With the combine starting soon, we’ll hopefully have a better idea of what guys will go where in the draft. Until then, we’ve put together our first mock of the year.
Because I’m never afraid to point out where I failed miserably, you can check out our first mock draft of 2014. If that’s any indication, you can be sure the Steelers will not draft any of the guys below.
1. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan St
Last season I tried to tell anyone that would listen that the Steelers would pass on Darquenze Dennard because he was a bump and run corner, which the Steelers wouldn’t use. I let the hype get the best of me and eventually added him to my mock. This year though, I feel a little different. I’m hearing that Keith Butler wants a more aggressive defense, which means that a physical corner like Waynes could be in play. I think if the Steelers go CB in the first round they’ll have options, and the combine will help with ranking guys. Waynes is an athlete, so I could see him blowing up the combine and being out of reach, but I’ll put him here for now.
2. Owa Odighizuwa, OLB, UCLA
I mentioned a few weeks ago the Steelers needed to grab a big body to man the edge across from Jarvis Jones. Owa weighed in at the senior bowl at a chiseled 266 pounds. With that sort of frame, he could step in and produce more quickly than Jarvis Jones did. I also like Owa because he’s versatile enough to play DE in a 4-3 set. If Keith Butler truly makes the two interchangeable I think having a true DE on the roster would be beneficial.
3. Clive Walford, TE, Miami
The Steelers used to avoid over-paying guys by drafting their replacements before they needed to be replaced. Now is the time to grab Heath Miller’s heir. Once his contract is up next year you could retain him and have a great tandem at TE, or let him walk… but at least you’d have options. Walford reminds me of Dwayne Allen in Indianapolis. A good all-around tight end with some soft hands.
4. Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State
I’m guessing the team finally gives up on Mike Adams this year, and needs to find a new primary backup to the tackle positions. The team was fortunate to remain pretty healthy in 2014, but the backups across the entire line are thin. Smith looks like a RT/OG type to me, that could back up a couple of spots.
5. David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
This is a really deep running back class, and I think a ton of backs could go in rounds 2-3. Someone’s going to slip though. The Steelers could grab a guy that’s capable of starting later in the draft. David Johnson almost has the body type of former Steelers H-Back David Johnson. He’s a load to bring down, and not fast but decisive in hitting the hole. He also displays some really good hands. He could be a poor man’s Le’Veon Bell, behind the real deal.
6. Lynden Trail, OLB/TE, Norfolk State
Trail is a really unique prospect. I don’t know what his position is, or where he’ll get drafted… but for a late round pick, I want him in black and gold. Trail was a receiver in high school that played OLB in a 3-4 system at Norfolk State. At the senior bowl he looked pretty lost as a defender, but did some drills as a tight end and looked pretty comfortable as a receiver, particularly in the redzone. He’s very tall for a linebacker, but I’d still see if you can teach him to use his wingspan and athleticism to be a situational pass-rusher. He, like Odighizuwa, would also be an asset if the team is truly going to a hybrid scheme.
7. Tra’Mayne Bondurant, S, Arizona
Unfortunately for the Steelers it’s not a good year for finding safety depth via the draft. Bondurant is a versatile guy with some athleticism… So why not take a chance late?
14 comments
In regards to Dennard, there was a reason I didn’t want him: He could not keeps his hands off he WR past the 5 yard area and in the NFL it gets called more than it would in CFB. Waynes is a guy I like as I have read his report but your 2nd round pick just scares me. He has had injury history with his hip and if it becomes chronic he ain’t playing a down in the league. I still say that Blanchflower is the answer to the TE situation and if you Chris or anyone else can’t see that well that’s to bad. You don’t go back and draft another TE without first attempting to find out what Blanchflower can do for the team. 1 CB is not enough there are 2 guys I like as potential 2nd round picks: Alex Carter and Quinton Rollins. OLB is also a area where you may very well see the Steelers double dip and 2 guys I have heard are Mauldin and Orchard. If the Steelers are going to take a RB then they would want somebody who pass protect and not be just a runner and a guy who has been mentioned a lot is Michigan State RB Jeremy Langford. I like your 1st round pick and even the OT cause it would be for depth, but I don’t see much else beyond those 2 picks.
OK here’s mine, rd. 1 T.J. Clemmings OT PITT rd. 2 Jalen Collins CB LSU rd. 3 Marcus Peters CB WASH. rd.4 Demarious Randall S. ariz. RD. 5 Lynden Trail OLB Norfolk st. rd. 6, Tony Washington OLB Oregon rd. 7 Jeremy Langford MSU [ yes Vittorio sometimes we do agree on things]
Clemmings is a Top 10 Pick absolutely no doubt on that. Peters is going in the 1st round based on his talent and nothing else. The Steelers will pick OLB within the first 3 rounds you just watch Bob. Langford will not last until the 7th round, he will probably end up going anywhere from mid 3rd round to a high 4th round pick there is no doubt about that. I like that you did your mock draft but Bob come on man have you read any scouting reports on some of these guys are you just shooting from the hip?
Yes i have read some scouting reports. Here’s my thinking i see Peters slipping due to his suspension. I feel Clemmings has a 50/50 shot at being there when we pick. Lynden Trail had a very good week at the senior bowl and does have talent and would make a great MLB or OLB. Right now Langford is rated as a late pick / FA who may move up, but i think his pretty good. Jalen collins, i think is the best CB in this draft, 6′ 1″ with speed and ball skills.
Clemmings is probably going top 10 or at beast Top 15. Peters is a wildcard 1st round pick and here is why: Good talent but will act like stupid at unnecessary times and that needs to be worked on. Trail has the height but he may end switching positions after he is drafted and will probably play TE. Bud Dupree is right now the only OLB that would be waiting for them when they pick. The UCLA OLB is a no-no for this team and the reason is this: Chronic Hip Injury so why would you Chris mock him there in the 2nd round?
After watching the combine this weekend [yes i watched a bunch], i have come to the conclusion that this really is a pretty weak draft. Winston really isn’t much better than anyone coming out. No one really stands out but as always there are some gems to be found. I feel the key to finding players in this draft is to ignore all the 40’s , broad jumps , cones drills and just look for players not decathletes. In shorts who can play football in the big games not win the Olympics. It’s still early in the off season and with this draft the Steelers will really need to do there homework.
There is one big issue that is really pi**ing me off and that is that the Steelers have to find a TE who is a freak athletic guy who creates mismatches against the opposing Defense. Why should do something so stupid? Look at Denver, NE, NO, and Detroit what do they all have in common: they can’t run the ball, they make sure there offense goes through the TE first and not either the RB or WR in there offense. All those teams rely on the Athletic TE way to much and while it may be a strength it is also a very very very big weakness. When you take away the TE for those teams who exactly is going to scare you? I want the Steeler TE’s to block first and then when there number is called upon they make big catches. Instead of the Steelers adapting to what other teams are doing how the Steelers force the other teams to adapt a block first, catch second identity when it comes to the TE. Gronk, J.Thomas, Graham all have these 2 things in common: Great Stats and Pro Bowls where as Heath Miller is the opposite: Not great Stats and very few Pro Bowls but guess what- 3 Superbowl appearance’s and 2 Rings to his name. Now I want you people to tell me what would you rather have for your TE: Rings or Stats?
Having a pass catching TE and having a good run game really don’t have anything to do with each other. Sure, having a guy like Graham will hurt not having an inline blocker, but you can use other guys for that.
I’d say Gronk is one of the best blocking TE’s in the league as well, it’s just not talked about much because he’s such a great receiver.
As for your teams mentioned, the Saints ranked 13th and rushing and the Broncos ranked 15th, both better than the Steelers at 16… And the Pats were right behind them at 18.
I’m talking about a consistent running game not sporadic as with those other teams. Those teams devalue the RB and WR by adding a athletic type TE. My evidence is simple when Defenses take away Graham what chance do the Saints have of moving the ball, the same applies to the Pats with Gronk. Take him out of the Pats passing game and Brady is a sitting duck everybody knows that. I asked a very important question yet none of you answered it. I asked what would you rather have Stats and Pro Bowls or Rings and no you can’t say both cause there is only 1 answer.
“take away Graham what chance do the Saints have of moving the ball”
Is this a joke? The Saints played at PIT this year… Jimmy Graham had 0 catches. The Saints rushed for 143 yards for 5.5 YPC, and Brees threw for 5 touchdowns.
Just give it up man, you’re not convincing anyone that having a threat at the TE position is bad for the offense.
Really cause I seem to recall that the Saints failed to make to the playoffs and yeah the Saints ran on the Steelers but I call that an aberration not long standing. I want my TE’s to block first not be a mismatch against the D. The Steelers have 3 WR’s, Miller and Bell how is that not enough for the Steelers to not only move the ball, gain yards and score points. In your eyes you want the TE to be Primary Option and not either the 2nd, 3rd or 4th or even 5th option. I hate the Athletic TE for one reason: OC’s create there game plans to go through the TE and when they don’t work the Offense crumbles. Prime example: 2014 Week 1 Fins vs Pats what happened when Gronk was taken away from Brady? In your minds it’s settled you’ll take Stats and Pro Bowls over Rings, by all means go that direction and see if that gets you anywhere. Just remember Gronk, J.Thomas and Graham-1 Ring vs Miller-2 Rings. End of discussion.
So Trent Dilfer is also clearly better than Dan Marino right?
No I never said that you did. My point is simple I’ll take the guy who has 2 rings and doesn’t put astronomical stats vs guys who are simple known for Stats and Pro Bowls. If you want the Steelers to take a TE it’s because you think there WR’s aren’t good enough to carry the load of the passing game which is garbage cause you have AB who will be a 90-100 catch every year and they have Bryant who should get 50-60 catches every year and score big TD’s when his number is called upon not to mention you have Wheaton in the slot who complements both guys real well along with Bell who himself creates mismatches against the D so why add a unnecessary “luxury” TE threat like Williams, Walford or Koyack when the Steelers need there TE’s to block first and catch 2nd not the other way around. Find me evidence that by adding a TE of that caliber that it will help and not hinder the Steelers running game.
[…] With the combine finished, we have a little more information. Here’s the second edition of our mock. You can check out version 1.0 here. […]