Predicting the Steelers first and second round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft
It’s that time of year when the Super Bowl contenders bolster their roster and the non-contenders build for the future. Draft season is upon us and as usual, the Steelers will be looking to add critical pieces to a lineup that is poised to make a run at the Super Bowl.
This offseason, the Steelers have signed a couple of players to fill key positions. Inside linebacker, Jon Bostic was signed away from Indianapolis and safety Morgan Burnett was persuaded away from Green Bay. I believe Burnett will have a far bigger impact than Bostic will, as Burnett is more versatile and can play both safety positions and corner.
Bostic is a nice addition to an inside linebacker corps that suffered greatly after the devastating injury to Ryan Shazier. However, he does not possess the skills to be the full-time answer. The Steelers will look to fill the huge void Shazier’s injury left via this year’s draft.
I think they will do so in the first round and then they’ll look to add another talented safety to the mix in round number two.
Here’s a look at who I feel Pittsburgh could take with their first two picks.
Linebackers
There are solid inside linebackers available in this year’s class but the top couple will be gone before the Steelers pick. Some say the team will trade up to grab one of the top two guys, I don’t think they have the assets to do it and will stand pat. Either way, I think they’ll be happy with whoever they end up with.
Here are the candidates and my rankings for the linebacker class.
Roquan Smith – Georgia
Smith is the clear number one inside linebacker prospect. He’s fast and has the ability to go sideline to sideline. He’s a very solid run stopper and can be a strong contributor in pass coverage as well. He’d be the ideal replacement for Shazier but he will be long gone before the Steelers ever sniff him.
Leighton Vander-Esch – Boise State
Vander Esch has climbed up the draft boards with a solid off-season. I rank him higher than others but he possesses all of the fundamentals you want at inside linebacker and can play vs. the run and the pass.
Rashaan Evans – Alabama
Evans possesses both size and speed and is a very solid player who has done a lot for Nick Saban at Alabama. I believe he is a mid to late first round guy and the Steelers may have an opportunity to snag him at 28.
Malik Jefferson – Texas
The drop off begins with Jefferson. He’s my fourth-best prospect but there is a big difference between him and the first three guys. He’s solid against the run but he’s not a good pass coverage guy and is a second-day selection.
Josey Jewell – Iowa
Jewell amassed over 100 tackles last season and penetrates the backfield with power. He can be an impact player but he’s not an every-down player.
Prediction
I think the Steelers will end up faring well and be able to grab Evans from Alabama in the first round with their 28th pick. It’s a pick that will begin the replacement of Ryan Shazier and Evans may find himself on the field in 2018 early and often.
Safeties
The Steelers will also need to take a look at the class of safeties coming out this year and they may even consider one of them at pick 28 instead of the linebackers if the first three guys are gone though I suspect they’ll grab one of these guys in round two.
Here are the top safeties based on my rankings:
Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama
Fitzpatrick is the cream of the crop in this years’ safety class. He can cover receivers, tight ends, play corner, play at the line or drop back in deep center field. He’s a game-changing safety that if he’s still available at pick 28, the Steelers will take. Unfortunately, I don’t see him being there.
Derwin James – Florida State
James is another game-changing safety with skills. He can play man against the tight ends and may not cover center field like Fitzpatrick but is still an impact guy that would be an upgrade on most teams. He’s another guy the Steelers would take in round one but he won’t be available.
Ronnie Harrison – Alabama
Harrison is a physical safety who can play on the line and stuff the run but has some issues when he needs to play man to man. He won’t be a first round pick but he’ll be gone by the time the Steelers draft in the second round.
Terrell Edmunds – Virginia Tech
This is a guy who I think the Steelers could land in the second round. He’s physical and can play vs. the run and the pass.
Jessie Bates – Wake Forest
Bates is another candidate for the Steelers on day two. He’s very smart and makes good decisions on the field.
Prediction
The Steelers will most certainly fill these two holes in the first two rounds and I believe it will be Evans of Alabama in round one and Edmunds of Virginia Tech in round two.
