Trumaine Johnson were kicking the tires on a trade?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I also believe that in order to call any move a success, it would require the Steelers to improve this year's team. Whether or not you believe your new corner is going to have a great career, it is doubtful that he is an impact player in '17. Ironically, the only rookie corner who I can remember being a key contributor to a contending team is Burns last year. However, as well as he played, he was schooled in the AFCC and showed his inexperience.

[feltdizz]

I also believe that in order to call any move a success, it would require the Steelers to improve this year's team. Whether or not you believe your new corner is going to have a great career, it is doubtful that he is an impact player in '17. Ironically, the only rookie corner who I can remember being a key contributor to a contending team is Burns last year. However, as well as he played, he was schooled in the AFCC and showed his inexperience.

i definitely think one of these CB's in the draft could do what Burns did and take over halfway through the season. Of course it's all about finding the right one.

not mad at all they went OLB though because it looks like Watt may be a gamer and pressure makes DB's look GREAT!!!

[Steel Maniac]

Is Gareon Conley really all that good?

Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore were better OSU DB's this year.

And the year before, the Buckeyes had Eli Apple and Vonn Bell in that secondary as well.

It's entirely possible that Conley is the Ohio State version of Byron Maxwell up in Seattle back when he was surrounded by guys like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor.

I'm not trading a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick to get the third most talent player on a college team.

You are doing a lot of "assuming"

Conley was arguably the best cornerback in the draft. Just because you choose to downgrade him in your mind doens't make it so. He is supposedly that good; and that's all any of us (including Steeler management ) had to go by.

He was worthy of moving up for IF those charges were not hanging over his head at the time. I'm going to take the word of the scouts over yours on this one Ruth. hahaha

[feltdizz]

Can't wait to revisit this thread in a few years to see how these players panned out. Pretty sure folks were swearing Justin Gilbert would be the truth. We can speculate all day but we shall see. Our track record early in the draft is pretty darn good so I will trust the FO made the right decision.

[Captain Lemming]

Our track record early in the draft is pretty darn good so I will trust the FO made the right decision.

Not so good with SECOND ROUND REVEIVERS.

[RuthlessBurgher]

You are doing a lot of "assuming"

Conley was arguably the best cornerback in the draft. Just because you choose to downgrade him in your mind doens't make it so. He is supposedly that good; and that's all any of us (including Steeler management ) had to go by.

He was worthy of moving up for IF those charges were not hanging over his head at the time. I'm going to take the word of the scouts over yours on this one Ruth. hahaha

My assumptions here are in line with the vast majority of draft analysts.

Malik Hooker was a consensus top 5 pick until surgeries prevented him from being able to work out at the Combine and his Pro Day. Even in spite of those injuries, he was still expected to go in the top 10...it was a real surprise that he fell all the way down to #15.

Marshon Lattimore was widely expected to be a top 10 pick. It was a shock that 3 WR's went ahead of him and he fell to #11.

Meanwhile, Conley started out as a second day prospect whose stock rose to a potential late first round pick, with some pundits touting him as a mid first rounder (particularly after Sidney Jones' injury at his Pro Day dropped him). Once Conley's allegations surfaced, everyone assumed he'd fall out of round 1 as well, and were surprised when he went as high as #24.

But even before those allegations became public, I never saw Conley ranked ahead of Hooker or Lattimore, so my statement about him being the 3rd best DB in his college team's secondary holds. Even though his teammates fell farther than expected, and Conley went higher then expected, he was still the 3rd Buckeye DB off the board.

If I'm spending the extreme price it takes to trade up in the first round, I'm going after THE GUY who is unquestionably the difference-maker on his college team, not a guy who is benefitting from all of the other exceptional talent surrounding him.

[Captain Lemming]

Not so good with SECOND ROUND REVEIVERS.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Getting back to the original post...

Trumaine Johnson interest is similar to them being interested in Hightower. It is not because the team feels it desperately needs to upgrade the position, it is a situation in which if the team is going to make a switch they are going to look at someone who is a big upgrade. I think that the team is comfortable (if that is the right word) going into the season with Cockrell opposite Burns - after all, this combo started on a team that went to the AFCCG last year, but they also realize that a top ten corner makes this D significantly better.

[Rara]

I wouldn't get my hopes up, but it'd be nice to get an upgrade like Johnson.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think that missing on a WR once a decade is OK (Limas was drafted in 2008 ).