DRAFT TRENDS TO KEEP IN MIND

[Chadman]

Just got to thinking about trends in NFL drafts, and decided to put together a bit of info for everyone to keep in mind when putting together mocks/ discussing who the Steelers 'should' draft, or just who might be available at #18.

We'll use the last 10 years as our guide.

QB's- 27 QB's have been selected in the 1st round over the last 10 years. Of those 10 years, only 1 year has had only 1 QB selected in Round 1 (2000 where Chad Pennington was selected 18th overall). 14 QB's have gone in the Top 10. 5 QB's were selected between 10 & 20. 7 QB's were selected from 20 onwards, with 2 going to pick 32. The average QB selection per season is 2.7 per year, so we can expect 2-3 QB's to go in this years 1st Round. Most likely, they will be Top 10 picks. There are 2 QB's projected as 1st round QB's (Bradford & Clausen) with 2 more hovering around the 1st to 2nd round range (Tebow & McCoy). There is a STRONG chance that either McCoy or Tebow enter the 1st round.

RB's- 32 RB's have been selected in the 1st round over the last 10 years. Of those 10 years, 2 RB's selected in the 1st round is the lowest amount of RB's to go in Round 1. 5 is the most- 2008 & 2000 both having 5 selected in Round 1. 9 RB's have been selected in the Top 10. 7 RB's were picked between #10 & #20. 16 RB's were selected after pick #20. 4 out of 10 years did not have a RB selected in the Top 10. The average is 3.2 RB's selected in the 1st round a year. There are currently 4 RB's with 1st, or close to 1st round grades- Spiller, Dwyer, Best & Mathews. There is a STRONG chance all 4 could go in the 1st round. Spiller, based on averages, could be selected in the Top 10.

[Chadman]

WR's- 44 WR's have been selected in the 1st round over the last 10 years. Only 1 year (2008) didn't produce a WR in the 1st round (Note- 10 WR's were selected in Round 2 as a result). The most WR's selected in Round 1 was 7 (2004), but it is interesting to note that 6 WR's were selected on 4 occasions. That is half the decade where more than 5 selections were WR's in Round 1. 17 WR's have been selected in the Top 10. 7 WR's were selected between #10 & #20. 20 WR's have been selected at the tail end of the 1st Round. The average is 4.4 WR's per year in the 1st Round. There are 4 WR's with 1st round grades (Bryant, Tate, LaFell & Williams). All will LIKELY be selected in Round 1, with Bryant EXTREMELY likely to be Top 10. 3 WR's hold 2nd round grades (Benn, Thomas & McCluster). There is a STRONG chance one of these climbs into Round 1.

TE's- 15 TE's have been selected in Round 1 over the last 10 years. 2 TE's have been selected in the Top 10 (Winslow, Davis). At least 1 TE has been selected in Round 1 every year of the decade. 2 TE's have been selected between picks #10 & #20. 11 TE's have been selected in the lower stages of the 1st Round. The average is 1.5 TE's selected per year in Round 1. 2 TE's have 1st round grades in this draft (Gresham, Gronkowski). 1 will LIKELY be selected, in the last 10-12 picks.