Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 First-round targets in 2018 NFL Draft

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

At this point, the departure of Le’Veon Bell is imminent. Bell want’s to be paid as he feels he’s worth, and the Steelers simply don’t agree. James Conner was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but not many in the steel city are quite sold on his ability to be a three down back. Enter Derrius Guice.

Not to be corny, but Guice is nice. He does everything well, and has shown the ability to both run around you and through you. Guice had to follow in the footsteps of Leonard Fournette, one of the greatest college backs of our generation. Guice followed this up with a 2017 season that saw him emerge as the No. 2 rushing prospect only behind Saquon Barkley of Penn State.

1,200 rushing yards in consecutive seasons is no easy feat, especially when facing the high level of competition the SEC provides. Guice, while not as flashy as Barkley, could be considered the most complete back in this draft class with his speed, power and agility. Guice excels running at all levels, including between the tackles and out in space. His vision also sets him apart from the rest of the pack, turning a two yard loss into a twenty yard gain. Simply put, Guice will succeed anywhere he goes thanks to being a well-rounded back.

Strengths

Possesses the needed combination of power and agility to punish defenders at will. Runs with heart, fights for extra yardage. Has second gear to separate himself while running. Smart with recognition of holes and where to run.

Weaknesses

Didn’t prove he was a threat catching out of the backfield. Could get better in pass protection.

Where he fits with the Steelers

As you can see, there are very little weaknesses to Guice’s repertoire. Barkley is entirely out of the question here, but Guice has a chance of sliding late into the round where the Steelers pick. Should he fall to Pittsburgh, the Steelers would get a running back who is capable of handling the workload right away while not missing a beat on offense. Guice is nowhere near the dual threat that Bell is for the Steelers, yet Guice could provide a home-run hitter in the backfield at a much cheaper cost.