Round 1: Artie Burns, CB, Miami Everyone knew the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a cornerback in the draft, and even with the enticing prospect of taking UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, Pittsburgh stuck to its plan and grabbed Artie Burns, cornerback out of Miami University. Burns is a very talented cornerback who has weathered a difficult past and who is bursting at the seams with talent. Still, he feels a bit like a reach for the Steelers (he was a projected second-round pick.) Burns, who ... Read More
Boyd next in line of Pitt receivers to NFL
2002: Antonio Bryant Second Round 63rd overall Cowboys 2004: Fitzgerald drafted First Round 3rd overall Cardinals 2011: Jonathan Baldwin First Round 26th overall Chiefs 2014: Devin Street Fifth Round 146th overall Cowboys 2016: Tyler Boyd ? Round 1 of the NFL draft kicks off Thursday night. Though Pitt’s Tyler Boyd likely won’t have his name called then, he’s a good bet to hear it Friday night during Round 2 or 3. When Boyd does eventually stroll up to the NFL podium, he’ll be walking in ... Read More
Mock Draft: Who should the Steelers select in rounds six and seven?
In the first half of this mock draft, I said the Pittsburgh Steelers would take, in order, Mackensie Alexander, Karl Joseph, D.J. Reader and Dak Prescott. However, the Steelers still have plenty more picks. So, knowing how hard it is to predict the notoriously unpredictable later rounds, here are my predictions for who the Steelers will take with their last three draft picks (the team’s fifth-round pick was traded to the Eagles last season for Brandon Boykin.) SIXTH ROUND (220th Overall ... Read More
Mock Draft: Who should the Steelers draft in rounds 1-4?
With the NFL Draft coming up shortly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to focus on their defense, especially at safety and cornerback, where they were inconsistent last season. The Steelers seem to have hinted at drafting a cornerback, what with the release of former cornerback Cortez Allen on April 15. Still, there are other positions Pittsburgh might look at. The Steelers might draft a wide receiver, because Martavis Bryant will be out for the entire season after failing an ... Read More
Steelers mock draft predictions: Will it finally be a cornerback?
It's officially NFL draft week, and with the draft set to begin Thursday night, there's been plenty of speculation on who the Pittsburgh Steelers will select when they are slotted to make the 25th selection of the first round. Will they select a cornerback for the first time since the Steelers selected Chad Scott way back in 1997? If you ask the majority of Steelers fans, a cornerback would be the best choice and based on what many of the latest mock drafts are predicting, they might just ... Read More
Pitt could have multiple players selected in NFL Draft
The University of Pittsburgh has a knack for churning out top flight pro talent. You might recognize all-time greats Dorsett, Marino, Ditka and Curtis Martin, each one hall of famers. Fast forward to today, and you’ll still find Pitt men inhabiting the upper echelon of the NFL - Larry Fitzgerald, Darrelle Revis, LeSean McCoy and Aaron Donald, to name a few. With the 2016 NFL Draft quickly approaching, let’s take a look at the newest Panther alumni hoping to join the elite ranks of the ... Read More
Should the Steelers target free agent cornerback Josh Norman?
When news broke yesterday that Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman would become an unrestricted free agent after his franchise tag was surprisingly rescinded, it presented an interesting opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers: Should they try to pick up Norman and get him wearing the black and gold? The Steelers’ secondary is obviously in need of some serious repair. Last season, Pittsburgh allowed an average of a little more than 270 pass yards per game, which put the team at 30th in ... Read More
Should Robert Nkemdiche be on Steelers draft board?
His pedigree and talent are undeniable. Robert Nkemdiche is a physical specimen for sure, measuring 6 feet 4 inches and 295 pounds. For someone so large, he also displays intriguing athleticism and quickness. His on-field skills tantalize NFL GMs, but his documented incidents and quirky attitude off-field cast a shadow of doubt. Nkemdiche has been tabbed a can’t-miss prospect since high school. During his senior year at Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., Nkemdiche was tabbed the top ... Read More
NFL Draft preview: Could Steelers target a center?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with plenty of depth chart issues in the past two seasons. Last year, it was with the running backs, and the year before it was the cornerbacks. However, another position that the Steelers have experience issues on the depth chart with is the center position. Despite being one of the best center in the league when healthy, Maurkice Pouncey hasn’t been able to stay healthy in the past couple of years. During the 2013 season, Pouncey started at center in the ... Read More
The good, the bad and the ugly of the Steelers’ 2016 schedule
What a difference a year can make. At least that seems to be the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers when looking at the 2016 regular season schedule released Thursday night. After dealing with a schedule last season that was statistically the most difficult in the league, the Steelers got what, at least on paper, looks to be a considerably less daunting path to the playoffs. The overall winning percentage of the Steelers opponents in 2016 is .473, a far cry from 2015 where the percentage was ... Read More