It’s been four days since the Pittsburgh Steelers made their final selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. It would have been easy to make some rash or quick judgment about the team’s moves but like a good piece of meat, it’s better for this type of stuff to sit and marinate.
Lets be brutally honest and truthful: Only time will tell if the Steelers made the most out of their seven draft picks in the NFL draft.
Jarvis Jones looked like a great pick in 2013 but he’s been a regret ever since.
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Kelvin Beachum looked like a throw-away pick in the seventh-round in 2012 but he’s looked like a legit starting left tackle in the NFL (and now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars).
Let’s not forget, that Antonio Brown character has been overachieving since being drafted in the sixth-round back in 2010.
If we can’t speculate, what’s the fun in life?
Exactly. So let’s get to it.
Best Pick: DT Javon Hargrave – South Carolina State (No. 89 overall)
Hargrave was one of the most disruptive interior pass-rushers in this year’s NFL Draft. In 2015, he finished with 13.5 sacks and had five multi-sack games in the process. At 6’1″ and 309 pounds, he ran a a 4.93, 40-time. Somebody at that size shouldn’t be able to move that fast.
What’s even more impressive is his quickness. He repeatedly beat offensive lineman by splitting gaps with his tremendous first-step which ultimately led to his high sack count. He fell to the third-round because some teams and scouts scoffed at his college production because he played against lesser competition. However, Rotoworld’s Josh Norris ranked Hargrave as his 30th-best prospect in the NFL Draft right ahead of Notre Dame’s wide receiver Will Fuller and Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche.
Both of those players were selected in the first-round.
By selecting a player like Hargrave and bypassing on a true 3-4 nose tackle throughout the entire draft, it’s clear the Steelers are moving away from their typical 3-4 base package. In turn, Hargrave will see plenty of snaps right away and should make an immediate impact.
Worst Pick: S Sean Davis – Maryland (No. 58 overall)
If you went into a lab and attempted to create a prototypical NFL strong safety, Davis would be that guy. He’s 6’0, 201 pounds and runs a 4.46, 40-time.
He played cornerback and safety during his college career and that kind of versatility is coveted in the NFL. He has the ability to man-up on wide receivers or play in the box.
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The problem is, Davis isn’t that good at covering WR’s one-on-one and he misses a lot of tackles. Instead of doing one thing “great”, he does a couple of things just “okay”.
According to NFL.com, Davis was burned for 10 touchdown passes over the last two seasons at Maryland and missed a total of 40 tackles over the last three seasons. His play against Ohio State last season was unimpressive to say the least. That was in college.
Right now, he’s expected to play strong safety for the Steelers. On occasion, he’ll be asked to cover NFL caliber wide receivers and tight ends on some plays. On others, he’ll asked to stay in the box and attempt to tackle NFL running backs.
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With his inability to do either one of the two at a high level, it’s troubling to think he’s ready to start in Week 1. Unfortunately, it might happen.
Ideally, Davis would sit for a year while contributing on sub-packages and earning a role on special teams. Instead, he’ll more than likely be forced to start right out of the gate because the Steelers have a lack of options with Shamarko Thomas and Robert Golden.
Overall Grade: C+
The Steelers drafted for need in this year’s draft by attempting to revamp the secondary with Artie Burns in the first-round and Sean Davis in the second-round.
Were they the best prospects available and highest rated players on the Steelers draft board?
Probably not and that might come back to haunt them.
Burns and Davis will both get some valuable snaps right away in the secondary but that’s more due to a lack of competition instead of projected NFL readiness.
Hargraves looks like a tremendous pick in the third-round while fourth-round offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins is a depth pick who projects to start his career as a third-stringer. He could move up to second-string in 2017 if/when Mike Adams leaves in free agency.
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Either way, this draft depends on the production Burns and Davis delivers over the next three-four years. Considering the Steelers drafted them for need instead of taking the best players available, it already puts them at a disadvantage.
If they falter because they’re are forced into playing time before they’re ready, a C+ might look generous in two to three years.