Steelers Targeting Quality Character, Durable, All-Purpose Athletes In Draft

With the selections of the Sean Davis and Javon Hargrave on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, one message (aside from focusing on defense) is clear: the Steelers aren’t taking chances on players with sketchy backgrounds or those with injury histories.

Artie Burns

Artie Burns, taken with the Steelers first round selection, might be the most intriguing character analysis of the three draft picks so far. Burns’ father is in prison for cocaine trafficking. His mother passed away in October due to a heart attack. The young man (who turns 21 on May 1st) not only took custody of his two younger brothers after his mother’s passing, but also raises his own 19-month old son.

Burns is also a two-sport star, excelling not only on the gridiron, but also on the track. He was an All-USA high school track and field team selection by USA Today in 2011 and 2012. Burns broke 27-year-old records in the 110 hurdles and the 300, while his 110 hurdles time was the second-fastest world-wide by a youth athlete, in 2012. Also in 2012 Burns had the fifth-best time in the World, and best in the United States, in the 110 meter hurdles among junior athletes (under 20 years old.)

In 2014 Burns broke another long standing record: a 38 year old American junior mark in the indoor 60 meter hurdles.

Sean Davis

Pittsburgh continued the trend of versatile athletes with their second round pick Sean Davis. Davis, who played most of his senior year as a cornerback, was originally a safety and projects to play there in the pros. With over 50 games of experience (including 40 starts) this tackling machine doesn’t miss games.

Off the field, Davis is fluent in 3 different languages: English, French and Chinese.

He’s also a fast and strong, having one of the best overall showings among cornerbacks on the bench press and broad jump exercises at the NFL Combine.

Javon Hargrave

Another consistent 4-year starter, Hargrave was an FCS (I-AA) college standout, who was a back-to-back All-American and MEAC conference Defensive Player of the Year, which is no small feat for a nose tackle.

Hargrave consistently topped charts in all of college football for sacks and tackles for a loss, which is also unheard of for a player in his position. He also fits the profile as a 4-year player with a lot of production, something which likely lead to the Steelers choosing him over Baylor DT Andrew Billings.