The 2014 NFL Drafts continues at 7:00pm EST tonight with rounds two and three, to be followed by round four through seven on Saturday beginning at noon. The Pittsburgh Steelers have eight selections remaining, including three compensatory picks in rounds three (97th overall), round five (173rd overall), and round six (215th overall).
After selecting Ohio State ILB Ryan Shazier with the 15th overall pick last night, the Steelers will need to get serious about filling some holes on both sides of the ball starting tonight. Pittsburgh has immediate needs at cornerback, wide receiver, and on the defensive line. The Steelers could also be looking to add young talent at tight end, running back, and on the offensive line – although those positions are secondary compared to their more pressing needs. Pittsburgh will have the 46th overall pick tonight, and after a slightly unconventional first round on Thursday night the Steelers will have a shot at several players originally pegged as first-round grades.
The Houston Texans will lead off festivities once again Friday night with the expectation that they will be looking for a new starting quarterback. Houston utilized the first overall pick on South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney, passing up the opportunity to pick QBs Blake Bortles (Jacksonville), Johnny Manziel (Cleveland) and Teddy Bridgewater (Minnesota). Houston will have their choice of Fresno State QB Derek Carr, Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo, or Alabama QB A.J. McCarron should they go with a signal caller tonight. Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Tennessee also pick within the first ten selections this evening and could also be eyeing up one of those quarterbacks. The Cleveland Browns hold the 35th overall pick tonight and may be in the market for a shiny new weapon for Manziel to throw to, with USC WR Marqise Lee surprisingly still on the board. Of note from last night as well is that for the second year in a row, ZERO running backs were selected in the first round – further showing the decline of importance in the position league-wide. The Tennessee Titans cut ties with former first-rounder RB Chris Johnson this offseason, and with Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde, Auburn RB Tre Mason, and Washington RB Bishop Sankey all available, the Titans could have their choice of running back at 42nd overall. Cleveland could also take a RB at 35th overall, with Hyde a popular local choice.
One interesting possibility for Pittsburgh in round two could be Notre Dame DE Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt is a 6-foot, 5-inch 304-pound power-rusher who excels as both a sack artist and run stopper. Tuitt would be a nice fit as a five-technique defensive end in the Dick LeBeau 3-4 defense. Frankly, Tuitt is probably already ahead of Cameron Heyward in terms of development, and could drop into a starting slot halfway through his rookie season. As one of the top five players still on the board, Tuitt would be a steal if he made it to the Steelers. Minnesota DT Ra’shede Hageman was linked to Pittsburgh as a potential first-round pick as late as last month, and Hageman is still on the board – as is Notre Dame DT Louis Nix, perhaps the best traditional 304 nose tackle in the entire draft.
If Pittsburgh decides to take a wide receiver tonight, the rumors have centered around a tall, red-zone target for QB Ben Roethlisberger. After Mike Evans (Tampa Bay) and Kelvin Benjamin (Carolina) found homes last night, the best WR left who fits that bill would be Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews (6-foot,3-inches). Matthews is the all-time SEC leader in receptions and receiving yards, and should be selected in round two. Other more well-rounded receivers such as Mississippi WR Donte Moncrief (6-foot, 2-inches), Fresno State WR Davante Adams (6-foot, 1-inch), and Penn State WR Allen Robinson (6-foot, 2-inches) are available as well. While none of them truly fit the “big target” label, all are legitimate NFL-caliber receivers that should be on the board for the Steelers.
Finally, there is the cornerback position. Veteran Ike Taylor and young Cortez Allen the incumbent starters, but Taylor is likely in his final season and the Steelers have zero depth behind the starters. Pittsburgh would have loved to see Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller last, but Chicago snagged him right before the Steelers pick. Unfortunately, the drop-off to the next layer of defensive backs is steep. Oregon State CB Rashaad Reynolds (5-foot, 10-inches 189lbs.), Utah CB Keith McGill (6-foot, 3-inches 211lbs.), and Virginia Tech CB Antone Exum (6-foot, 213lbs.) should all be in play tonight. One name to watch is CB Pierre Desir (6-foot, 1-inch 198lbs.) of tiny Division II Lindenwood University. Desir has been a popular name on Steelers fan forums and he is an extremely physical cornerback who plays with a high level of intensity. While he would need a significant amount of work to adjust to the pro level, Desir is a very intriguing prospect.
Pittsburgh shocked everybody with their selection of Ryan Shazier on Thursday night. Time will tell if Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin and co. continue to think outside the proverbial box, or if the Steelers will appease their fan base by chasing down a few of their primary needs.
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