The Steelers put together a very solid draft on paper.
Round 1 (30): T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
T.J. Watt is a 6-4, 252-pound outside linebacker who was a second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection last season with 63 tackles, 15 1/2 for loss, and 11 1/2 sacks while helping Wisconsin win the Cotton Bowl. He brings pressure from a number of gaps, and he understands how to use leverage to beat blocks. He needs to improve on run containment. The Steelers needed improvement in the pass rush and Watt should bring that. He has great NFL Genes.
Round 2 (62): JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
The Steelers will be loaded at receiver. Smith-Schuster is the kind of receiver any team would like—prolific, tough, aggressive and a playmaker after the catch. While he wasn’t a “need”, he was the best player on the board. Smith recorded 3,092 yards with 213 receptions and 25 touchdowns. At 6’2” and 220 pounds, he is what NFL teams and general mangers look for. He is great at playing the ball in the air and has 4.52 40 yard dash speed.
Round 3 (94): Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee
This seemed to be the steal of the draft for the Steelers. Sutton had a top 50 grade but his 40-time seemed to scared off some teams. Sutton isn’t a speed cornerback, but he has the discipline to maintain coverage in zone and disguised defenses. He has solid ball skills and will be a contributor this year. He also adds value as a return man.
Round 3 (105): James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh
We wanted a Safety in this round (Or any round for that matter) but Conner is a great fit for the Steelers! He is an old-school banger, who plays smash mouth football. He is a very hard worker who can help spell, Le’Veon Bell. While primarily known for the toughness he displayed in recovering from cancer, he will be a good fit in the Steelers offense. This is a great pick and Conner will be an absolute fan favorite!
Round 4 (135): Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
Dobbs is a great athlete who can play “backyard” football and will have time to develop into the Steelers offense. He has a powerful arm. The guy is literally a rocket scientist so reading defenses should be a breeze and he could be the Dak Prescott of this year’s draft. This was a great fourth round pick and the Steelers stole a great QB prospect in this spot!
Round 5 (173): Brian Allen, CB, Utah
His size, 6’3, 215-pounds, is already perfect for the NFL and he could make an immediate impact on this team. His ability to play the ball in the air is outstanding and more times than not he can make interceptions that look like outstanding receiver’s catches. He will need to develop his tackling, but once he can become more physical, he’ll be a major contributor to this team. Expect some development before he’s ready to see the field this season, but he will at some point get playing time in 2017. He is a raw prospect with tremendous upside.
Round 6 (213): Colin Holba, LS, Louisville
The Steelers had some great value picks in this draft…until this one! This will go down as one of the strangest draft picks in the last 15 years. The Steelers have a great LS already and why they would waste a draft pick on one is beyond comprehension. He is a smart, athletic hard worker, but this pick was an absolute head scratcher!
Round 7 (248): Keion Adams, DE, Western Michigan (C)
Keion Adams a four-year starter was super productive over the last two seasons posting 28 TFLs and 13 sacks. Adams is a smart, skilled pass-rusher who leverages his opponents, he can beat blockers off the snap. He’s a tough player with great development potential. This was a terrific value pick and could pay big dividends.