What was learned from the Combine? What players we like are now out of reach from 15?

[RuthlessBurgher]

The top 3 pass rushers in the draft (Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, and Anthony Barr) were out of reach before the Combine and remain out of reach now.

The top 3 tackles in the draft (Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson, and Taylor Lewan) are now all out of reach. Matthews was all along, and with the shows that Robinson and Lewan put on in Indy, neither one is making it out of the top 12 anymore either.

The top 2 wideouts in the draft (Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans) are now out of reach. Watkins was never falling to 15, but I'm sure the team was drooling over the possibility of Evans being the big WR that Ben has been pining for for so long. With his combine performance, the likelihood of him falling to 15 has moved from slim to none.

The top corner in the draft (Justin Gilbert) is now out of reach. He blew up the combine. He's got the size, got the athleticism, got the fluidity, and got the tape to back it all up. Probably top 10 now.

Take those 9 guys, add in the 3 QB's that will likely come off the board early as well (since the Texans, Jags, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings all have needs at QB...possibly the Bucs too since the new coaching regime may not have the same faith in Mike Glennon as the regime that drafted him last year), and we've got a solid dozen guys who should be gone before we pick. If any of them fall (among the non-QB's), that would be the pick. But I don't see it happening.

After those 12 are off the board, I think the Rams take a safety (either Clinton-Dix or Pryor) and the Bears take a d-lineman (either Jernigan or Donald). So what's left for us? Likely defense or a weapon for Ben.

We could take the safety that the Rams don't take (either Clinton Dix or Pryor). We could take the #2 corner (Dennard). We could take the top ILB (Mosley). We could take the top NT (Nix) and move McLendon to DE. We could take the top 3-4 DE prospect (Hageman) since both Hood and Keisel are free agents and we may let both of them go. If we go offense, the options are Ebron at TE, a guy like Lee who seems to be the type of WR they like in the Antonio Brown mold only slightly bigger, or a taller WR like Benjamin. Starting to narrow it down now...

[Slapstick]

I would be willing to bet that one of your top 9 guys will make it to 15...

Based upon pro day results and general incompetent drafting, I honestly think one of those players will be there...

[Eddie Spaghetti]

excellent write up ruthless. I was hoping for evans or gilbert, but like you said, highly unlikely.

I guess I would lean towards ebron even though I'm not in love with him as a player. But he would be the top player at his position and the drop off seems to be significant from him to the other 2 you hear mentioned. (asj/amaro)

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Nice observations, ruthless. I'd be good with Mosely. Good friend at work from Alabama who told me Mosely is very underrated and is a game-changer. Nix, would give us the inside presence at NT for years to come - it's like when we bit the bullet with Casey and never had to think about NT for a decade. Those are easily my top 2 choices, though I wouldn't be upset with a few other guys.

I just think this defense got weak up the middle and it was harder to get off the field on 3rd and short than it had been in prior years -- as well as more difficult to get the ball back when needed at the end of games. There are so many good WRs, you could easily get a solid guy in the 2nd or 3rd, while the other first rounders are (small) reaches where we pick... plus, I haven't given up on Wheaton yet.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

excellent write up ruthless. I was hoping for evans or gilbert, but like you said, highly unlikely.

I guess I would lean towards ebron even though I'm not in love with him as a player. But he would be the top player at his position and the drop off seems to be significant from him to the other 2 you hear mentioned. (asj/amaro)

Speaking of Ebron, while I'm not in love with a TE as the pick, he is more above the others than Eifert was. I was a bigger fan of Ertz last year, and by the end of the year, he was proving me right. Plus, I had a late-round man-crush on Joseph Fauria, who was an undrafted FA and ended up starting by year's end.

This year, Ebron seems to be a stud waiting to happen.

[Dee Dub]

I personally think that DE Kony Ealy, CB Darqueze Dennard, and C.J. Mosely all will go inside the top 15 and ahead of some of the guys Ruthless has mentioned. And because of this, one of those (listed by Ruthless), may end up lasting as long as number 15. I think that very easily could be Mike Evans or Justin Gilbert. The fact that this is a very deep draft for WR's in rounds 1 and 2, some teams may be inclined on passing on one in the top 15, knowing they can get a real good one in round two.

I've been on Justin Gilbert from day one, however, it wasnt because I thought he was the best CB in this draft. He's close but I dont think he is. And just because he blew up the combine doesnt change the fact that on the field, Dennard was the better of the two.

There are two wild cards to all of this as well. Timmy Jernigan and Louis Nix III. One and maybe both may go very high up the board. And inside the top 10.

[flippy]

Seems like Mike T prefers the young and super athletic guys and I think that would leave us leaning toward Evans or Ebron if either is available. I think those are the only 20 yr old Juniors super athletes that might be around when we pick.

This year seems a lot harder to guess at than just about any draft I can remember. It feels like there's probably 10-15 guys we could end up picking.

[Shawn]

I personally think that DE Kony Ealy, CB Darqueze Dennard, and C.J. Mosely all will go inside the top 15 and ahead of some of the guys Ruthless has mentioned. And because of this, one of those (listed by Ruthless), may end up lasting as long as number 15. I think that very easily could be Mike Evans or Justin Gilbert. The fact that this is a very deep draft for WR's in rounds 1 and 2, some teams may be inclined on passing on one in the top 15, knowing they can get a real good one in round two.

I've been on Justin Gilbert from day one, however, it wasnt because I thought he was the best CB in this draft. He's close but I dont think he is. And just because he blew up the combine doesnt change the fact that on the field, Dennard was the better of the two.

There are two wild cards to all of this as well. Timmy Jernigan and Louis Nix III. One and maybe both may go very high up the board. And inside the top 10.

Thank you. Finally some sane talk.

[feltdizz]

Nice observations, ruthless. I'd be good with Mosely. Good friend at work from Alabama who told me Mosely is very underrated and is a game-changer. Nix, would give us the inside presence at NT for years to come - it's like when we bit the bullet with Casey and never had to think about NT for a decade. Those are easily my top 2 choices, though I wouldn't be upset with a few other guys.

I just think this defense got weak up the middle and it was harder to get off the field on 3rd and short than it had been in prior years -- as well as more difficult to get the ball back when needed at the end of games. There are so many good WRs, you could easily get a solid guy in the 2nd or 3rd, while the other first rounders are (small) reaches where we pick... plus, I haven't given up on Wheaton yet.

Excellent post.... there is no need to give up on Wheaton. While it would've been nice to see Wheaton have a break out year there is no indication our FO has given up on him.

[Oviedo]

The top 3 pass rushers in the draft (Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, and Anthony Barr) were out of reach before the Combine and remain out of reach now.

The top 3 tackles in the draft (Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson, and Taylor Lewan) are now all out of reach. Matthews was all along, and with the shows that Robinson and Lewan put on in Indy, neither one is making it out of the top 12 anymore either.

The top 2 wideouts in the draft (Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans) are now out of reach. Watkins was never falling to 15, but I'm sure the team was drooling over the possibility of Evans being the big WR that Ben has been pining for for so long. With his combine performance, the likelihood of him falling to 15 has moved from slim to none.

The top corner in the draft (Justin Gilbert) is now out of reach. He blew up the combine. He's got the size, got the athleticism, got the fluidity, and got the tape to back it all up. Probably top 10 now.

Take those 9 guys, add in the 3 QB's that will likely come off the board early as well (since the Texans, Jags, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings all have needs at QB...possibly the Bucs too since the new coaching regime may not have the same faith in Mike Glennon as the regime that drafted him last year), and we've got a solid dozen guys who should be gone before we pick. If any of them fall (among the non-QB's), that would be the pick. But I don't see it happening.

After those 12 are off the board, I think the Rams take a safety (either Clinton-Dix or Pryor) and the Bears take a d-lineman (either Jernigan or Donald). So what's left for us? Likely defense or a weapon for Ben.

We could take the safety that the Rams don't take (either Clinton Dix or Pryor). We could take the #2 corner (Dennard). We could take the top ILB (Mosley). We could take the top NT (Nix) and move McLendon to DE. We could take the top 3-4 DE prospect (Hageman) since both Hood and Keisel are free agents and we may let both of them go. If we go offense, the options are Ebron at TE, a guy like Lee who seems to be the type of WR they like in the Antonio Brown mold only slightly bigger, or a taller WR like Benjamin. Starting to narrow it down now...

You had me at Ebron

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

What I have learned is that there are approximately 20 players who will crack the top 15, and possibly 5 more. Using math, I believe that this is not possible - but I could be wrong. Based on experience, I believe that there will be one or two surprises who jump into the top 15.

To make a short story long...I have no idea who they will be, but the Steelers will have a shot several solid players, who play a position of need, at 15. I could probably name seven or eight who I would guarantee will not be there, but after that there are a lot of possibilities.

[squidkid]

Ebron............

[NJ-STEELER]

Excellent post.... there is no need to give up on Wheaton. While it would've been nice to see Wheaton have a break out year there is no indication our FO has given up on him.

drafting a WR at 15 isnt giving up on wheaton.

he the perfect size to be a slot guy in a multi WR set. and where he was drafted is where you find a lot of slot guys around the league

[SteelerOfDeVille]

drafting a WR at 15 isnt giving up on wheaton.

he the perfect size to be a slot guy in a multi WR set. and where he was drafted is where you find a lot of slot guys around the league

Cotchery also happens to be a pretty dang good slot.

Besides, Wheaton is roughly the same size as Antonio Brown, so, "perfect size for a slot guy" is nonsense (1 inch taller, 4 lbs lighter than Brown, per espn.com) The question is "Is the guy capable of being a GOOD WR" and if so, why spend a top 15 pick to replace him already?

You re-sign Cotchery, pick a mid-round guy with upside at WR to compete with Wheaton and Cotchery, then you can fill bigger needs early.

[papillon]

The top 3 pass rushers in the draft (Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, and Anthony Barr) were out of reach before the Combine and remain out of reach now.

The top 3 tackles in the draft (Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson, and Taylor Lewan) are now all out of reach. Matthews was all along, and with the shows that Robinson and Lewan put on in Indy, neither one is making it out of the top 12 anymore either.

The top 2 wideouts in the draft (Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans) are now out of reach. Watkins was never falling to 15, but I'm sure the team was drooling over the possibility of Evans being the big WR that Ben has been pining for for so long. With his combine performance, the likelihood of him falling to 15 has moved from slim to none.

The top corner in the draft (Justin Gilbert) is now out of reach. He blew up the combine. He's got the size, got the athleticism, got the fluidity, and got the tape to back it all up. Probably top 10 now.

Take those 9 guys, add in the 3 QB's that will likely come off the board early as well (since the Texans, Jags, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings all have needs at QB...possibly the Bucs too since the new coaching regime may not have the same faith in Mike Glennon as the regime that drafted him last year), and we've got a solid dozen guys who should be gone before we pick. If any of them fall (among the non-QB's), that would be the pick. But I don't see it happening.

After those 12 are off the board, I think the Rams take a safety (either Clinton-Dix or Pryor) and the Bears take a d-lineman (either Jernigan or Donald). So what's left for us? Likely defense or a weapon for Ben.

We could take the safety that the Rams don't take (either Clinton Dix or Pryor). We could take the #2 corner (Dennard). We could take the top ILB (Mosley). We could take the top NT (Nix) and move McLendon to DE. We could take the top 3-4 DE prospect (Hageman) since both Hood and Keisel are free agents and we may let both of them go. If we go offense, the options are Ebron at TE, a guy like Lee who seems to be the type of WR they like in the Antonio Brown mold only slightly bigger, or a taller WR like Benjamin. Starting to narrow it down now...

See my sig, been that way for awhile...

Pappy