What if Jake Matthews falls to us?

[phillyesq]

I would take Matthews and not look back. Let Adams and Gilbert fight it out at RT and Beachum fill a super-sub role.

To even consider a trade down when there is a blue chip LT on the board, you'd have to get a lot back. Something along the lines of trading back in the first this year and picking up another #1 next year.

[Discipline of Steel]

Keep in mind that if he's there & we don't take him - he falls to the Ravens rights behind us & you face him for the next 4-8 years.

Excellent point! and on a side note....Delray beach? That is exactly 9 miles south of me. Where is your game day hangout?

[Shawn]

Not even close a ton of value at WR left but no LT even close can still get good WR in 2-6

Evans is a game changer...I don't think it would be an easy decision.

[Ernie]

Evans is a game changer...I don't think it would be an easy decision.

I agree.. I guess the question is: is there value at LT in rounds 2-6 that equals value at WR in those same rounds? If not, then I think you have to go with Matthews..

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I would take Matthews and not look back. Let Adams and Gilbert fight it out at RT and Beachum fill a super-sub role.

To even consider a trade down when there is a blue chip LT on the board, you'd have to get a lot back. Something along the lines of trading back in the first this year and picking up another #1 next year.

$$$$$$$

I'm with you on this. It's a deep enough draft that we can address other areas of concern in the later rounds, but if the Steelers by some miracle get a chance to take Jake, I don't see any way they pass him up.

[squidkid]

yea, lets take another oline with a premium pick.
how about evaluating the right guys and then coaching them up instead of just spending high picks and hope they work out

[thor75]

yea, lets take another oline with a premium pick.
how about evaluating the right guys and then coaching them up instead of just spending high picks and hope they work out

I appreciate you like the skilled position players, but the game is won or lost on the line of scrimmage. When you get the chance to draft a top tier prospect at LT you should do it. I don't think there is much "hope" he pans out, I think it is pretty close to a sure thing.

[squidkid]

I appreciate you like the skilled position players, but the game is won or lost on the line of scrimmage. When you get the chance to draft a top tier prospect at LT you should do it. I don't think there is much "hope" he pans out, I think it is pretty close to a sure thing.

same thing was said about pouncey(average), decastro(good), gilbert (average) adams(below average).
all these guys were drafted and every steelers 'fan' clamored about how they got a great player and would anchor down a spot for year to come. years later and we still are below average.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

same thing was said about pouncey(average), decastro(good), gilbert (average) adams(below average).
all these guys were drafted and every steelers 'fan' clamored about how they got a great player and would anchor down a spot for year to come. years later and we still are below average.

I don't remember anyone saying Gilbert or Adams would be "sure things"...I remember hearing a lot of talk about "potential" with them, but also concerns about whether they would ever really pan out.

I did hear pre-draft evaluations touting DeCastro as being a sure thing...and I think by the second half of last season, he was showing himself to indeed be a very good player.

Pouncey had a terrific rookie year, but his play has declined since then--I think a considerable part of that could be due to his injuries.

[Discipline of Steel]

I would agree BHD...nice synopsis

[K Train]

You take him...no questions

Guy isnt a mauler but he is sensational in space, something we do not have. This would be like getting Joe Thomas at 15

[RuthlessBurgher]

Keep in mind that Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews played together on the same o-line in Houston from 1983 to 1993. Jake Matthews was born in 1992, so Mike Munchak has known the kid for literally his entire life. When Mike Munchak was promoted from OL coach to head coach in Tennessee in 2011, he hired his old friend and fellow Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews to replace him as the Titans' OL coach through last season. If there ever was a perfect LT prospect to select for an OL coached by Mike Munchak, it's Bruce Matthews' son.

I've been on the Mike Evans bandwagon since the beginning of this draft process, but I'd be ecstatic to take his TXA&M teammate instead (and I'm not talking about Johnny Football). I think Gilbert and Adams proves that taking OT on day two is a crapshoot, whereas there is tremendous depth at WR in this draft in particular, and we have had success taking WR's on day two in recent years (with Sweed being the exception that proves the rule).

[ikestops85]

A chance at a franchise left tackle? I don't think their is anything to debate. You run up to the podium and take the guy. That would immediately solidify a position that we aren't strong at. If necessary you look to trade Adams or Gilbert but with our recent history with injuries to O linemen we need all we can get.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

You pick him... no questions asked.

how was that NOT the end of the thread?

[Steel Life]

Excellent point! and on a side note....Delray beach? That is exactly 9 miles south of me. Where is your game day hangout?

Usually home...find the atmosphere of the bar too distracting, plus I've got two other things to account for - one, I like to replay certain sequences to get a better look & second I've got two teenagers I'm grooming to be Steeler fans

That said, there's a place in Downtown Delray that's advertising itself as a Steelers bar that I wouldn't mind checking out.