Reviewing the 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft: Part 2
Yesterday I reviewed the first half of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2017 draft class. As I’m not a fan of giving out grades, I simply listed the “cheers” or “jeers” for each pick, giving some rationale as to why the front office lobbied to make their selection at that point in time.
It’s now time to take a look at the latter half of the 2017 NFL Draft: the picks taken on day three. Finding a star player in the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh rounds can make or break a team. Luckily for the Steelers, they have a fairly high success rate on choosing late round picks who become contributors.
Joshua Dobbs – QB (Tennessee)
Round 4, Pick 29 (No. 135 overall)
Cheers
This is the pick half of Steelers Nation was waiting for, and the one that the other half knew they didn’t want.
Another candidate for the “Wasn’t there someone else to pick at this spot?” question, Dobbs was the only quarterback I felt okay with drafting, so long as the pick wasn’t made any earlier than… here.
I consider most of the picks being made by the Steelers in this draft to be a round later in number. If you look at the weighted values for picks, this fourth round selection had the same value as the top of the fifth round.
Dobbs is a big, highly intelligent quarterback who could be groomed into a serviceable backup with upside to be more. I’d rather that than sticking with Zach Mettenberger (who was released earlier this week).
Jeers
While I’m okay with the choice, I’m still skeptical that a late round quarterback pick will pan out to anything more than a number two on the depth chart. History shows this to be the case, though I’ll still root for Dobbs to succeed.
Since the Steelers already hammered home a few needs with their earlier picks, the only other direction they may have gone at this time during the draft is tight end depth. Several of those players would be selected shortly after Dobbs, including Jake Butt and George Kittle.
Conclusion
Either the Steelers feel more secure about Ladarius Green than we know, or they feel less secure about their quarterback situation. Only time will tell!
Brian Allen – DB (Utah)
Round 5, Pick 30 (No. 173)
Cheers
A big, physical and versatile corner? Sign me up!
The Steelers double-dip with the selection of the Utah defensive back, who projects to playing outside, but could be put just about anywhere in the secondary with some work.
Allen’s measurables are elite. In fact, he is strikingly similar to another former fifth-round pick, Seattle’s Richard Sherman. Their stats compare favorably, which is why the Steelers went with this athlete whom they can hopefully develop into a starting cornerback in the near future.
Jeers
The former wide receiver was knocked by analysts for doing all sorts of things wrong. Apparently, he isn’t smooth, doesn’t have good footwork and can’t tackle.
Yikes.
So is this a pick who can develop into a starter at the next level, or someone who was chosen simply because they are a pure athlete?
Conclusion
There wasn’t much left at this point in the draft, where picks, more often than not, start becoming prayers rather than players.
Allen’s selection is another in a long line of attempts to create an elite Steelers secondary. I’m pleased with the value he can provide at this time, considering most of Pittsburgh’s interest in the defensive backfield were taken well ahead of their positions in each round. Allen falling here could be a blessing.
Or a curse.
Colin Holba – LS (Louisville)
Round 6, Pick 30 (No. 213)
Cheers
Long snappers are people too!
Jeers
Did you seriously think I’d have more to say than the long dialogue about Holba from the third day of the draft?
Honestly, long snappers don’t hear their name called on draft day very often. Even Holba admitted to being surprised that he was taken at all. That’s the real “jeer” here, in that the Steelers didn’t wait until after the draft to see if Holba would go unselected, and then sign him as a college free agent.
Conclusion
And so what?
Why not secure someone you feel can improve your team. Greg Warren isn’t getting any younger, and he needs to have an eventual heir just like Ben Roethlisberger or James Harrison.
Kudos to the Steelers for not only having the guts to make this pick but for scouting long snappers, to begin with!
Keion Adams – OLB (Western Michigan)
Round 7, Pick 30 (No. 248)
Cheers
The man compared to Arthur Moats in his NFL.com draft profile will get to meet and work with the man on a daily basis.
A high motor multisport athlete, Adams pick came as no surprise for myself or the team here at SCU. (He was interviewed by Eric a week before the draft as a potential Steelers target.)
Again, Pittsburgh double-dips at a position of need and finds a player with tremendous upside. Adams had 7.5 sacks in his final year at Western Michigan. Even if he’s not an immediate starter or a backup, he could find a role strengthening the Steelers special teams unit.
Jeers
Adams is considered to be undersized as a defensive end on the next level, but that’s something he could work on.
Conclusion
As he was taken about ten picks before the final selection of the 2017 NFL Draft, there isn’t much to complain about when you’re taking a chance on someone who could have more upside
