Now that its over with, what's your thoughts?

[Slapstick]

Cockrell got the playing time because the team felt better with him on the outside and Gay in the slot instead of Boykin...what ended up happening by the end of the year was Cockrell and Gay on the outside and Boykin in the slot...

I don't see Burns as a starter at any point in the season, barring injury...but I would be pleased as punch if he surprised me...if Golson can stay healthy, I can see him and Cockrell on the outside with Gay in the slot, directing traffic...Davis, Burns, and perhaps even Grant can earn some playing time in nickel and dime packages...

[Captain Lemming]

I LUV what we did. I wanted to shore the secondary FIRST as it been neglected for so long. While I knew NT was also a need, our PASS defense needed to be addressed. Then amazingly AFTER we address the secondary, we get a rare NT WHO IS A PASS RUSH BEAST? I cant believe it. I did prefer both the corner and safety picked just before us, but considering who was available those first three picks were spot on.

[Shoe]

Whenever I think a later round guy is supposed to be a steal for us, I'm usually wrong. Lately, I've said that about Chickillo last year and Zumwalt the previous one, among others. This year, I'm saying Hargrave. From his write-up, he sounds every bit the player Rankins (picked #12) is. Rankins is compared to Aaron Donald.

I like the DBs we took (don't necessarily love them yet). I didn't think taking a LB was necessary unless he was a real game-changer, so I'm a bit puzzled at that Feeney pick. Though he does seem to have a good chip on his shoulder.

This draft was weird though. We obviously targeted "need" areas... but then we picked a lot of guys who aren't considered immediately ready?!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Whenever I think a later round guy is supposed to be a steal for us, I'm usually wrong. Lately, I've said that about Chickillo last year and Zumwalt the previous one, among others. This year, I'm saying Hargrave. From his write-up, he sounds every bit the player Rankins (picked #12) is. Rankins is compared to Aaron Donald.

I like the DBs we took (don't necessarily love them yet). I didn't think taking a LB was necessary unless he was a real game-changer, so I'm a bit puzzled at that Feeney pick. Though he does seem to have a good chip on his shoulder.

This draft was weird though. We obviously targeted "need" areas... but then we picked a lot of guys who aren't considered immediately ready?!

Comparing a couple of 6th round LB's to a 3rd round DT in a draft that everyone believes was absolutely loaded with top notch DT's seems like an apples or oranges comparison to me.

[Slapstick]

I think it's bad practice to pick guys that are immediately ready to play over players that you think will be better in the long term, but will require development time...the draft should be how you build your team, not a short term band-aid...

[Steelerphile]

Cockrell got the playing time because the team felt better with him on the outside and Gay in the slot instead of Boykin...what ended up happening by the end of the year was Cockrell and Gay on the outside and Boykin in the slot...

I don't see Burns as a starter at any point in the season, barring injury...but I would be pleased as punch if he surprised me...if Golson can stay healthy, I can see him and Cockrell on the outside with Gay in the slot, directing traffic...Davis, Burns, and perhaps even Grant can earn some playing time in nickel and dime packages...

Cockrell was picked up as a FA after being a cut. He's not a No. 1 draft choice. He played because Cortez Allen got hurt and the Steelers were in dire straits. He has 7 starts under his belt. I'm baffled that people consider him to be this solid incumbent who has a firm grip on a starting job. He did get beat a lot. I think his position can be taken.

[Slapstick]

Cockrell was picked up as a FA after being a cut. He's not a No. 1 draft choice. He played because Cortez Allen got hurt and the Steelers were in dire straits. He has 7 starts under his belt. I'm baffled that people consider him to be this solid incumbent who has a firm grip on a starting job. He did get beat a lot. I think his position can be taken.

But, they weren't in dire straits...they had traded for Brandon Boykin, who was solid leading up to his pickup by the Steelers...they just preferred to put Cockrell on the field instead of Boykin...what they should have done, in retrospect, was put Cockrell and Boykin on the field instead of Blake...it took them awhile, but they came to that conclusion as well...

I just thought it went without saying that Gay was the only incumbent who would not be seriously challenged...

[squidkid]

additionally, this draft definitely ends the notion that the steelers draft BPA

[BradshawsHairdresser]

PFF's take on this year's draft. Overall, they weren't that impressed with the Steelers' selections:

[url]https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/30/draft-2016-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-teams/[/url]

[SteelerOfDeVille]

DeVille and DeTake
1. Artie Burns, CB, Miami
DeGood – as we all presume, WJIII was the preferred guy here, both by the fans and the team. The team needed a CB, and they got one. Frankly, Artie has a skillset to become a pro bowl CB. Good speed, good ball skills, bad memory (IMO, a requirement for a good CB). I’m not sure that any rookie CB would have been a full-time starter on this team, so don’t be frustrated if he doesn’t start
DeBad – My ONLY problem with this pick is that he seems to be a subpar tackler. Some say he could have been had in the 2^nd round. I don’t know what other teams boards look like, but, I’ve learned to trust this war-room. I’ve heard many talking heads say that picks 20-60 grade out VERY closely, that being the case, I don’t necessarily call this a reach.
DeLowDown – Grade: B. based on filling a position of need, with a guy who is less reach than some presume; continues their recent trend slightly over drafting athletes and trying to coach them up to become the sum of their parts (see Shazier)
NOTE: With his backstory, I'm rooting for Artie more than anyone in this class. He's had it rough and I'd love to see things turn around. Someone needs to get him in touch with Warrick Dunn (who had a similarly sad back-story, raising siblings)

2. Sean Davis, S, Maryland
DeGood – Personally LOVE this selection. While I wondered if the 1^st rounder’s profile fit the Steelers, I have no doubts this guy does. Kid loves to tackle (tries to pattern his game after Sean Taylor). Raw as a CB, but, I suspect more polished at Safety than scouts imagined.
DeBad – Gave up quite a few TDs as a CB. As long as that’s not his intended position, I have ZERO issues with this pick
DeLowDown – He was barely on my radar, because I thought we’d have our SS by then, but, I love this selection. IMO, a starter before the season is done. Grade: A

3. Javon Hargrave, NT, South Carolina State
DeGood – A beast of an interior lineman by play-style. Dominated (small school), but, did the same in all-star season against bigger schools. The real deal. The team had Billings available (who many of us wanted a round or two earlier) and passed. IMO, that says a lot about how they felt about him vs Billings. Again, I trust this war room when it comes to moves like this
DeBad – My only negative with this kid is this: he’s more of an upfield guy at times and may have to slow down; during many runs, his responsibility has to be to consume 2 and let the LB’s do their thing. If he’s as dominating as he appears, I don’t think it’ll be a problem, as they’ll be forced to double him
DeLowDown – Honestly, I think he wins the starting NT job in camp, unless there’s a UFA veteran brought in. Hard to give anything other than a Grade: A

4. Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
DeGood – starting LT in LSU’s pro-style offense. Played RT in prior season. Another position of need filled (oline depth). I suspect this guy will be a swing-olineman before its over. For now, he’s depth, not a starter. The good news is the team doesn’t need him immediately.
DeBad – small project in that he needs to add a little strength; not sure that OT would have been my pick considering existing depth, but, if he can play multiple positions, it’s a fine selection
DeLowDown – Being a 4^th rounder, he’d have to perform miserably bad to not make the roster. Throw in veteran FA signing of Ryan Harris and this may well spell the end for Adams. Grade B+

6. Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington
DeGood – FAST, ATHLETIC, combine freak, although he is a little slim-ish. Certainly a good risk-reward pick at this point. Unless he’s a special teams ace (or James Harrison retires), sounds like a practice squad candidate this year
DeBad – a bit of a project, but, as the theme has continued, has the skillset to be special if coached up
DeLowDown – Grade: B. Meh… it’s the 6^th round, can’t say too much about the best speed-rusher left on the board, but, wouldn’t have been upset with fliers on Jalen Mills or Vadal Alexander

7. Demarcus Ayers, WR, Houston
DeGood – well, they say he was the top return-guy on the board. I will reserve judgement as I didn’t do scouting on him due to his size. Didn’t feel like a guy they’d take
DeBad – Having heard “top return guy” before from this team a few times now, I don’t trust their selections of return guys. Again, Jalen Mills or Vadal Alexander or Kenny Lawler would have been my pick
DeLowDown – Grade: B because I haven’t watched video on this kid, I can’t criticize, but, can only base prediction on what I’ve read by the pros.

7. Tyler Matakevich, ILB, Temple
DeGood – SLEEPER ALERT!! DeVille likes this guy. A LOT. He’s slow. And small. And just makes plays… Tackling machine; leader on a pretty good college defense.
DeBad – like I said… he’s slow. And small. But, if you watched, you’d never know that.
DeLowDown – Grade: A. I think this guy makes the 53-man squad and one of camp’s pleasant surprises

Overall Grade: A-
I have a sneaky feeling this will be a boom or bust draft. And I'm leaning toward boom simply because in my mind by 2017, I see 3 starters, a new punt returner and a couple of other top backup/rotational players.

[SidSmythe]

What a HOMER analysis!! HaHa

I give this draft a GRADE B for the 24th year in a Row. It's what the STEELERS do and I'm ok with it.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

What a HOMER analysis!! HaHa

I give this draft a GRADE B for the 24th year in a Row. It's what the STEELERS do and I'm ok with it.

LMAO... I really didn't like a couple of the picks at the time, but, after seeing how it all panned out, they only think I'm disappointed in is their tendency to reach for athleticism and hope they can coach them up. (Dri Archer is one of the big flops there)

In a sense that all the biggest needs were filled, you have to grade it an A... you really cannot grade the players until they actually lace them up and get on the field.

Personally prefer a guy that runs a tenth slower in the 40, but, knows a tenth faster where he's going because he didn't have to think about it - it's instinct; but, apparently the FO doesn't think like I do...

In my mind, Shazier will forever be compared to CJ Mosley until one of them sets himself apart as I would have taken Mosley... looking like neither was a bad pick at the moment (assuming Shaz's injuries don't become a recurring thing)

[RuthlessBurgher]

What a HOMER analysis!! HaHa

I give this draft a GRADE B for the 24th year in a Row. It's what the STEELERS do and I'm ok with it.

What grade did you give for the draft 25 years ago?

[Shoe]

What grade did you give for the draft 25 years ago?

That would be '91? Was that not the Huey Richardson draft?