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.

[Slapstick]

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.

I disagree...

It just depends upon how we choose to use the #2 TE...

Matt Spaeth often got killed on this board, but somehow was able to produce at a starter caliber level when called upon...for example, when Heath Miller missed two games in 2008, Spaeth came up with 12 receptions over those two games...

[Oviedo]

I disagree...

It just depends upon how we choose to use the #2 TE...

Matt Spaeth often got killed on this board, but somehow was able to produce at a starter caliber level when called upon...for example, when Heath Miller missed two games in 2008, Spaeth came up with 12 receptions over those two games...

Paulson doesn't have Spaeth's size and I doubt he can block as well. I do agree that Spaeth was unjustly "killed" on this board. Not his fault Arians didn't know how to use TEs.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I would say OLB then S. If Spence is expected to fully recover, ILB will not be up there but the unknown may bring on a pick in the 3rd.

I'm basing it off my preditions for 2013: Harrison released. Hampton not brought back. Foote brought back on 1 year vet min. Lewis signed long term. Wallace Franchised. Sanders Tendered. Mendy allowed to shop & only signed at bargain with Steelers.

It would not surprise me at all to see OLB, S, ILB as the first three picks. As of right now, I haven't seen anyone on the roster that has "starter" written all over them at those spots in reserve. Spence didn't get his chance and his injury may be a concern. I think he would have pushed Foote to the bench by now. All the other LBs had some type of opportunity and didn't flash. We have seen all the S's with the exception of Golden. I really feel the Steelers will have to come out of this draft with future starters at OLB & S....And I'm thinking a pass rusher to start the season.

[steelblood]

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.

I agree. We should have kept Saunders. He had that potential. Pope does nothing well except be tall.

[steelz09]

I would say OLB then S. If Spence is expected to fully recover, ILB will not be up there but the unknown may bring on a pick in the 3rd.

I'm basing it off my preditions for 2013: Harrison released. Hampton not brought back. Foote brought back on 1 year vet min. Lewis signed long term. Wallace Franchised. Sanders Tendered. Mendy allowed to shop & only signed at bargain with Steelers.

It would not surprise me at all to see OLB, S, ILB as the first three picks. As of right now, I haven't seen anyone on the roster that has "starter" written all over them at those spots in reserve. Spence didn't get his chance and his injury may be a concern. I think he would have pushed Foote to the bench by now. All the other LBs had some type of opportunity and didn't flash. We have seen all the S's with the exception of Golden. I really feel the Steelers will have to come out of this draft with future starters at OLB & S....And I'm thinking a pass rusher to start the season.

I agree.

I think we could see 2 safeties drafted in rounds 1 thru 5. Probably 1 pure S and a S/CB-type player.

I'm not sure what the #'s are going to be but I'd like to keep all of the following: Starks, Foster, and Legursky. I don't know what to do about Gilbert especially with Adams playing better. I want the depth but I don't know if Gilbert will want to be a backup to both Starks and Adams. I also think that Foster might try to shop around for a starting job.

Then, we should keep Lewis and Sanders. We could tender Sanders but IMO, it's a safer bet to sign him long term. Then, the Wallace situation. I'd love to have him back but I still can't see paying him for than 50+ million.

So where is the money going to come from? Hampton will be gone and likely Harrison. Will that be enough with some fancy restructures? Will we release Keisel?