Im gonna go with an average slot of the 18th pick. Im also granting two 3rd rd comps for losing Wallace and Lewis, and two 5th rd comps for Mendenhall and Harrison. Lastly, Bruno gives a 7th but is countered with the addition of Gay and Speath. Casey hasnt signed yet and I might be missing a guy or 2, but this is just for fun (and yet it will still be more educated than BR).
Ok, that said, here we go...
With the 18th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft (that was moved 2 weeks because Goodell is the devil) the Pittsburgh Steelers select...
18 Taj Boyd QB Clemson. Yes I know he'll be a top 10, should even be the 1st QB taken. A guy can dream cant he?!!?!?
Ok back to realism...
18 Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame- typical Tomlin going for undergrad with the 1st pick. Weve been thru way too many after thoughts, and drunks, at the 0 tech to ignore addressing it with a guy familiar with the spot. This is unless Hunter, the UDFA DT from Florida, shows a lot in 2013. I cant stand TaAmu and I dont think Fangupo is the deal. Steve is a decent back up, but more of a 5 tech.
50 2nd rd- Jason Verrett, CB TCU- this is my other man crush, 2nd to Boyd. Verrett is all picks all the time. He covers so well that I think he could be a 1st rounder, however he isnt the biggest CB sizing up at 5'10 178. What he shows playing in the Big 12 however could be too much to ignore. So this is my one iffy pick. He could however allow our new DC Butler to move him, Allen and Hawthorne all over the field. Lake could have so much fun with our new totally revamped secondary.
105 (3rd rd comp 1)- Jacob Petersen, TE Wisconsin- here is typical Haley. This kid reminds me of Moeaki, the TE Haley drafted from Iowa. Solid run blocker with above average hands. There is another guy you could kind of compare him too- Kendricks. We were interested in the former Badger TE Lance Kendricks a few years ago, and while Jacob is a threat in the passing game, he is more of an in line blocker and isnt moved outside to the flex Z nearly as often. He and Paulson would be a great tandem at TE for years to come.
106 (3rd rd comp 2)- Shane Skov, LB Stanford- a major knee injury and not quite being 100% will allow him to fall some. As Ive said before, I think Vince Williams is our steal from the 2013 draft, but depth at ILB is iffy at best. Not to mention Skov has and can play OLB as well as ILB. Foote is beyond old, and Sly has his days numbered. McFadden will probably take Slys spot on the 53. And then theres Spence. No matter how you play it, we need depth at ILB, and an 80% Skov is enough for me.
124 4th rd- Isaiah Lewis, SS Michigan State- Whew, thank God, heres our tall safety!! Haha, at 5'10 he might tower over The Shark, but as a former teammate of our new RB Bell, he has excelled in pass coverage at both safety spots. Hes estimated to clock a 4.4 40, so as Tomlin (and new maybe Lake) prefer- speed speed speed. Hes not as "roaming" as Shamarko, but he is a very good deep cover playing the top of the umbrella. Troy to Shamarko and Clark to Lewis. Golden is very good depth at all the 2ndary spots, as well as Cromartie Smith. The safety position has now been totally revamped.
158 5th rd- Kenarious Gates, OT Georgia- a pure LT that can flex to RT as well as OG. Look for him to build much needed depth at the OT spot while also giving Gilbert some push. Not to mention the young Long brother.
180 (5th rd comp 1)- Jonotthan Harrison, OC/OG Florida- Tomlin proved me wrong when he drafted 2 players from the same school in 2013 (though Landry was a mistake). He does it again using one of his favorite schools, the same school we all but ignored in 2013. Harrison was the starting OC for the Gators in 2012, and LG in 2011. He can flex anywhere inside. He is what we wanted Bruno to be, and are now hoping Malecki and Beachum could be, if not for 1 year. Here is our true back up center.
181 (5th rd comp 2)- Will Clarke, DE WVU- an experienced 5 tech. Yes we drafted one in Williams in 2013 and also 2 UDFAs, but this kid has played the spot for the last 2-3 years and is more than familiar with it. While Id like to take Burton here and flip Clarke to the 6th rd, history shows we go WR at 6. So this stays as is.
200 6th rd- Trey Burton, WR/RB/QB/Anything and Everything on Offense Florida- Could Tomlin, and more so Haley, go for another toy outta Gator Country? I hope so. Even if Sanders leaves we have more than enough young up and coming WRs on the depth chart (Moye, Gilreath, Woods, Dunn) with the recent additions of Wheaton and Brown to say the least. But a kid like Burton... wow, Haley would piss his pants with all the options he would and could have here. And heres something I just thought of- Burton and Wheaton on the field at the same time, motioning them both all over the place. Good luck defense.
224 7th rd- Brendon Kay, QB Cincinatti- Landry Jones isnt mobile, Landry Jones may very well not be on our team as of this pick. I think he goes on the PS at best in 2013 and has direct competition here with Kay. Kay has the "end of the game, gotta get it done" mentality. An above average arm with ability to move in the pocket. Want a comparison? I think hes a more NFL sized version of Matt Scott. Kay doesnt fail under pressure mentally or physically like Jones is known to. The Jones pick in the 4th round was wasted.
This blog is solely used to provide both Steelers and Bears fans with a very realistic look at their teams upcoming possible draft picks.
