Over the past few months, we have looked at every conceivable position the Pittsburgh Steelers may attempt to address in the 2014 NFL Draft. The 2014 draft pool is one of the deepest in recent memory, with quality talent stacked deep into the late rounds. Compared to 2012 and 2013, this year’s crop has an almost unfathomable selection of skill players on both sides of the ball. This is good news for the Steelers, who despite making significant waves in free agency, still have several large holes to fill – as well as a need for quality depth at almost every position.
Today we’re going to take a look at some of the mid-to-late round “hidden gems” who may be available for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh now owns three of the top 100 picks thanks to the NFL Compensatory Draft Pick System – an enviable scenario for other NFL teams. General Manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin could go ahead and draft their players as it stands now – nine picks overall. Another possibility would be for the Steelers to make some draft day trades – something they have done quite often – if the board isn’t shaping up for them in the first round. With so many teams in need of a franchise quarterback, and no less than five first-round grade QBs on the board, the Steelers could potentially move out of the No. 15 pick, slide down 5-10 slots and still have one of their coveted players available. A trade like that for the 15th overall pick could easily yield an additional second-rounder, or a couple third-to-fifth round selections. The Steelers need to come away from this draft with no less than five players who can contribute immediately in 2014, whether that is in a positional rotation or on special teams.
As we have discussed on the site recently, the positions of dire need for the Steelers are Wide Receiver, Defensive Back, Inside Linebacker, and Defensive Line. Additional needs include Tight End, Safety, and Outside Linebacker. The signings of FS Mike Mitchell, WR Lance Moore, RB LeGarrette Blount, and ILB/OLB Arthur Moats have given the team some flexibility in the interim, adding both talent and depth at crucial slots. Adding free agent NT Cam Thomas, and the (albeit, slim) possibility of a returning Brett Keisel make the defensive line a very fluid spot at the moment, although drafting a solid young DT prospect is still a necessity. Luckily for the Steelers, all of these positions are loaded in this draft.
In 2013, the Buffalo Bills made one of the best value picks of the draft when they plucked ILB Kiko Alonso in the late second-round. Alonso, out of Oregon, played every defensive snap for the Bills last season. His 169 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks immediately helped Buffalo move up six spots in overall defense. The Chicago Bears found their right tackle of the future in the fifth round when they drafted Jordan Mills out of Louisiana Tech. The San Diego Chargers stole RG Larry Warford out of Kentucky in the third round, who started all 16 games as a rookie and performed admirably. New Orleans thought so highly of WR Kenny Stills (Oklahoma), that they allowed Lance Moore and Robert Meachum to walk away in free agency. Stills was drafted in the fifth round. Even the Oakland Raiders made good last year, stealing LB Sio Moore from Connecticut in the third round. Moore started 11 games for the Raiders, tallying 4.5 sacks. These are but a few of the recent examples of teams finding potential long-term, effective starters in the middle-to-late rounds. The common thread amongst these players is easy to see, with all of them possessing at least two of these three gradable characteristics:
1. They played for a major conference team in college. Players who come out of big schools are already accustomed to taking the field in front of 50,000+ screaming fans. They played their college football against the top talent in the Country. Most importantly, they practiced day-in and day-out against top-tier competition. Also, the speed of the game is notably faster at the top level, as opposed to D-II and D-III
2. They played in at least 30 college football games. Unlike baseball, where teams are looking for pitchers who have not been over-extended in their high school and college days, football players only get better with more repetitions. The more they see, the quicker they are able to make adjustments to variables in the heat of a play.
3. These are healthy players. None of them spent any significant amount of time on the injured list in college. This shows not only an endurance factor, but also an ability to avoid common injuries that are sustained from lack of conditioning and preparation.
Following these guidelines, we are able to pinpoint a select group of players who have been overlooked thus far, and will probably not be drafted inside of the top 100 picks. Considering the 2013 was ranked the most shallow draft pool of the decade by ESPN Draft Guru Mel Kiper Jr., the Steelers should be able to accomplish similar results in May.
Let’s take a look at some of the hidden gems in this draft class who could yield impact results for Pittsburgh in 2014.
Wide Receiver
WR Bruce Ellington, South Carolina Gamecocks 5-foot, 9-inches 197lbs.
Speed, speed and more speed. Ellington was a two-year starter for South Carolina, and played in 38 games overall in three seasons. He is a super-athletic receiver who was underused in a run-heavy Gamecocks offense. Projects as a slot receiver initially, but he has the hands and agility to eventually work his way into a starting NFL lineup. Ellington was also a consistent kick returner, averaging 22.7-yards per return in his career. Plays fearlessly, he goes over the middle and takes the hit without losing the ball. He was considered one of the leaders in the locker room and on the field for a team with perhaps 15 future professional players. Played quarterback, running back, and wide receiver in high school and was utilized in the “wildcat” formation at South Carolina in both 2011 and 2012. A two-sport star that also started the past three seasons for the South Carolina basketball team, averaging 11.2 ppg. in his career. Ellington is projected to be a third-or-fourth round pick, and should be available for the Steelers with the 97th overall pick (third round).
WR Martavis Bryant, Clemson Tigers 6-foot, 4-inches 211lbs.
Bryant played on the opposite side of the field from top-rates WR prospect Sammy Watkins. The Steelers are reportedly looking for a tall wide receiver prospect to develop into a red-zone target, and Bryant fills that role. He played in 37 games for the Tigers, starting 13 contests. Bryant did run into some academic issues in 2012, which forced him to miss the bowl game. He has the perfect red-zone build, lanky with huge hands and an uncanny ability to make over-the-shoulder grabs. Surprisingly fast for a man his size, and even posted a top ten WR time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine (4.42-seconds). Bryant was used sparingly as a kick returner at Clemson, but has the experience to develop further in that role if needed. Definitely not the most polished and pro-ready receiver in the draft, but has the pedigree and athleticism to develop in the right system. Whoever selects him should not expect Bryant to make immediate contributions on offense in 2014, but eventually he could end up as a Marques Colston-type target. Most draft experts project Bryant to be selected anywhere from the mid-third to early-fifth round.
WR Devin Street, Pittsburgh Panthers 6-foot, 3-inches 198lbs.
A player that Pittsburgh football fans are very familiar with, Devin Street is the all-time leader in receptions for the Pitt Panthers with 202 catches over his four-year run. Currently, his best assets are his height and a dependable set of hands. Street started 40 games at Pitt after redshirting his freshman year of 2009. He has the body to add bulk once he gets into an NFL training program. Runs very well, with long, deep strides that chew up yardage and leave smaller defensive backs behind. A mismatch dream as a sideline receiver, with good concentration and natural coordination to make over-the-shoulder and shoestring catches. Has the ability to work both inside and outside, and as an underneath target he can catch on the run and break through the secondary. Street will definitely need to pack on another 10-15 pounds to consistently withstand the NFL punishment. Most of all, showed the ability to be a leader and he has great character. Projected to be drafted no earlier than the fourth round, so the Steelers would have plenty of chances to take him – and the Steelers have intimate knowledge of Street, obviously.
Running Backs
RB Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 5-foot, 10-inches 225lbs.
Andrews is a very under-the-radar player who led the Country in all-purpose yards in both 2012 and 2013. Did not play for a major conference program, but did play very well in the handful of games he played against SEC competition. That includes a 2013 WKU 35-26 victory over Kentucky in which he accounted for 136-yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown. Also rushed for 111 yards against Tennessee last season, just a small sampling of his 1,730 rushing yards in 2013. Andrews is a player who already has NFL size and vision, and will only need to adjust his game to the speed of the professional level. His statistics are mind-boggling, and he could probably make a living as an NFL wide receiver if he chose to do so. Andrews played in 42 games at WKU, starting 25 in the past two seasons. Also excelled at kickoff and punt returning, averaging 25.4-yards per kickoff and 9.1-yards per punt return. His only fallback is a tendency to put the ball on the ground, a trait that will need to be rectified before a team has confidence to give him significant carries. Andrews won’t be drafted until the sixth-round unless there is a scout out there who was blown away by his Combine showing. All-around size/speed/strength talent who could end up being one of the steals of the final day.
RB Henry Josey, Missouri Tigers 5-foot, 8-inches 194lbs.
A few years back, Henry Josey was a player many expected to be a first-round selection. His 2011 season at Mizzou put him on the map nationally, with 1,259-yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. A gruesome injury forced him to miss the entire 2012 season (Torn ACL/MCL/patellar tendon/lateral and medial menisci) and put his career in jeopardy. Josey rehabilitated his injuries and made a triumphant return to Missouri last season, rushing for 1,166 yards and scoring 17 all-purpose touchdowns. His character and determination are well-documented, but his injury history may cause him to go undrafted. Averaged 7.0-yards per carry in his Missouri career (37 games, 395 attempts) and showed the ability to be a quality receiving threat out of the backfield. Josey had a great Combine, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and putting up 20 reps of 225lbs. on the bench press exercise. He did not fumble once during the 2013 season. While he has not returned kickoffs since his injury, he has experience doing so and he has the speed and vision to do so in the NFL. One of those players it is hard to root against, displays great character and leadership traits. As stated earlier, Josey is a late-sixth round to potential undrafted free agent. If he is there in the seventh round, the Steelers could do worse for a third-down back.
Tight End
TE Marcel Jensen, Fresno State Bulldogs 6-foot, 6-inches 259lbs.
In a fairly shallow tight end pool beyond the top five prospects, Jensen might have the most upside. He played in a very pass-happy offense under head coach Tim DeRuyter at Fresno State. Played in 33 games, and started 17 over the past two, including two Bowl games. Jensen is a huge target with great hands and superb agility and speed for his size (4.85 40-yard dash). At the NFL Combine, he was a top performer in both the Vertical jump (35.0 inches) and the Broad jump (115.0 inches). Jensen matches up well against linebackers, and simply outmuscles safeties and defensive backs. His run blocking may be the most consistent piece of his game, a perfect fit for a Steelers backup tight end. He has earned the reputation as being extremely coachable and a quick learner. Originally tabbed to be a very late draft pick, Jensen has climbed the ladder after his combine performance, and might be chosen as early as the fourth round. Although he isn’t getting the press of Jace Amaro (Texas Tech) or Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington), he has comparable size and skills.
Defensive Linemen
DT/NT DaQuan Jones, Penn State Nittany Lions 6-foot, 4-inches 322lbs.
While he is perhaps no longer a “hidden gem”, a certainly isn’t around this part of the Country, Jones has not cracked the upper-echelon of defensive linemen in this draft class. He has the size and skill set needed to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense (five-technique). A dominating presence off the snap, Jones is disruptive and powerful. He controls blockers and bull rushes into the gap, which former Steelers NT Casey Hampton did so well. Because of this, he opens up holes for inside linebackers to rack up tackles in the run game. Centers and guards tend to work backwards to keep him from completely collapsing the run game. As with most huge athletes, conditioning has been an issue in the past. He will need to work hard on keeping his weight manageable. Recent mock drafts have Jones being selected in the late-second round, but with no less than six defensive linemen being pegged as first-round picks, he could sneak into the third round. Realistically, this isn’t a player you want to sleep on past round two if you plan on adding him to your roster.
DE Brent Urban, Virginia Cavaliers 6-foot, 7-inches 295lbs.
Urban is a productive two-year starter who has 36 games under his belt. He was already drafted in the 2013 CFL Draft, going in the second round to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (He is an Ontario native). Has a build and playing style that reminds many of Aaron Smith. His height enables him to get leverage on tackles and disrupt passing lanes. Single blocking is eventually going to be fruitless against Urban if he continues to grow into his body. Is a rarity for a potential 3-4 defensive end in that he can actually pass rush if called upon. When the pocket collapses, he is the first man to the quarterback. His draft stock has been lowered due to a foot injury suffered late season 2013. Urban could be a steal in the late-third to fourth rounds, and more than likely will be there when the Steelers employ their mandatory compensatory pick at the end of the third round.
Linebackers
ILB Chris Borland, Wisconsin Badgers 5-foot, 11-inches 248lbs.
Borland is the typical prospect who is being undervalued because of a perceived lack of “physical presence”. Few defensive players have been as productive as Borland over the past four seasons. In 2009, Borland was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after starting six games and leading the team with five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was a medical redshirt in 2010 due to a shoulder injury, but came back strong in 2011 to start all 14 games for the Badgers, posting 143 tackles and 19 tackles for loss. In 2012, Borland proved he could also be a solid pass rusher, as he tallied 4.5 sacks. He really came into his own as a fifth-year senior in 2013, being recognized as a second-team All American and a finalist for the Lott Impact Trophy (awarded to the player who is the greatest leadership influence on his team). Borland finished his Wisconsin career as the Badgers all-time leader with 14 forced fumbles, 17.0 career sacks, three career interceptions, and an incredible 54.0 tackles of loss. He was named to the first-team All-Big Ten squad in 2011, 2012, and 2013. On film, Borland is a wrecking ball – making sideline-to-sideline tackles and never quitting on a play. He projects as a solid 3-4 inside linebacker, racking up tackles against the run and supporting the pass rush when called upon. Borland is currently being mocked as a third to fourth-round pick.
OLB DeDe Lattimore, South Florida Bulls 6-foot, 1-inch 237lbs.
A vastly overlooked performer in college, Devekeyan “DeDe” Lattimore is listed as an outside linebacker, but could eventually establish himself on the inside in a 3-4 defense. He started 48 games for South Florida, and finished second all-time with 337 tackles for the Bulls. A very physical tackler with great instincts and an attitude to match, Lattimore makes his hay against the run game. He possesses a nose for the football, forcing four fumbles in 2013 and posting 17 career games with 10+ tackles. Lattimore was considered the leader of the South Florida defense, a vocal player who practices at full speed and turns it up another notch on gameday. He played on special teams during all four seasons. Standing at just over six-foot, Lattimore lacks the physical presence of the top-tier prospects in this draft, causing him to be underrated. Currently being projected as a seventh-round pick or even an undrafted free agent, Lattimore is an intriguing project pick who could develop similar to former Steelers ILB Larry Foote, who was also considered too short when coming out of college.
Defensive Backs
CB Antone Exum, Virginia Tech Hokies 6-foot, 1-inch 213lbs.
Few schools churn out as many quality defensive secondary players as Virginia Tech, products of “Beamer Ball” – the unique defensive style of 27-year head coach Frank Beamer. This year, the Hokies will send two more cornerbacks to the pros – Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum. While Fuller will more than likely be selected in the first round, Exum has lacked the national press of his counterpart. At just over six-foot tall, Exum has outstanding size for a corner. He started 35 games in his career, missing the first seven games of 2013 due to a torn ACL sustained in a pickup basketball game and the final three games with an ankle injury. As a junior, Exum was considered one of the top defensive prospects in all of football, and was projected to be a first-round pick had he not been hurt and forced to stay in school. Exum has played corner, free safety, and was an ace on special teams as a gunner and jammer. Exum could realistically play either cornerback or safety in the NFL. While fully healthy in 2012, he posted five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 21 passes defended. Exum should prove to be back to 100% this summer in time for the start of NFL training camps. He is projecting all over the place, but the consensus seems to have him being drafted in the fourth to fifth-round.
CB Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6-foot 195lbs.
While he is currently considered more of a developmental prospect, Jackson played in every college game he dressed for at Notre Dame (52 games, started the final 26). A good-sized cornerback with solid intangibles, Jackson started on two Fighting Irish pass defenses ranked in the top-25 in the nation. Tallied 107 career solo tackles, six career interceptions, and was voted as team captain in 2012 and 2013. Jackson was recruited as a wide receiver and transitioned to defense prior to his sophomore season. He didn’t put up flashy numbers at Notre Dame, partly due to opposing offenses avoiding him the past two seasons. In 2010, Jackson was named the Notre Dame Special Teams Player of the Year as a true freshman after averaging 22.1-yards per kick return. Jackson is considered a sixth to seventh-round draft pick.
The Steelers are in position to come away with a bevy of quality players this May in perhaps the most important draft in the tenure of Kevin Colbert. With nine draft picks currently on their itinerary and such a deep draft pool, Pittsburgh could potentially secure several future starters and round out their future roster with solid depth at several key positions. After making waves in the free agent market, this is a team that will look significantly different come fall. Coming off the heels of consecutive 8-8 seasons, few could argue that a new look was needed. The Steelers are a franchise that over the years has found Pro Bowl-caliber players in the mid to late rounds of drafts – this year should be no exception.
