After drafting a safety, cornerback, linebacker and running back, the Steelers now look to add some late round gems into the fold. Note that the Steelers will have two sixth round picks thanks to a compensatory pick awarded to the team on March 25.
“With the 160th pick in the fifth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…”
Josh Shaw, cornerback, USC:
The Steelers add more defense with their fifth round selection, and bolster their secondary by selecting their third defensive back of the draft. Shaw is a perfect fit schematically for the Steelers, and has terrific size (six-foot, 200 pounds) along with versatility that will make him a welcome addition to a defense that desperately needs help at cornerback.
Shaw made national headlines last August after he was caught lying to USC about how he suffered serious ankle injuries after jumping from a third floor balcony. Although the incident led some to question Shaw’s character, there is little question that Shaw has the ability to make an impact in the NFL.
Much like the Steelers second round pick, Stanford corner Alex Carter, Shaw is a player who some think could also play safety. Shaw dazzled scouts with his 4.44 time in the combine, and that might be enough to ease some of the concerns about whether or not he can play corner in the pros. Shaw has a high football IQ, and is a perfect fit for the Steelers coverage schemes due to his skill set. Shaw has the potential to be a steal in round five and will make an immediate impact on special teams at the very least.
“With the 199th pick in the sixth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…”
Jeff Heuerman, tight end, Ohio State:
I struggled with this pick. In the end, the Steelers go for Heuerman, a tight end who despite not putting up big numbers at Ohio State, is an intriguing player who might eventually replace Heath Miller as a pass catching option at the position.
Although the Steelers re-signed Matt Spaeth and second-year player Rob Blanchflower will get another crack and proving his worth, a tight end who can be a threat vertically is going to be needed. With Miller turning 33 in October, it’s time to look towards the future. Heuerman has good size (six-foot, five-inch, 255 pounds) large hands, and plays faster than his 40 time suggests (4.8 at combine). Comes from an athletic family and though not a great blocker, has the strength and desire to be adequate there.
This is not a flashy pick, but Heuerman is the type of player the Steelers love. Plus, you can’t have enough weapons in the passing attack when you have a franchise quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger.
“With the 211th pick in the sixth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…”
Sean Hickey, offensive line, Syracuse:
Hickey, a Murraysville native, is the compensatory pick for the Steelers. Though Hickey may not be on the board still with this pick, I believe he slips a touch and ends up a Steeler. At this late juncture of the draft, the Steelers will be looking for an offensive lineman who can provide versatility to the group. That’s exactly what Hickey can do; the six-foot, five-inch, 310-pound Hickey played both tackle positions at Syracuse and is projected to move inside to guard as a pro.
The Steelers want a player who can play primarily at guard but also slide over to right tackle in a pinch. Whether or not Hickey can eventually be a starter in the NFL is up for debate, but there is little question he can at the very least give the Steelers much needed depth and flexibility on the offensive line. Hickey provides good value towards to end of the sixth round.
“With the 239th pick in the seventh round, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…”
Jamarcus Nelson, WR/KR, UAB:
At five-foot, 11-inches, 160 pounds, Nelson is not exactly the cover boy for what an NFL receiver looks like. However, Nelson has blazing speed (4.28 40-yard dash) and was flat out dazzling as a return specialist at UAB. With the Steelers having doubts about whether or not Dri Archer can get the job done, Nelson is worth a flier in the seventh round.
In addition, some scouts believe he might be more than simply a return specialist after he was impressive catching the football at the NFL combine. Nelson’s potential ability to stretch the field and use his world class speed could make the Steelers pass offense even more dangerous. Hard to find guarantees this late, and Nelson might be worth the risk for his return ability alone.
