As the 2013 National Football League Scouting Combine winds down this week in Indianapolis, the story-lines are many and actually some don’t have anything to do with a certain linebacker from Notre Dame.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers who will select 17th, there are many options available and that’s good for a team that has several areas of need. While I take the combine for what it’s worth, it still has a purpose or the wouldn’t have the darn thing at all.
As I view the Steelers today, before they have made any roster moves whatsoever, I see a few places where a first round selection is warranted. This does come with some exceptions though.
The areas of need right now are at receiver, outside linebacker, defensive line, running back and safety. I do however believe there is one other spot that is becoming a first round possibility and that’s tight end. General Manager Kevin Colbert said this week at the Combine that he has concerns over whether team most valuable player Heath Miller will be ready for 2013 after suffering damage to his ACL and MCL. Colbert even went so far as to suggest Miller could miss the whole season.
I’m not buying the “he could be gone for the season” statement but I am concerned about his immediate availability and who takes his place. I’m on record as saying I like David Paulson but not as my starting tight end heading into the season.
Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert was clearly the number one tight end on Saturday. His main competition was Stanford’s Zach Ertz who wasn’t horrible, but clearly trailed Eifert in most categories. The other thing hurting Ertz is his short arms. At about 31″ that’s not ideal for a guy who’ll need to block as well as catch.
San Diego State’s Gavin Escobar is a beast physically and despite a slower 40 than some others, his athletic skills were on full display. Chris Gragg of Arkansas was a very pleasant surprise as he ripped off an impressive 40-time of 4.4 and then added an vertical jump of around 37″.
I’m not sure either of those guys is going to be taken in the first or second round, but they did nothing to hurt themselves Saturday.
Another guy I really like is from Rice University. Vance McDonald tore up the bench press with 31 reps and then looked very solid in drills. He has great size at 6’4″ 267lbs but also has great arm reach and big hands.
I still lean towards the Steelers not taking a tight end at the current time with their first round pick but I cannot rule it out. With offenses relying on so heavily on athletic, multiple tight end sets, I believe it’s a fair possibility.
With two months left before the draft and numerous individual workouts coming, much will change by draft day but you can bank on Eifert at the very least going in the first round. It would not surprise me however to see at least one or two more go late int he round as well.
Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard Mondays on Trib-Live Radio at 4pm ET talking Steelers.
