 5-foot-9. Despite that, he has been praised for playing a physical brand of football that allows him to play larger than his stature may indicate. His college numbers also indicate that he should have playmaking ability at the NFL level as he recorded seven career interceptions, four in his junior year, and two forced fumbles.
Safety
Mike Mitchell will be the Steelers starting free safety but strong safety is a huge concern at the moment as Shamarko Thomas is penciled in to start. At this point in his career, Thomas has shown himself to be a solid contributor on special teams but has yet to shine as a defensive regular. Therefore, to improve upon the defensive statistics cited above, the Steelers should be looking to bolster their depth at the safety position.
First-Round Fit: Keanu Neal – Florida
This would be a bit of a reach as a first-round pick but is worth considering nonetheless. Neal is decent in coverage but is known for searching for the big hit and for his ability to assist in run defense. While this would be duplicative of Mitchell’s skillset, the Steelers value playmakers and Neal could fit that role nicely.
Day-Two Pick: Karl Joseph – West Virginia
Joseph missed part of last season due to a knee injury, but he is a player the Steelers would target. He plays very physically and should emerge as a leader for whatever team he is drafted by. Not to get way ahead of ourselves here, but he could finally be the piece the Steelers have been searching for in replacing Troy Polamalu.
Deeper Selection: Jordan Lucas – Penn State
Lucas is a well-rounded, yet unspectacular, player and would add yet another low-round pick to the Steelers’ secondary. Lucas can play the run well which is a must in the Steelers’ organization. Although his zero interceptions in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons don’t suggest it, Lucas can play the ball decently in the air as well as he had twelve passes defensed in those two seasons.
Another Potential Option
With Martavis Bryant’s suspension, the Steelers wide receiver core is somewhat thin, especially if Markus Wheaton can’t carry over his strong performances from the end of the 2015 season. The Steelers won’t take a wide receiver in the first round of the draft, but could be in the market by the third round. That could make Tyler Boyd, a local product, an interesting pick.
Daniel Marcus is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive, visit fantasy-phenoms.com, or follow him @danmarcus3.
