!!!TRADE!!!TRADE!!!TRADE!!!
The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded their 17th overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings for their 23rd and 25th overall picks.
Im sorry, but I cant justify Jones, Vaccaro or Eifert at 17. Jones will probably be a Saint, as well as he is clearly a 1 trick pony. And a potentially ill and slow one at that. Vaccaro will probably follow in the footsteps of Mark Barron and also go top 15. And while Miller is 31 and now injured, TE is not as pressing of a need, especially at 17. Side note- If Rhodes is somehow, someway on the board, HE IS THE PICK. Tomlin must still be pissed we missed out on Revis, and I bet you he wont let that happen again. But alas, Rhodes is considered by most the 2nd best CB. And if you believe all the shit falling on Milliner, Rhodes could be the 1st CB taken. Either way, hes long gone by 17.
Yes, Ive been paving the way for Elam at 17, but even that might just be a tad too high. But even more important is the fact that weve lost over a half dozen players, many of them former starters, and if you add in the backups, we have far more than 8 holes.
Up until last night I was really leaning on Atlanta to be our best trade partner, but then I starting thinking like my co-blogger. Where is the history between the teams? With Atlanta? None. 49ers? Nope. Minnesota? Ummm, yup. Tomlin was their former DC before becoming our HC. And I bet, if Teo (will be), Patterson (probably will be), Austin (flip a coin) or even Tank Carradine (perhaps) are their at 17, we're trading with the Vikings. We need the picks. And Colbert said himself "there are 6-8 players worthy of our 1st pick" as well as "rounds 2-4 are very very deep". So lets get 2 of them. Maybe even 3.
One more note before I continue- Ive been making a mistake the last 4 drafts, thinking that Tomlin has never drafted 2 players from the same school in the same draft. Maybe it was my MS, or maybe just my Black N Gold blood not allowing me to remember the 2008 "draft", but sure as shit we did draft Sweed and Hills, both Longhorns. Remember that when you go thru this final mock. Yes, its my final mock. I will not be posting the one I built with Jarvis at 17, nor the ones with Cooper (I wish) or Elam (still wishing) at 17. This my friends, is the way it will go. So it is said, so it shall be done. Or some movie line I cant quite recall.
That said, lets get to business...
23 (from MN) Matt Elam, Safety Florida- Ive written about Elam as the perfect fit for our defense as well as our 1st pick many many times. Ed Bouchette had an article the other day that further backed my belief. Ed wrote that unlike most other teams, they dont do a full NFL mock. The do a Steelers mock, at every pick, allowing them and Mr. Rooney to omit players that either do not fit our team or that have off field issues that Dan doesnt wanna have. Ok, except for Rainey. And Ta'Amu. And Adams. Ugh. Either way, this shows that while other teams may have Vacarro as the best safety in the draft, MT and Colbert very well could have Elam at that spot. And Im betting they do. Add to that Mike Mayock released his top 100 with Elam 25 overall.
25 (from MN) Arthur Brown, LB Kansas State- The Steelers attended his pro day in mass, and like the other 31 teams, drooled at the sight. These 1st 2 picks could go either way, but keeping in the history of us drafting a junior, Elam, first. Nevertheless, the only way Brown makes it to us now at 25 is if the Bears are in the john when picking at 20. I do have to say this- he was invited to the Senior Bowl, but due to a minor injury he could not attend. Actually, he couldnt play. He still attended. He wanted to show the coaches and scouts that just like in the game, if hes injured, DONT WRITE HIM OFF. He still wanted to work out and meet with the coaches. He didnt want to disappear due to some injury. He wanted to make sure he was known. I liked that ALOT. Much like Timmons Brown can flex inside and out, while in his case ILB might be his more comfortable position but most teams see him flexing to OLB with ease. We have 1-2 years to see where he fits best, as Harrison (and Worilds) replacement at ROLB, or as Farrior (and Foote and Spences) replacement inside. Either way, we cant lose. He is the same size as Harrison with Timmons speed. He wraps up tackles and has the patience to allow the play to unfold before striking. I can only imagine Elam and Brown starting out on Special Teams, as well as certain packages to get their feet wet. Yup, drooling.
48 LeVeon Bell, RB Michigan State- While there is recent news that Franklin has our eye, I happen to think this news, along with inviting both he and Lacy, were on purpose. There are some that have said Bell is indeed the best all around back in the draft. Some say its Franklin. And some Lacy. What better way to allow Bell to be there at 48 than to show other teams were interested in the other RBs. Let them take Franklin and Lacy, only to have Bell come right to our doorstep. Side note- Id be fine with any of these RBs (Franklin, Ball, Bell, Gillislee, maybe even Michael) but Bell is at the top of my list. And if you look further, hes a junior. And Tomlin loves juniors. He feels younger players are more open to being coached. Bell has soared up the draft boards, and had dinner with MT and Colbert. In my opinion Bell looks and plays a lot like Steven Jackson. As a matter of fact, Jax also said Bell reminds him of himself. While he doesnt have scary 4.4 speed, he does have the patience to find the best hole, and then deliver a brutal stiff arm to give himself separation. He has experience in the inside and outside zone blocking scheme, and while the stretch play might be more difficult for him to pull off in the NFL, a counter or misdirection could give him plenty of room to break away. And thats not to mention his threat in the passing game.
79 Stedmon Bailey, WR WVU- Yes we invited mid to late rounders with speed in Boyce, King and Brown, but with Wallace gone and Sanders to probably follow we need to act sooner to fill the WR spot. Why Bailey? He happens to have similar YPC to Patterson, but is a 3 year starter, and runs superb routes (everything Patterson is not). He is similar in size to the "Young Money Family", and is about the same speed as Sanders, and like Sanders he can play in the slot or outside. He is very physical at the LOS, and can get off the snap with damn near anyone in his face. To put more fuel to the fire he worked out with Mr. Richard Mann to get ready for the Combine. Recognize the name? Hes our new WR Coach and has raved about Bailey from day 1. I also did some math recently on the number of players we draft that were also brought in for a workout. We average 3-4 per year. While the number of visitors sits only at 24/30, my other mocks had far too many visitors being drafted by us. So I tweaked it, but kept with the history of MTs most successful drafts, 2010, 2011 and 2012 (maybe). Bailey falls right into place here.
115 Dion Sims, TE Michigan State- Remember when I said I was wrong with the 2 players 1 draft thing? MT and Colbert took Bell and Sims to dinner before the MI State pro day. Sims is very much like Miller in that he is a terrific in line blocker, but is also a threat in short/intermediate routes. While Miller is left behind when the "best TEs" are ranked, he led our team in receptions last year and if given the chance Sims could be a nice filler to take over for Heath in a year or 2. While we wont flex him out to the slot too often, Haley can easily do that with Paulson and keep Sims in to block, or even chip block, then being the surprise target underneath.
150 B.W. Webb, CB William and Mary- Here is my only player falling. Why? Height and lack of competition. Or so I hope. The more I read and watch this kid, the more I like him. He is a total ball hawk that will knock the bejesus outta you if given the chance in run support. Plus, hes from MTs Alma Mater. Weve invited a few mid round CBs all with 2 things in common- speed and hands. Webb grabbed the attention of scouts and coaches with his play at the Senior Bowl. While he doesnt have the height Id prefer at CB, he does happen to be the same size as a certain former MT draftee... Ugh, William Gay. Webb usually plays the LCB spot, but has also played nickel as well as returned punts. And what makes his 5'10 height ok?- a 40 inch vertical. Go ahead, put it up. This kid will give everything he has to go get it, or at least knock it down. He can give Brown some competition at the dime spot, while actually getting playing time on special teams as a punt returner.
186 Michael Mauti, LB PSU- Its about time we drafted a LB from Penn State. Oh, this one has had 3 ACL tears? 3 ya say? Not 2? No. 3. Shit. The way I understand it is that weve been involved with the kid for a long long time, and will give him every chance to start out on special teams and maybe fill in for the other seriously injured ILB Spence at some point. Ive also read that his football smarts are extremely high, and he has a big love for the game. Its the 6th round, so what the hell. Why not? I did move him up 1 pick from my former mocks, more so to meet the history trends of MTs prior mocks. I have also read that if not for the ACL tears, he coulda been a top 60 pick.
206 Ryan Griffin, QB Tulane- Ive written about him before. He is known for his accuracy, though against iffy competition. Were not looking for the next Big Ben, but competition for the 2nd and 3rd QB spot is fine. And damn near anything besides Leftwich is a step up.
223 Nik Embernate, OL San Diego State- We might have struck gold with the Beachum pick here last year. Could we do it again? While Nik (easier to type than his last name) isnt as position flexible, he does have something in common with a former Steeler. Kemoeatu. Niks nickname is EmberNASTY. His coaches yanked him from his starting spot after being thrown out of a game in his freshman year. He simply enjoys hitting people. And in a zone blocking scheme both in college and now here, that isnt a "bad" thing, as long as its under control. He hasnt had any issues of the sort since that one episode, saying that it really woke me up". Like Destro he is very familiar (and enjoys) trapping to the left from the RG spot. While I thought finding a OL that had spent time as a OT would be the best, this mock just didnt turn out that way. I do have 2 UDFAs that could help with that matter though. In the meantime, Nik can probably be worked out at OC at some point, as well as LG.
Based on our losses as well our very limited gains in Free Agency we can actually add up to 17-19 UDFAs. Here are my top 10 favorites.
Xavier Brewer, DB Clemson- played CB and can flex to both safety spots.
Byron Jerideau, DT South Carolina or Darius Smith, DT Miami- either could be a practice squad NT and learn to flex to the 5 tech. Both happen to be the same size as the DT Tomlin loves, Brandon Williams. Plus, we gotta have someone ready when TaAmu gets busted again.
Jonathan Meeks, S Clemson- more of a pure safety that can play either spot. We did lose 2 safeties to free agency, but Golden may have earned 1 of the backup spots with Elam at the other. A solid PS I bet. He was brought in for a visit.
Marvin Burdette, LB UAB- we worked him out at his pro day, and while hes probably not taller than, umm, ME, he is a lot like the Mauti pick in that he is all football all the time. A solid wrap up tackler who feels he should make every tackle on the field. Are you paying attention Sylvester?
Ryan Turnley, OL Pitt- heres the local kid. He has and can play almost all of the positions on the oline, he is easily a solid replacement for Bruno but takes it a step further. In addition to OC and OG, he has the size to play RT if needed.
Mike Farrell, OT PSU or RJ Dill, OT Rutgers- either can flex both OT spots as well as RG.
Curtis McNeal, RB USC- here is Raineys replacement. While Id love to draft McCalebb from Auburn we cant afford to pick 2 RBs in the draft. Here is another fast, scat back who is also a kick returner.
Justin Brown, WR Oklahoma- I had him as our 7th round pick for a long time but trading with the Vikes only gets us 1 extra pick. Heres hoping he falls thru and we grab him. He is the tall, bigger WR that Ben has been wanting for awhile now. He was also invited for a work out.
This blog is solely used to provide both Steelers and Bears fans with a very realistic look at their teams upcoming possible draft picks.
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