STEELERS 2019 DRAFT LOOK

5 PLAYERS STEELERS COULD TAKE IN ROUND 1

The Steelers lost some big time talent this offseason, but Mike Tomlin and company will try to replace some of it in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

Head coach Mike Tomlin is desperately hoping for a more peaceful 2019 season after getting rid of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Their respective departures do leave Pittsburgh a little short of high-end talent though. Nailing the No. 20 overall selection in this year’s draft could really help correct that issue.

Steelers fans thinking they’re going to draft an offensive playmaker capable of replacing either Brown or Bell’s production need to dial those expectations way down. Pittsburgh’s front office is very likely to spend their first round pick on a defensive player. Remember, the team played all of last season without Bell and still put up plenty of points. There’s significant

Where the Steelers lost games in 2018 was on the defensive side of the football. The franchise is still looking for an athletic linebacker to replace what Ryan Shazier gave them prior to his injury. The need to find a cornerback capable of holding down the spot opposite Joe Haden is also pressing. Of course, Pittsburgh could always look to augment their pass rush with another high impact player. This piece will detail five guys who could become Steelers on Day 1 of the draft.

5. JOHNATHAN ABRAM

Abram isn’t going to solve the Steelers issues at cornerback, but he is arguably the best safety in this class. Adding a guy with his type of athleticism in the final third might help the corners currently on the Pittsburgh roster look much better in 2019.

The former Mississippi State star also has the swagger that has defined the safety position for the Steelers in the past. The franchise never really replaced Troy Polamalu. Abram doesn’t have that kind of upside, but he does have that sort of hitting ability.

4. DEANDRE BAKER

The former Georgia star isn’t the fastest cornerback in this class, but he’s got excellent technique and he reads the game very well. As a result, his floor is a lot higher than some of the other defensive backs who are going to go in this range.

The Steelers will have to make an organizational decision on just how much risk they’re willing to take on with this pick. If the answer to that question is not much, Baker could absolutely be their pick.

He should be ready to play early in his NFL career. He went up against a ton of big time prospects in the SEC and he always acquitted himself very well. Baker isn’t the sort of prospect who’s going to be overwhelmed by the match-ups he might see on Sundays.

It’s still fair to wonder whether or not the 4.52 40-yard dash he ran at the Combine is going to end up pushing him a little further down the board. The Steelers aren’t a franchise that is married to the stop watch, but there will be sexier prospects on the board at No. 20. Pittsburgh might want to gamble on a prospect with more upside.

3. DEVIN BUSH

The Steelers currently have Mark Barron penciled in as one of their starting linebackers, but that could easily change if they take an athletic linebacker in Round 1. Bush may not last all the way to No. 20, but if he does, Pittsburgh will give him a really long look.

It’s hard to watch his tape and not think a little of how Shazier looked at Ohio State. Both guys are a little undersized but make up for it with exceptional speed. Bush probably doesn’t read the game quite as well as Shazier did in college, but that doesn’t mean he lacks feel for the position.

Bush tested off the charts at the Combine with a 4.43 40 and a 40.5 inch vertical leap. He’s got all the physical characteristics NFL teams are looking for in their weak side linebackers. Bush should be a guy who can rush the passer and hold up in coverage at the next level.

Linebacker may not be the most sought out position in the NFL at this point in time, but Bush has the ability to be a real difference maker. He’s a great athlete who also projects as a perfect fit for Tomlin’s defensive scheme. It won’t surprise to see anyone head to Pittsburgh if he’s still there at No. 20.

2. BYRON MURPHY

The ability to force turnovers has never been more important than it is in the NFL today. That’s why Murphy is making a late run up a lot of draft boards. He might be the corner with the best combination of athleticism and ball skills in this class.

He only ran a 4.55 40 at the combine which might worry some teams, but he looks to play significantly faster than that on film. Murphy also has perfect hips that allow him to flip in and out of coverage at will. That’s a big reason he’s able to make such precise breaks on the ball.

Murphy also is the type of football player that Tomlin is going to naturally gravitate towards. He doesn’t do a ton of talking but he eats, sleeps and breathes football. That kind of no-nonsense professional is just what the Steelers are looking for after their recent drama.

There should be a run on corners right around this point in the draft so it will be interesting to see which guys go where. Murphy stands a good shot of still being available at No. 20, but it’s no lock. If he’s still on the board he’ll get strong consideration from the Steelers front office.

1. GREEDY WILLIAMS

The biggest intangible the Steelers defense needs next season is swagger. There might not be a guy with more of it in this draft than Williams. He’s not a finished product by any means, but he plays the cornerback position with a ton of confidence.

Physically speaking, he’s exactly the kind of cornerback everyone in the NFL wants. He’s a rangy athlete who measured in at 6-foot-2 at the combine and ran a blistering 4.37 40-yard dash. The fact that he was a little disappointed in that time tells you all you need to know about his self-confidence.

His imperfections show up with his loose technique and aversion to tackling. Both deficiencies are things an NFL coaching staff should be able to fix without too much difficulty. Those weaknesses certainly won’t scare off an accomplished defensive coach like Tomlin.

If he is still available when the Steelers go on the clock it will be a significant surprise if he’s not their pick. Passing on a guy with Pro Bowl potential at a position of profound need would be a serious error by the Pittsburgh front office. Williams would give them great value at No. 20.