Grading the Steelers 2015 Draft Class
It’s funny how fans of every team around the NFL claim their team owned the draft. I remember exactly where I was sitting during the 2015 draft and exactly who I wanted the Steelers to take. At the time, nothing ever seems like a bad pick, and it oftentimes takes years to get an accurate assessment of players.
However, after having three years to evaluate the players the Steelers selected in 2015, I can officially say that it was their worst draft since 2008.
Here are my grades for each player drafted by the Steelers in the 2015 NFL Draft.
1st Round – Bud Dupree, EDGE
Grade: C-
Dupree was drafted to be a force on the edge for the Steelers. He possessed unworldly athleticism, but his poor tape and bad mechanics as a pass rusher were always an issue for me. If you were to just watch a highlight reel of Dupree, you may be convinced that he is one of the best in the league. However, it takes much more than highlights to be a worthwhile 1st round pick.
Dupree struggles mightily as a pass rusher. In space, he can chase down the ball carrier or collect a hustle sack. However, he’s stiff on his rushes, struggles to disengage from blockers, and lacks the required bend to get consistent pressure.
In the run game, Dupree can be solid at times – using his strength and speed to set the edge, but often rushes far too wide around the arc and lacks lane discipline. Dupree is obviously a better player than 2013 first rounder, Jarvis Jones, but his lack of discipline against the run and inefficiency as a pass rusher make him a poor choice for a 1st round selection.
2nd Round – Senquez Golson, CB
Grade: F
We can talk all about what we think Golson “could” have been for the Steelers, but the fact of the matter is that, as a former 2nd round pick, Golson never even appeared in an NFL game.
Golson was an extremely productive corner in college, but a controversial pick at the time due to his 5’9” 176 lb stature. Most thought he should have been a mid-to-late round draft choice.
Though we will never be able to see what Golson was capable of, this was a bad pick for the Steelers based solely on the fact that he never even suited up for them on a Sunday.
3rd Round – Sammie Coates, WR
Grade: D+
I’ll admit, there was a time where I thought Sammie Coates had a chance to be something special for the Steelers, and for good reason. He was yet another wide receiver drafted in the 3rd round, he possessed the speed to burn, and he was 9th in the NFL in receiving yards through the first 5 weeks of 2016.
However, Coates soon came back down to earth. After a few minor injuries, he failed to muster any value from that point forward and proved to be extremely inconsistent (scary even) when thrown to. Coates had the worst hands of any Steelers receiver since Limas Sweed and simply could not be trusted.
4th Round – Doran Grant, DB
Grade: F
There were times during his first preseason that Doran Grant looked like he could be an eventual contributor for the Steelers, but it wasn’t meant to be. Grant dressed just three times for the Steelers his rookie year before he was cut. Grant hasn’t dressed for a game with another team since.
5th Round – Jesse James, TE
Grade: A-
Say what you want about how soft Jesse James is or how bad he is after the catch. Any time a tight end can come in the NFL as a 5th round pick and develop into a starter, it’s a win.
James didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie, but at just 22 years old in his second season, James started all 16 games, recorded 39 receptions and three touchdowns. James is not a great player by any stretch of the imagination, but he is pretty well rounded and rarely gets injured.
Though tight end is a position the Steelers could certainly upgrade, James was a solid fill-in and probably the best pick in the 2015 class for the Steelers, in terms of value where drafted.
6th Round – L.T. Walton, DL
Grade: B
More often than not, 6th round picks typically don’t last more than a year with their first team. However, Walton has managed not only to stick around but to carve out a fairly significant role as a rotational defensive lineman.
Though by NFL standards, Walton is probably a below average backup, he’s stepped up when the Steelers needed him and helped give players like Stephon Tuitt and Cam Heyward some much-needed rest.
6th Round – Anthony Chickillo, EDGE/OLB
Grade: B+
Though Chickillo will never be anything more than a rotational player at the outside linebacker position for the Steelers, he has been well worth the pick. Chickillo has 5.5 sacks for the Steelers in just 9 total starts but has been active and played in 38 games over his first three years (14 more than Bud Dupree).
Chickillo doesn’t have any traits that stand out and he is just average at best against the run and pass. However, Chickillo has been a solid special teams player and has had his moments when his name has been called.
7th Round – Gerod Holliman, S
Grade: F
Holliman was a flashy college player from Louisville who had 10 interceptions as a junior. However, Holliman tested as a horrible athlete and offered no support against the run in college.
Though I don’t mind taking a flyer on an extremely productive player in the 7th (much like Tyler Matakevich in 2016), Holliman didn’t pan out and was cut before the start of his rookie season. It’s hard to stick as a 7th rounder, but Holliman just wasn’t good.
