Next Years Draft

[fezziwig]

It's mid season and with mid season I'm currious what players/position you feel at this time should be a draft priority ?

Safety
Linebacker
D-line

For me, whatever best available at the time for any of the three I mentioned.

[hawaiiansteel]

BPA, unless you just can't bypass a stud like Jason Worilds of course...

[flippy]

TE, NT, OLB, ILB, S, CB

It's hard to say not knowing what may happen with guys health and FA before next year.

[SidSmythe]

When you're drafting towards the 2nd half of the 1st round you MOST LIKELY aren't going to get a guy who's gonna start Day 1.

I'm thinking we address Defense this year early: Safety & ILB immediately come to mind.

[steelz09]

We need to go heavy on defense but oddly enough, I would stay away from d-line in the early rounds. Safeties and LBers are a must. The only offensive players I would draft would be a later round TE and possibly a WR.

[fezziwig]

I'm surprised you guys said TE. I think we have an excellent pair with Miller and the new guy. Is it Paulson or something like that. I know injuries, contracts retirement all have something to do with whom we pick but, this is just a crystal ball guess as for how you see this team today and possibly their needs if it was time to do the draft. It does seem like we always do well with number one draft picks at the TE position.
Excellent point by Sidsmythe with our drafting position amongst the other teams, seldom do we get a pick so high or so talented from the start that, we can throw him into the fire on day one. Well it did work with Pouncey and possibly DeCastro had he not been injured. I think the defense is a more different scenario since everyone speak how difficult or cutting edge it is compared to other defenses.

[phillyesq]

If Wallace leaves as a FA, is traded, or is signed to a one year tender, I think that a WR becomes a high priority. WRs typically take a year or two to develop, and if Wallace is gone, I think the Steelers will need another deep threat and/or a big WR to compliment Brown and Sanders.

[steelblood]

My list in order of priority (I'll assume we don't resign any UFAs at this point to simplify things). In general this is a list of holes we will need to fill mostly through the draft. Of course, some of these holes will likely be filled by resigning a player or two from our current squad.

Possible early round/middle round targets...

S - Replacements for Troy and Clark must be groomed
OLB - I believe Harrison will be cut. We need to pressure the QB better.
OT - Max Starks is a UFA. If nothing changes, Gilbert and Adams are your tackles for next season. That will get Ben killed and there is absolutely no depth behind them. You may say that we have too many high choices invested in the line. I'll counter with, protecting Ben is the most important thing this team must do and this draft is loaded with pass protecting OT tackle talent. Besides, we all know Gilbert will not play in several games.
CB- Keenan Lewis is a UFA
WR - Speedy WR to replace Wallace and perhaps even a big red zone threat
ILB - Foote has not been great, but he has gotten better. Perhaps Sylvestor or Spence can do the job. A big run stopping ILB with some short area coverage skills would be good.

Mid-round/later round targets

DL-draft someone who is ok in a base 3-4, but excels at getting after the passer on passing downs.
RB - When Mendenhall goes, we could use some depth. Baron Batch has been awful so far. Dwyer and Redman are good but very similar types of backs. Rainey is very limited in what he can do because of his size. A back over 200 pounds with good explosiveness and receiving ability would be great.
OL-interior offensive line depth may need to be added as Foster and Legs are UFAs, I believe.

[Oviedo]

When you're drafting towards the 2nd half of the 1st round you MOST LIKELY aren't going to get a guy who's gonna start Day 1.

I'm thinking we address Defense this year early: Safety & ILB immediately come to mind.

I think you hit the nail on the head with our greatest needs. However if Wallace chooses not to be a Steeler any longer then that first pick may be best spent on a WR or maybe the top receiving TE in the draft who is usually still on the board around the time we select.

I would also not discount a good pass rushing OLB since Harrison is pretty much toast and if this isn't his last season with the team then the end is really near.

[Oviedo]

I'm surprised you guys said TE. I think we have an excellent pair with Miller and the new guy. Is it Paulson or something like that. I know injuries, contracts retirement all have something to do with whom we pick but, this is just a crystal ball guess as for how you see this team today and possibly their needs if it was time to do the draft. It does seem like we always do well with number one draft picks at the TE position.
Excellent point by Sidsmythe with our drafting position amongst the other teams, seldom do we get a pick so high or so talented from the start that, we can throw him into the fire on day one. Well it did work with Pouncey and possibly DeCastro had he not been injured. I think the defense is a more different scenario since everyone speak how difficult or cutting edge it is compared to other defenses.

Paulson is not a potential #1, he will always be a back up. We need to get guy at TE who can step in and be the #1 when Heath leaves or is injured. We have no one who can do that right now on the roster.