Round 6, Pick 198: Antoine Brooks, S, Maryland
A well-built tackling machine, Antoine Brooks gives Pittsburgh some needed depth at the safety position. However, he’s not the same kind of safety as Minkah Fitzpatrick, and he won’t be heavily involved as a playmaker in the passing game. Instead, Brooks specializes in the run game and could bring a physical presence off the edge. He’s better near the line than in space.
Brooks struggles in deep coverage, and he’s close to being a liability in man coverage. The Maryland safety plays more like a box linebacker than a defensive back. His zone coverage isn’t that bad, but the Steelers shouldn’t give him a lot of space to cover. Small assignments are better.
Final Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 232: Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska
The twin brother of Khalil Davis, who heard his name called in the sixth round, Carlos Davis saw a decent amount of playing time during each of his four seasons at Nebraska. As a senior, he produced 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 11 games. For a seventh-rounder, Davis is a freak athlete with a high motor.
Unfortunately, scouts have a mountain of criticisms for Davis. His arms are too short to play successfully against NFL linemen. He doesn’t possess great burst off of the line. He can’t maneuver in short spaces, and he loses leverage battles by not playing with enough bend in his knees.
Still, Davis could make Pittsburgh’s final roster if he outplays Isaiah Buggs, who the Steelers took in the sixth round last year. Otherwise, Davis is looking at the practice squad.
Final Grade: B-