2015 Steelers Draft Prospects: Part 5

With the 2015 NFL Draft approaching, its time for another installment of the Steelers draft prospect series. As with last year, I'll profile draft prospects who have been connected to the Steelers, through mock drafts or visits/workouts. The profiles come from nfl.com.

OLB Eli Harold - Virginia  (6'3'', 247lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-ACC, Led Team with 14.5TFL

Combine: 40- 4.60s, 35in vert jump

Strengths: Rushed with a hand in ground & standing up. Fires out of stance with a forward lean, gaining ground quickly with his first two steps. Gives OTs limited area to punch. Sinks hips, dips shoulder and trims the edge when he gains advantage around the corner. Efficient, quick inside moves to pressure QBs. Has a memorable closing burst. Uses hands to snatch & shed against the run. Changed direction easily and will pursue like a wild man in space.

Weaknesses: Play strength is below average as a pass rusher. Can be jostled & redirected by a quality punch. Has to work overtime to disengage from tackles with strong hands. Instincts are below average. Will need to improve feel for the OLB spot and become a more consistent finisher.

NFL Comp: Olivier Vernon

Score: 6.11 (Should become an instant starter)

CB Senquez Golson - Ole Miss  (5'9'', 176lbs)

2014: Unanimous 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-SEC, Tied school record with 10INTs, Nagurski Award finalist

Combine: 40- 4.46s, 15reps, 33.5in vert jump

Strengths: Plus ball skills. Production off the charts in '14. Explosive through his lower body. Instinctive. Can mirror in space and closes down passing windows. Plays with smooth hips & good balance. Can open hips to turn & run and has good top-end speed. Willing & effective against the run. Can disengage to make aggressive tackles when necessary. Has good eye discipline.

Weaknesses: Worked primarily in zone & off-man coverage. 4TDs  allowed came against WRs 6'4'' or taller. Smallish frame combined with aggressive tackling could lead to durability issues.

NFL Comp: Brent Grimes

Score: 5.61 (Chance to become a starter)

TE C.J. Uzomah - Auburn  (6'5'', 264lbs)

Strengths: Lined up at WR, slot, inline and out of the backfield. Shows good feel for space. Above-average build up speed to separate & threaten seams. Showed focus hauling in challenging throws. Shows an ability to adjust as a blocker in space and catch moving targets. Has traits to become a better blocker.

Weaknesses: Lacks aggression and awareness as a run blocker. Doesn't use size to manhandle CBs when matched up 1-on-1 in the redzone. Raw & somewhat inexperienced. Allows throws to get on top of him. Late readiness with hands, making adjustments to poorly thrown balls difficult.

Score: 5.04 (Better than average chance to make a roster)

 

WR Sammie Coates - Auburn  (6'1'', 212lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-SEC

Combine: 40- 4.43s, 23reps, 41in vert jump

Strengths: Outstanding combination of size & speed. Good acceleration off the snap for a receiver with his length. Can take top off the defense and open up the underneath. Forces CBs onto their heels and gets easy, open looks on his routes. Ability to win big plays vertically.

Weaknesses: Not always on the same page with QBs. An unreliable target. Inexplicable focus drops in all areas of the field. Doesn't play with extended catch radius. A vertical receiver without a vertical feel. Inconsistent play speed. Has suspect ball tracking. Must improve at using body to ward off defenders. Stiff hips & limited route runner. Slow to gather and turn it upfield on catch & runs.

NFL Comp: Martavis Bryant

Score: 5.60 (Chance to become a starter)

  

TE Wes Saxton - South Alabama  (6'3'', 248lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.65s, 36in vert jump

Strengths: Very quick into his route off the snap. Willing to extend to make tough catches in traffic. Too quick for many LBs on intermediate routes. Traits to be a matchup problem on the next level. 

Weaknesses: Move TE only. Poor effort as a run block & offers no power to secure the edge or get movement. Routes are still very raw. Hasn't learned to gain as much separation as his athleticism should allow him. 

Score: 5.21 (Backup/Special teams potential)

OG Quinton Spain - West Virginia  (6'4'', 332lbs)

2014: Honorable Mention All-Big 12

Strengths: Shows surprising short-area movement skills for a man his size in the run game. Can secure & climb to the 2nd level in the zone game. Flashes power in his hands. Very good length for interior play. Loves to punish LBs & safeties who try and B-gap blitz him. Consistently looks for work.

Weaknesses: Hands are inconsistent. More a catcher than puncher. Shows leg stiffness. Upright set and shoddy hand work leads to a lack of desired anchor despite his power. Needs better initial footwork in the run game and to take better angles to the second level. Doesn't always display a great feel for his blocks if they aren't right in front of him.

NFL Comp: Louis Vasquez

Score: 5.16 (Better than average chance to make a roster)

 

DT Xavier Cooper - Washington St  (6'3'', 292lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.86, 29reps, 29in vert jump

Strengths: Outstanding foot quickness and an ability to pursue in space. Quick lateral footwork for plus penetration. Active hands create separation from blockers against the run and help him gain advantage as a pass rusher. Times the snap well and fires off the ball. Can transition fluidly playing the run & rushing the passer against play-action. Played both DT and DE.

Weaknesses: Lacks pure power at the point of attack. Must win with his hands or he can get pushed off his spot. Lacks true core strength to maintain base when being redirected by OL. Gets run around the arc as a pass rusher rather than countering back underneath. Lack of length affects ability to finish tackle opportunities.

NFL Comp: Clinton McDonald

Score: 5.44 (Backup/Special team potential)

TE Jeff Heuerman - Ohio St  (6'5'', 254lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-Big 10

Combine: 26reps

Strengths: Solid straight-line speed after the catch. Can threaten the seams vertically. Has plus vertical leap and high point ability as a pass catcher. Good body control to adjust to off-target throws.

Weaknesses: Strength doesn't translate at the point of attack. Rounds off his routes. Struggles to get separation at the top of the route. Can be rag-dolled in pass protection. Gets re-directed into his routes. Struggles to get the edge as a run blocker.

NFL Comp: Rob Housler

Score: 5.34 (Backup/Special teams potential)

TE Kennard Backman - UAB  (6'3'', 258lbs)

Strengths: Shows agility in the seam with an ability to adjust to poorly thrown balls. Quality hands and can secure in traffic. Puts head down & churns out as many yards after the catch as he can.

Weaknesses: Upright route runner too easily stymied by contact off the snap. Gets no separation out of his rounded breaks. Radar is severely lacking as a run blocker. Doesn't work into proper position to seal & needs to have tackle help in pass protection.

Score: 4.75 (Should be in a training camp)

 

WR Jaelen Strong - Arizona St  (6'2'', 217lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-Pac 12, Bilentikoff Award semifinalist

Combine: 40- 4.44s, 42in vert jump

Strengths: Knows how to keep defenders on his hip. Drives back to the ball from the top of the route. Adjusts routes in space. Comfortable from the slot, using varying route tempo for separation. Tracks the ball well. Makes contested catches. Will climb the ladder for a catch or sink & secure low throws. Physical after the catch.

Weaknesses: Still raw and learning the position. Ball will beat him at times on crossers. Takes a while to build up speed. Play speed is average at best. Rarely gets separation deep against man to man. Routes need improvement. Forced to make a substantial amount of contested throws.

NFL Comp: Dwayne Bowe

Score: 5.95 (Chance to become a starter)

CB Darryl Roberts - Marshall  (6'0'', 182lbs)

Strengths: Impressive recovery speed. Can change directions on command and has desired stop & start quickness. Has long arms and is aggressive with them in press coverage. Willing to make a play outside of his responsibility. Has length, speed and ball skills to challenge most downfield throws. Has physical tools that coaches covet. Doesn't throw himself wildly in run support. 

Weaknesses: Was often penalized, too physical with WRs. Needs to maximize body control and transition quickness. Inconsistent defensive awareness, gets impatient and undisciplined in mirror & match situations despite his tools. 

Score: 5.30 (Backup/Special teams potential)

 

CB Bryce Callahan - Rice  (5'10'', 185lbs)

Strengths: Has athleticism to mirror from backpedal. Can jam and then turn & follow WRs with some effectiveness. Rarely fooled by double moves and handles combination routes well. Has some ability to drive on the ball.

Weaknesses: Lacking play strength. Wants to jam at the line of scrimmage, but can be knocked off balance too easily. Too easily displaced at the top of the route by physical receivers. Appears to lack some desire when supporting the run.

Score: 5.28 (Backup/Special teams potential)

 

CB Steven Nelson - Oregon St  (5'10'', 197lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-Pac 12

Combine: 40- 4.49s, 19reps, 34.5in vert jump

Strengths: Very physical and aggressive. Focused & consistent when asked to jam at the line. Excels as a downhill player. Displays a closing burst & ball skills to consistently contest catches. Wraps up and finishes as a tackler. Fights to disengage and attacks bubble screens. 

Weaknesses: Doesn't have fluid hips to turn & chase if beaten off the line of scrimmage. Labored backpedal. Panics in man coverage and will get grabby. Doesn't have length or fluidity to play in trail coverage. 

Score: 5.47 (Backup/Special teams potential)

 

CB Doran Grant - Ohio St  (5'10'', 200lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-Big 10

Combine: 40- 4.44s, 21reps, 33in vert jump

Strengths: Bends with adequate base in the press. Adequate acceleration to the throw, slapping and ripping at hands and arms during the catch. Intelligent on the field. Rarely fooled by route concepts. Zone aware and maintains leverage. Senses screens and flies in looking for work. Active in run support and won't miss once he's there.

Weaknesses: Can be overpowered by big WRs. Feet & hips can get clunky when asked to open and run out of press. Lacking speed to stick with true vertical threats. Allows too much separation when forced to close across the field. Has an upright, tight backpedal stalling at the top when transitioning forward.

Score: 5.45 (Backup/Special teams potential)

 

DE Preston Smith - Mississippi St  (6'5'', 271lbs)

2014: Led team with 15TFL, 9scks, 1st Team All-SEC

Combine: 40- 4.74s, 124reps, 34in vert jump

Strengths: Has point of attack strength and doesn't get pushed around. Plays with leverage against the run. Very sound wrap-up tackler. Flashes busy hands as a pass rusher and uses them to gain advantage. Gets arm extension, finds RB and looks to shed against gap running plays. Has ability to slip & go when rushing form inside position.

Weaknesses: Must time the snap to get enough burst upfield to win the edge. Pedestrian inside pass rush moves. Disengages a step slow. Will jog & watch in pursuit away. Lacks power to bull rush.

NFL Comp: Antonio Smith

Score: 5.78 (Chance to become a starter)

CB Dexter McDonald - Kansas  (6'1'', 200lbs)

Strengths: Has athleticism to open hips from press coverage with stride & recovery speed to make up ground quickly. Play strength off of the snap a plus. Can be very disruptive with his jam. Aggressive hands to disrupt the catch. Shows desired foot quickness and transition potential for a big corner.

Weaknesses: High center of gravity prevents him from being able to stop quickly & adjust to curls and hitches underneath. Anticipates outside release. Must improve feel for a receiver during route. Will allow too much space rather than crowding. Had pass interference problems. Slow to track downfield throws.

Score: 5.12 (Better than average chance to make a roster)

OLB Davis Tull - Tennessee Chattanooga  (6'2'', 246lbs)

2014: Southern Conference DPOY, 1st Team FCS All-American, 10.5scks, 18TFL

Combine: 26reps, 42.5in vert jump

Strengths: Works as hard snap to snap as any DL in this draft. Plays stronger than listed weight. Stays square against the run. Plus hand-eye coordination. Relentless in pursuit. Has power & toughness to set the edge and turn plays back inside. Has lightning quick spin move. 

Weaknesses: Marginal upfield burst by NFL standards. Long tackles can get to his chest & divert his rush track. Average athlete with average size. Too small to play DE and has limited experience standing up.

NFL Comp: Dan Skuta

Score: 5.44 (Backup/Special teams potential)

OLB Neiron Ball - Florida  (6'2'', 236lbs)

2014: Dealt with injuries

Combine: 22reps

Strengths: Willing to take on lead blockers and play physically against the run. Plays with toughness. Has ability to cover man to man. Doesn't quit on a play. Has speed to close out the perimeter and uses some burst as a decent pass rusher. Mentally tough and has overcome obstacles.

Weaknesses: Slow with his eyes. Gets out of play-action and into coverage slower than desired. Inconsistent with diagnosing quickly & attacking, Angular LB who could use more bend & leverage in his game. Microfacture surgery is a concern and he had brain surgery in 2011 for a rare hereditary condition.

Score: 4.90 (Should be in a training camp)

2015 Steelers Draft Prospects: Part 4

With the 2015 NFL Draft approaching, its time for another installment of the Steelers draft prospect series. As with last year, I'll profile draft prospects who have been connected to the Steelers, through mock drafts or visits/workouts. The profiles come from nfl.com.

SS Landon Collins - Alabama  (6'0'', 228lbs)

2014: Unanimous All-American, 1st Team All-SEC, Finalist for the Nagurski & Thorpe Awards, 103tckls, 3INTs

Combine: 40- 4.53s, 35in vert jump

Strengths: Decisive against the run. Gets high to low quickly and is all over the ball. He leverages RBs to the sidelines and keeps contain. Explodes into his tackles with purpose. Not easily moved around the field by the QB. A wrap-up tackler. Physical enough to match up against TEs and has the feet to carry big slot targets. He transitions to throws quickly in zone coverage and limits yards after the catch. He times his leaps well.

Weaknesses: Has average hands, dropping easy INTs. Can be beaten in a foot race. Average recovery speed. Gets caught peeking into the backfield and can be beaten over the top after a late jump. Inconsistent route recognition. Shows some hip stiffness when asked to open up & run.

NFL Comp: Jonathan Cyprien

Score: 6.33 (Should become an instant starter)

TE Cameron Clear - Texas A&M  (6'5'', 277lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.98s, 32in vert jump

Strengths: Looks the part. Flashes adequate athleticism in routes. Has shown adequate ability to sustain run blocks and help with the edge.

Weaknesses: He struggled to find playing time & production in college. Inconsistent as a blocker. There are concerns when it comes to his personal character (2012 felony theft)

Score: 4.87 (Should be in a training camp)

OT T.J. Clemmings - Pittsburgh  (6'5'', 309lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-American, 1st Team All-ACC, Voted team captain

Combine: 40- 5.14s, 22reps, 32.5in vert jump

Strengths: Has great foot quickness (former H.S basketball player). Moves like a TE in space. Elite change of direction talent & knee bend. Can peel off a block to pick up a delayed blitzer. Can secure a shoulder to torque a defender out of a run play. His hands carry jarring power. Explodes out of his stance into defenders. Has the talent to make any block asked of him in the running game.

Weaknesses: Inexperienced and still raw at the position. Will fall off blocks when his base gets too narrowed on angle blocks. Will duck his head into contact in the run game. Gives away length with his wide hands. Has to scramble at times to redirect around the arc. Has shown a lack of technique & confidence after being beaten.

NFL Comp: Duane Brown

Score: 6.07 (Should become an instant starter)

 

WR Jamison Crowder - Duke  (5'8'', 185lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-ACC, 2 punt returns TDs, 2nd in ACC w/ 85rec

Combine: 40- 4.56s, 10reps, 37in vert jump

Strengths: Has great instant acceleration. Will gain separation when working underneath. A good route runner who consistently gets on top of defenders quicker than they expect. Will give effort as a blocker.

Weaknesses: Not an authoritative runner after the catch. Can be redirected in his routes by physical CBs. A high number of his targets came from bubble screens & quick hitters. Has focus drops.

NFL Comp: Eddie Royal

Score: 5.30 (Backup/Special teams potential)

OLB Kyle Emanuel - North Dakota St  (6'3'', 255lbs)

2014: 19.5scks, FCS All-American, Missouri Valley DPOY

Combine: 40- 4.77s, 27reps, 34in vert jump

Strengths: Fires out with forward lean and low pad level. Has the ability to bend the edge & turn the corner abruptly. Isn't easily redirected when he gets to the shoulder of the tackle. Has quick feet. A frenetic, moving target who is hard to sustain against. Pursues runners with outstanding angles and never believes he is out of a play.

Weaknesses: Has an average burst to the edge. Struggles to find his way back into the rush when he is quick-set. Might be a 3-4 OLB only. Needs to increase pass-rush repertoire. Rarely breaks off the pass rush at high point to come underneath the tackle.

Score: 5.50 (Chance to become a starter) 

DE Markus Golden - Missouri  (6'2'', 260lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-SEC

Combine: 40- 4.90s

Strengths: Plays with toughness and is a fighter. Can set & hold the edge against the run. Has an extended motor down the field. Holds his ground at the point of attack. Shows good awareness and locates the ball quickly. A heavy tackler.

Weaknesses: Lacks average get-off after the snap. Has a limited tackle range. Doesn't use hands to shed & win often enough. Doesn't have a pet pass rush move. Stiff & must gear down to change direction. Lacks a closing burst to finish off his pass rushes.

Score: 5.42 (Backup/Special teams potential)

RB Matt Jones - Florida  (6'2'', 231lbs)

2014: Led team in rushing yds. Had 6 rushing TDs

Combine: 40- 4.61s, 20reps, 31.5in vert jump

Strengths: Above-average swivel in hips & perimeter quickness for a runner his size. Has slippery-lower body with angle-tackle attempts sliding off. Keeps shoulders square to line for max power. Difficult to stop for a loss. Flashes capable hands if asked to catch in the pros. He's aggressive in protection. 

Weaknesses: More of a grinder than an every down back. Very little feel for maximizing run creases. Drops his head & burrows into blockers and defenders rather than seeing open space. Must improve patience in setting up blocks. Doesn't show much creativity & shiftiness once he's on the second level. Has fumbling issues.

NFL Comp: Benjarvus Green-Ellis

Score: 5.30 (Backup/Special teams potential)

OLB Lorenzo Mauldin - Louisville  (6'4'', 259lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-ACC

Combine: 40- 4.85s, 23reps, 32in vert jump

Strengths: Gives a second effort and doesn't quit on plays. Can make OTs look foolish in pass rush. Protective & active against the run. Will get hands in the passing lane when the rush stalls out. Straight-line burst upfield to the QB when he has him in his sights. Can change direction quickly to beat tackles inside.

Weaknesses: Doesn't consistently utilize power in his hands. Plays too upright. Doesn't dip & turn the corner as tightly as you would like for a 3-4 edge setter.

NFL Comp: Akeem Ayers

Score: 5.64 (Chance to become a starter)

 

WR Breshad Perriman - Central Florida  (6'2'', 212lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-AAC, 9TDs, 1,000+yds

Strengths: A quick accelerator off the snap. Able to break routes off sharply, or go form stop to start instantly. Gets consistent separation at the top of the route. Always gets over the top of CBs on verticals. Varies route speed. An explosive leaper with timing and catch radius to make the difficult catches look easy. Shows off plus body control & ball tracking on the deep ball. Gives good effort as a run blocker.

Weaknesses: Raw in his routes, relying on speed/athleticism over precision. Sits & waits on the throw rather than working back to it. Redirected in his routes more than expected for his size. Slow catch readiness, allowing too many throws to beat him. Has a problem with focus drops.

NFL Comp: Josh Gordon

Score: 6.27 (Should become an instant starter)

 

TE Clive Walford - Miami,FL  (6'4'', 251lbs)

2014: 3rd Team AP-All American, 2nd Team All-ACC, Mackey Award finalist

Combine: 40- 4.79s, 20reps, 35in vert jump

Strengths: Becoming a very reliable blocker. Bends & explodes from his hips into his targets and sustains with a good base. Has lineup up in-line, slot and as a H-back. Enough quickness to threaten the seam. Turns his head & locates the ball quickly.  Can make contested catches. Has run after the catch ability.

Weaknesses: Focus drops were a big problem. Needs work sinking his hips into breaks. Will round off routes and allow defenders angles to break on the pass. Not the same factor in run blocking when asked to play a move-TE role. 

NFL Comp: Dwayne Allen

Score: 5.51 (Chance to become a starter)

WR DeVante Parker - Louisville  (6'3'', 209lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-ACC, 43rec, 855yds, 5TDs (dealt with injuries in '14)

Combine: 40- 4.45s, 17reps, 36.5in vert jump

Strengths: Consistently plays with outstanding body control. Has soft hands & elite concentration. Comfortable with a man on his hip. Has a daunting catch radius. Produces explosive plays without top-end speed. Works his way back to the ball and gets open during scrambles. A snatch & secure receiver. Came back from injury & regained form.

Weaknesses: Has to prove he can beat a more physical press coverage. Routes are inconsistent and sometimes lacks sharpness. Not a blocker.

NFL Comp: Hakeem Nicks

Score: 6.26 (Should become an instant starter)

  

DE Shane Ray - Missouri  (6'3'', 245lbs)

2014: SEC DPOY, Consensus 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-SEC, 14.5scks, 22.5TFL, 2FF

Combine: 21reps

Strengths: Explosive athlete in every sense. Has fast, violent hands with advanced understanding of how to use them. Uses rip to get under OL & out-leverage them. Once he gets to blockers' edge, they struggle to recover & redirect. Excellent change of direction talent. Works hard to stand his ground versus power. Was able to drop into space with no issues when asked.

Weaknesses: At times was engulfed and glued to the bigger tackles he faced. Can get too focused on hand fighting if he doesn't with with his hands early in the pass rush. Will occasionally stunt himself out of a play. Needs more variety to pass rush.

NFL Comp: Chris Clemons

Score: 6.69 (Chance to become pro-bowl caliber)

CB D'Joun Smith - Florida Atlantic  (5'10'', 187lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-Conference USA

Combine: 40- 4.45s, 18reps, 36in vert jump

Strengths: Very good foot quickness & footwork in general. Can flip hips and get to top speed quickly. Has very good ball skills. Has good eyes & feel for the game. Turns & locates the ball downfield. A willing tackler. Will jump routes and try to flip the field.

Weaknesses: Shows tightness at the top of the route. More of an off-man corner who is till learning to play near the line of scrimmage. Lacks long speed & could be targeted for double moves on the next level. Technique as a tackler needs sharpening.

NFL Comp: Ross Cocknell

Score: 5.58 (Chance to become a starter)

FS Derron Smith - Fresno St  (5'10'', 200lbs)

2014: 2nd on team with 93tckls. 1st Team All-Mountain West

Strengths: Modern-day safety with the ability to play near the line or in single-high coverage. An easy mover. Has outstanding coverage skills and a mirror in coverage over the slot. Instinctive with plus field vision and ability to track the ball. Has playmaking potential. Has burst to close on boundary throws down the field.

Weaknesses: Will take questionable angles to the ball against the run & pass. Short-armed with limited high-point ability. Overly reliant on body positioning against big WRs when the ball is in the air. NFL TEs too big for him to cover. Too wild as a tackler.

NFL Comp: Marcus Gilchrist

Score: 5.60 (Chance to become a starter)

WR Phillip Dorsett - Miami,FL  (5'10'', 185lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-ACC

Combine: 40- 4.33s, 13reps, 37in vert jump

Strengths: Elite explosiveness. Gets to top speed quickly and is a seamless glider on crossing routes. Can work outside and from the slot. Elevates & attacks contested catches. Adjusts to the ball mid-air. More than just a vertical WR. 

Weaknesses: Still raw in his routes, relying on pure speed. Inconsistent with his hand placement to catch & lets the ball get on top of him.

NFL Comp: John Brown

Score: 5.87 (Chance to become a starter)

OG Sean Hickey - Syracuse  (6'8'', 309lbs)

Combine: 35reps

Strengths: Can get good movement when he locks in. At his best in jump sets with a good punch and leverage inside. Walls off defenders effectively in the run game. Will take a stand against power rushers when needed.

Weaknesses: Looks lost when he gets to the second level. Plays with low, wide hands on pass protection. Turns his shoulders and opens up too quickly in pass protection. Doesn't look for work downfield.

NFL Comp: Andrew Gardner

Score: 5.10 (Better than average chance to make a roster)

 

RB Karlos Williams - Florida St  (6'1'', 230lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.48s, 16reps, 33.5in vert jump

Strengths: A former safety with aggressive, physical temperament. Has an angular running style. Makes subtle change of direction without gearing down. Has good top-end speed. Will body up in pass protection. Slams it between tackles when asked & doesn't look to bounce outside. Shows patience and uses head fakes to freeze defenders in space. Hard to tackle and keep feet churning at impact.

Weaknesses: Has issues with leverage when challenged suddenly in the hole. Not much experience at the position. Instincts & feel are very hit and miss. Might not fit all the running schemes. Doesn't make many defenders miss at the second level. Character will be combed over carefully (Investigated for domestic battery, no charges filed).

NFL Comp: Alfred Blue

Score: 5.45 (Backup/Special teams potential)

2015 Steelers Draft Prospects: Part 3

With the 2015 NFL Draft approaching, its time for another installment of the Steelers draft prospect series. As with last year, I'll profile draft prospects who have been connected to the Steelers, through mock drafts or visits/workouts. The profiles come from nfl.com.

WR Devin Gardner - Michigan  (6'4'', 216lbs)

Strengths: Willing to do whatever it takes to transition from a QB to a WR. Has the thickness of frame to potentially out-muscle smaller CBs. Showed improvement with his routes at East-West Shrine Game practices.

Weaknesses: Obviously has very little experience at the position. Has below average speed and will need more time & seasoning to run functional routes.

Score: 4.86 (Should be in a training camp)

DE Danielle Hunter - LSU  (6'5'', 252lbs)

2014: 13 TFL (led LSU), 73 total tckls

Combine: 40- 4.57s. 25reps

Strengths: Has long arms with jarring power behind his hands. Is fluid & agile in space. Uses length to bat down passes and disrupt the passing lane. Uses arm-over inside moves to set up tackles for loss. Has secondary motor to pursue and chase leads to more tackle opportunities. Continues to work to improve his position vs the run & pass. His off-field character is considered "squeaky clean".

Weaknesses: Relies heavily on his athleticism & motor over skill and instincts. Doesn't have the upfield burst & bend to turn the corner. He isn't considered a naturally instinctive reactor. Has winning power in his hands, but inconsistent with how he uses them against the run & pass.

NFL Comp: Jason Pierre-Paul

Score: 5.64 (Chance to become a starter)

 

NT Grady Jarrett - Clemson  (6'1'', 304lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-ACC

Combine: 40- 5.06s, 30reps, 31in vert jump

Strengths: Has a compact, powerful frame and gets consistent push. He plays to the whistle and will chase plays to the sidelines. Outstanding at timing snaps and getting into lineman first. Protects himself against cut blocks and shows plus ball awareness. He's able to elude guards in tight spaces and gets into the backfield.

Weaknesses: Relies on initial burst off the snap to generate a pass rush. Plays well but will wear down in the 4th quarter. 

NFL Comp: Earl Mitchell

Score: 5.81 (Chance to become a starter)

           

CB Eric Rowe - Utah  (6'1'', 205lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.45s, 19reps, 39in vert jump

Strengths: Has the ability to disrupts WRs off the line of scrimmage and can mirror them out of their release. Jams & disrupts shallow crossers. Will throw his body around in run support if needed. Attacks the ball at the catch point and makes it hard for the receiver to finish the catch. Instinctive in the zone with ball skills to match. Also has experience at safety.

Weaknesses: Struggles to carry NFL deep speed. He's not a recovery type of CB. Limited as a man-cover corner. Has change of direction issues in tight spaces.

NFL Comp: Pierre Desir

Score: 5.48 (Backup/Special Teams potential)

TE Nick O'Leary - Florida St  (6'3'', 252lbs)

2014: 1st Team AP-All American, John Mackey Award Finalist (Top TE), 2nd on the team in catches, Yds, TDs

Combine: 40- 4.93s, 21reps, 30.5in vert jump

Strengths: A tenacious play demeanor. Has an understanding of space and how to adjust routes. Steps up and bolsters pass protection. Uses good technique as a run blocker. He slides his feet and keeps the rusher squared in pass protection. Rarely drops catches. Works for tough yards after the catch.

Weaknesses: Has tight hips and won't gain ground quickly out of his release. A labored runner in space. A willing blocker but lacks the natural core power to handle stronger players. Doesn't create separation in man coverage.

NFL Comp: James Casey

Score: 5.30 (Backup/Special Teams potential) 

DE Geneo Grissom - Oklahoma  (6'3'', 262lbs)

Combine: 40- 4.81s, 20reps, 37in vert jump

Strengths: Has played both DE & OLB. Has some burst off the snap. Steady in pursuit. He'll flash inside moves & quickness and could benefit from a wider rush point in the pros.

Weaknesses: Lacks lateral agility and desired change of direction. A straight-line one-note rusher. Will struggle if asked to cover in space. His play strength doesn't match the build.

NFL Comp: Frank Alexander

Score: 5.29 (Backup/Special Teams potential)

DE Corey Crawford - Clemson  (6'5'', 283lbs)

2014: Played 11 games, started 10 (Had an ankle injury)

Combine: 40- 5.01s, 33in vert jump

Strengths: A smooth mover in space with the ability to change direction and chase boot-action QBs. Flashes a second gear when in close pursuit. Mindful of contain and rarely loses sight of the ball. Active with his hands in the passing lane when sensing the pass off. 

Weaknesses: Had more missed tackles than impact tackles. Shows very little fire in his hands. He allows TEs to take him out of run plays and doesn't get enough mileage from his length. Lacks upfield burst off the snap to threaten the edge. 

Score: 4.90 (Should be in a training camp)

DT Joey Mbu - Houston  (6'3'', 313lbs)

2014: 1st Team All-AAC, Team Captain

Combine: 40- 5.54s, 22.5in vert jump

Strengths: Mindful of getting hands on opponents quickly and with good arm extensions. Very active hands and works to keep himself clean as he mirrors run plays down the line. He senses screen passess & reacts.

Weaknesses: Doesn't gain much ground as a pass rusher. Lacks power and can be uprooted from his position. He pursues too aggressively at times against the run and vacates his gap.

NFL Comp: Jerrell Powe

Score: 5.08 (Better than average chance to make a roster)

OLB Randy Gregory - Nebraska  (6'5'', 235lbs)

2014: 2nd Team All-American, 1st Team All-Big 10, Team high 7scks
Combine: 40- 4.64s, 24reps, 36.5in vert jump
Strengths: Stronger than expected at the point of attack. Able to lock out & square against big OTs and can whip most TEs. Unhinges and gets tentacles on RBs bursting through the gap. Shows toughness against the run. Can chase & limit outside runs with speed. Gets instant change of direction to hound QBs in play-action. Has stride and 2nd gear for a quick close. Has the bend & hips to convert speed to power. Can counter and recover from cut blocks. Flashes plus hand-feet coordination.
Weaknesses: Technique & feel as a pass rusher is lacking thus far. Takes occasional fake steps as a stand-up rusher. Too much time stutter-stepping tackles rather than exploding upfield. Makes it too easy for OTs to quick set him. Doesn't process what he sees very quickly. He can be redirected. Has had positive drug tests.
NFL Comp: Barkevious Mingo
Score: 6.52 (Chance to become pro bowl caliber)

DT Arik Armstead - Oregon  (6'7'', 292lbs)

2014: 46tckls, 2.5scks, 4.5TFL

Combine: 40- 5.10s, 24reps, 34in vert jump

Strengths: Explodes upfield into blockers with good pad-level and hip snap, gaining instant leverage against the run & often jarring them into the backfield. Gets good arm extension to control OL and peppers them with powerful hands. Can unlock quickly from blocks.

Weaknesses: Plays tall as a pass rusher and doesn't use his hands to gain consistent advantages. Has no reliable counter moves when the rush stalls. Will win against OL, but doesn't put himself into position to finish.

NFL Comp: Calais Campbell

Score: 6.51 (Chance to become pro bowl caliber)

OLB Bud Dupree - Kentucky  (6'4'', 269lbs)

2014: team captain, 7.5scks

Combine: 40- 4.56s, 42in vert jump

Strengths: Outstanding power with the ability to rag-doll TEs. Should be an above average edge-setter. Has an explosive closing burst. A willing thumper when he has a shot on the RB. Can drop into space play zone. Has the strength at the point to be a physical edge-setter. 

Weaknesses: Wins with athleticism over skill at this point. Will get caught taking bad angles to the ball. Needs to improve his hand fighting. He's still raw rushing the passer. Doesn't possess a go-to pass rush move.

NFL Comp: Jamie Collins

Score: 6.10 (Should become an instant starter)

OLB Vic Beasley - Clemson  (6'3'', 246lbs)

2014: 1st in school history (sacks), ACC Defensive Player of the Year

Combine: 40- 4.53s, 35reps, 41in vert jump

Strengths: Explosive athlete who's always 1st off the snap. Has quick feet & fluid hips. Able to change directions and burst to the target. Able to drop into space. Has solid instincts and an outstanding closing burst.

Weaknesses: Unlikely to convert speed to power against NFL OTs. Rarely transitioning from the speed rush to spin as an instinctual pass rush counter. Too often content to stay blocked if the pass rush stalls out. He needs to shed blockers more consistently against the run.

NFL Comp: Bruce Irvin

Score: 6.64 (Chance to become pro bowl caliber)