Draft Day thoughts..

[SteelerOfDeVille]

1. If Cleveland has seriously been considering 3-4 QBs, then takes a QB at #1, they're dumb. You're #4. You'll get one of the guys you were thinking of anyway. Take Barkley and "settle" for Sam Darnold/Josh Rosen, if that's what it comes to and start your era off properly, Mr GM

2. For all of our "wants" in this draft, the Steelers have again done a solid job of hiring stop gaps. I suspect they take BPA and throw us for a loop. I'd love an ILB, but, wouldn't be totally shocked if it's a RB... or CB... or Safety... or CB... or o-lineman... or... or...

3. As a Louisville alum, I know our guys. Jaire Alexander (if he can stay healthy) will be a fantastic slot CB. Louisville's struggles this year, mirrored his absence due to injury. The defense was completely different, as he shut down a side. Honestly, I was excited when he was injured because I thought we might have a chance at getting him in the 2nd. Lamar Jackson is a ridiculous athlete. And I do think he could be an amazing fantasy QB for years to come (if he stays healthy). Just don't like his inconsistency passing. I'd pass.

4. Back to Cleveland... why do i care? No clue. But, dangit, if they sit at #1 and take a QB, he darn well better be the best of the bunch. if he isn't, they're stupid.

Finally, my final Mock (first 2 days)
1. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU - All the LBs are gone. And Bell is still a problem. This is a cheap replacement.
2. Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest - fantastic in coverage and will cause some turnovers. Let Davis be your thumper and this guy cover.
3. Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State - undersized, but, plenty of speed to fill in - my guess is this is going to require a small trade-up to accomplish.

[squidkid]

my prediction is we draft player X, and no matter who that player is or what position, he will be touted a great pick. And it will just happen to be the BPA at a pposition of needed (need will,be justified regardless) AND he will be exactly who the steelers wanted all a long, wont be a reach(no matter where other big boards have them listed) and will be the top availalble on their draft board..............oh, and he we be a steeler type player................steal, impact player, starter, future pro bowler etc.........that goes without saying.................

so i will go on record, 5 hours before our selection, and speak on behalf of many posters here and say, I LOVE THIS PICK

[Eddie Spaghetti]

the only positions i would be disappointed in taking in the 1st would be DL, OT, CB, and TE

don't care as much about the player this year considering where we sit, just hope they get it right

[Chadman]

Ok, draft day thoughts...

Rooney, every year, has given an indication of how the draft will play out early- ‘we need to be better rushing the passer’- Bud Dupree. ‘We need to stop the pass’- Artie Burns & Sean Davis, ‘We need to be better rushing the passer’- TJ Watt...

This year? “We need to be better stopping the run”.

How do we do this? Obvious pick- ILB, right?

Except even with our BEST ILB, Ryan Shazier, we were destroyed by Chicago & Jacksonville in the running game.

Steelers often draft from big schools, big programs. They tend to like going with juniors.

Chadman’s “Draft Thought” is this- not the most popular pick, but to keep the ILB’s clean, to allow the Steelers to play a ‘coverage LB’ without him being exposed in the run defense, to draft a big program, big school, big production junior player...

The Steelers will draft DaRon Payne.

There are a bunch of decent to good second level ILB’s & Safeties. Examples- Darius Leonard & Marcus Allen...could go 2nd & 3rd round....

[pittpete]

I wouldn't be dissappointed if we grabbed a WR or RB that dropped to us.
If Guice or DJ Moore are available i don't see how we can pass them up?

[Slapstick]

Jacksonville didn’t destroy us with their running game when the team had Shazier...

Fournette got half of his yardage on one carry, late in the game after the outcome had already been decided...

Unless Payne is a 3 down NT, I don’t see it...

If he is? Then hopefully he’s still there...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ok, draft day thoughts...

Rooney, every year, has given an indication of how the draft will play out early- ‘we need to be better rushing the passer’- Bud Dupree. ‘We need to stop the pass’- Artie Burns & Sean Davis, ‘We need to be better rushing the passer’- TJ Watt...

This year? “We need to be better stopping the run”.

How do we do this? Obvious pick- ILB, right?

Except even with our BEST ILB, Ryan Shazier, we were destroyed by Chicago & Jacksonville in the running game.

Steelers often draft from big schools, big programs. They tend to like going with juniors.

Chadman’s “Draft Thought” is this- not the most popular pick, but to keep the ILB’s clean, to allow the Steelers to play a ‘coverage LB’ without him being exposed in the run defense, to draft a big program, big school, big production junior player...

The Steelers will draft DaRon Payne.

There are a bunch of decent to good second level ILB’s & Safeties. Examples- Darius Leonard & Marcus Allen...could go 2nd & 3rd round....

Solid logic, but I expect Payne to come off the board somewhere between the mid teens to early twenties or so, though...

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Calvin Ridley? Would you be upset now that Martavis is gone?

[Steel Maniac]

I wouldn't be dissappointed if we grabbed a WR or RB that dropped to us.
If Guice or DJ Moore are available i don't see how we can pass them up?

We did! Lol

[Steel Maniac]

Solid logic, but I expect Payne to come off the board somewhere between the mid teens to early twenties or so, though...

Yep; long gone.

[feltdizz]

I thought QB's would come off the board faster but it makes sense given how average most of them were in college.

I think we tried to get Evans but Tennessee made moves.

[Steel Maniac]

Ruth, when Derwin James was sliding, you know I thought of what you were saying and I was hoping we’d make a move.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ruth, when Derwin James was sliding, you know I thought of what you were saying and I was hoping we’d make a move.

I would have traded up for Roquan, Tremaine, Minkah, or Derwin...couldn't believe it when Tremaine and Derwin were both still available in the middle of round one. I wanted to trade up badly at that point, Maybe we tried, but Baltimore wasn't going to trade with us...they traded with Buffalo instead. And the Chargers weren't trading down...they were thanking their lucky stars that Derwin fell into their laps.

[Slapstick]

I would have traded up for Roquan, Tremaine, Minkah, or Derwin...couldn't believe it when Tremaine and Derwin were both still available in the middle of round one. I wanted to trade up badly at that point, Maybe we tried, but Baltimore wasn't going to trade with us...they traded with Buffalo instead. And the Chargers weren't trading down...they were thanking their lucky stars that Derwin fell into their laps.

You gotta have a dance partner...