Thoughts on a few of the Day Two Edge Rushers

[RuthlessBurgher]

Much of the talk has been focusing on our first round target, but with 3 picks on day two of the draft and needs at edge rusher, corner, and safety (all position groups that seem to be particularly strong though the first 3 or 4 rounds of the draft), Colbert will be making the biggest impact of our draft on Friday night.


Which of these day two edge rushers do you like or not like for us? All of them seemed to improve their stock with impressive showings at the combine over the weekend, and we know that Colbert and Tomlin tends to love guys with these types of athletic traits.


Houston DE/OLB Tyus Bowser
Height 6'3", Weight 247 lbs., Arm Length 33-1/4", Hands 10-1/8"
40 time 4.65 sec, Bench 21 reps, vertical jump 37.5", broad jump 127", 3 cone 6.75 sec


Ohio DE/OLB Tarell Basham
Height 6'4", Weight 269 lbs., Arm Length 34-1/4", Hands 10-1/4"
40 time 4.70 sec, Bench 15 reps, vertical jump 31.5", broad jump 119", 3 cone 7.27 sec


Kansas St. DE/OLB Jordan Willis
Height 6'4", Weight 255 lbs., Arm Length 33-1/2", Hands 9-7/8"
40 time 4.53 sec, Bench 24 reps, vertical jump 39", broad jump 125", 3 cone 6.85 sec


Youngstown St. DE/OLB Derek Rivers
Height 6'4", Weight 248 lbs., Arm Length 32-3/4", Hands 9-3/8"
40 time 4.61 sec, Bench 30 reps, vertical jump 35", broad jump 123", 3 cone 6.94 sec


Thoughts?

[Eddie Spaghetti]

i would add smoot from Illinois to that list and rank them:

rivers
smoot
Willis
bowser
basham

also interested to hear thoughts on Carl Lawson who just looks like an AFC north LB to me. I have seen him mocked to us in the 1st and then have read on Walter football he's a 3rd round prospect in their opinion. if he's a 3rd rounder then its a hell of a class

[Chadman]

Rivers or Willis would be Chadman's pick out of those mentioned...but...

T.J. Watt in Round 1 does all the things the Steelers need at OLB better than these guys. Safety & CB are stronger through Round 2 & 3 than OLB...

[SteelerMaine83]

I like them all, and would be happy with any of them. My ordering:

Bowser
Willis
Rivers
Basham
Smoot

If we get a outside, man CB to pair with Burns in FA, we could go OLB (Reddick, Lawson, Harris) in 1 , slot CB in 2, then one of these guys (trade both 3's to move up to get one once they start coming off the board?). Major d-upgrade.

[Real Deal Steel]

I really like Willis. I like Willis enough to take him in the first round. But since he most likely will be in the second, I could see us sliding back into the top of the second, while picking up an additional second round pick.

[steelerkeylargo]

I think Smoot is a round 5 guy. The other guys will be strictly situational pass rushers only year one. They will all have to learn coverage. Willis and Rivers are firmly in play at 2/30

[Rara]

Rivers and Smoot are my choices.