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)