Believe it or not, the 2017 NFL Draft is well on its way, with the combine and pro days behind us. Like in prior years, I've put together a list of players who could be dressing up in the black and gold come the '17 season. These players are connected either through mock drafts (mainly Bleacher Report's Matt Miller), or Steelers visits. The profiles are summarized from NFL.com.
OG Nico Siragusa - San Diego St (6'4", 319lbs)
2016: 1st All-Mountain West
Combine: 5.35 40, 28reps, 32in vert jump
Strengths: Adequate hip bend to unlock power. Has a strong core. A drive blocker with strength to win individual battles. Able to redirect his weight. Anchor to handle bull rushes.
Weaknesses: Labors coming out of stance. Hands are a little slow with inconsistent placement. Impatient with punch. Unable to punch & mirror, allowing active rushers a pathway to his edge.
Comp: Chris Kemoeatu
Grade: 5.54 (backup/eventual starter)
WR Bobo Wilson - Florida St (5'9", 189lbs)
Combine: 4.57 40, 10reps
Strengths: Quick feet near the sideline to stick the catch. Flashes big burst into routes. Has natural acceleration. Good body control to reach back and pluck throws behind. Has return experience.
Weaknesses: Issues getting off press coverage. Doesn't have much hip sink. CBs are able to climb back into pattern and challenge catches. Hands are too inconsistent.
Grade: 4.95
S Desmond King - Iowa (5'10", 201lbs)
2016: 1st All-B10, 3ints/7pbu's
Combine: 14reps, 34in vert jump
Strengths: Instincts are off the charts. A focused QB reader. Pattern reader with anticipation to keep him ahead of the route. Creates unique angle to throws. Ball-tracking, hands & high-point talent. Good press strength. Has return skills. Is rough on slot-receivers.
Weaknesses: Struggles to carry receivers down field. Can be mismatched by legit speed. Lacks mirror & match fluidity and foot quickness. Relies on hand usage and grabbing over footwork. Lacks recovery speed to consistently close. Needs to show more explosion into tackles and improve wrap-up technique.
Comp: Jairus Byrd
Grade: 5.70 (could become an early starter)
LB Tyus Bowser - Houston (6'3", 247lbs)
2016: 2nd All-AAC, 8.5scks, 12TFLs
Combine: 4.65 40, 21reps, 37.5in vert jump
Strengths: Bursts out of stance and challenges the edge. Ability to play a variety of spots. Crisp change of direction. Ability to pattern match TEs.
Weaknesses: Can be engulfed by size. Needs to get better with his hands at the point of attack. Built around athleticism and not enough around skill. Has to get tougher and more skilled against the run.
Comp: Eli Harold
Grade: 5.86 (could become an early starter)
LB Jabrill Peppers - Michigan (5'11", 213lbs)
2016: B10 LB OTY, 1st All-B10, 72tckls/16TFLs/4scks, 1int
Combine: 4.46 40, 19reps, 35.5in vert jump
Strengths: Fluid in space, desired change of direction talent. Jack of all trades, can play the slot, safety or LB in any given game. Hits with as much force as he can muster. Big closing burst. Runs plays down from sideline to sideline, disrupts runs. Has man-cover talent, and is physical enough to handle most TEs. Enough quickness to match receivers. A capable blitzer. An electric return man.
Weaknesses: Slow to recognize construct of a play. Doesn't always trust his feet in coverage. Slow to read and range when the ball is in the air. Can be overzealous in play action. Leads into tackles with a ducked head. Opts to hit rather than wrap-up.
Comp: Eric Weddle
Grade: 6.18 (Chance to become a good starter)
WR Mike Williams - Clemson (6'4", 218lbs)
2016: 2nd All-American, 1st All-ACC, 84rec/1,171yds/10TDs
Combine: 15reps, 32.5in vert jump
Strengths: Sells vertical push. Uses his hands to create late separation on vertical throws. A 50/50 ball winner. Ball tracking is impeccable. Body control to dig out low balls. Concentration ramps up when routes take him between the hashes. Makes CBs miss after the catch.
Weaknesses: Occasionally runs into focus drops. Route work lacks focus & energy. Creates very little indecision from CBs with head fakes & jab steps. Has average release quickness. Gets hung up by press corners. Needs to play to his size.
Comp: Plaxico Burress
Grade: 6.29 (Chance to become a good starter)
DE Tim Williams - Alabama (6'3", 244lbs)
2016: 2nd All-American, 1st All-SEC, 31tckls/16TFLs, 9scks
Combine: 4.68 40, 33.5in vert jump
Strengths: Rockets out of sprint like a track sprinter. True edge bending ability as a rusher. Shows a good feel for pass-rush arc. Hand usage well-timed as a rusher. Plus foot quickness with the smoothness to drop into coverage and operate in space on zone blitzes.
Weaknesses: Can be taken advantage of with screen passes & misdirection. Still needs work as an edge setter. Athletic tackles with a well-timed punch can stymie his rush plans. Needs to do a better job of getting set pre-snap.
Comp: Leonard Floyd
Grade: 6.04 (Chance to become a good starter)
WR Corey Davis - Western Michigan (6'3", 209lbs)
2016: 1st All-American, 97rec/1,500yds/19TDs
Strengths: Focused like a laser when the ball is in the air. Tracks the deep ball as well as anyone. Second gear to run under the long ball. Variable route speed creates indecision for defenders. Play speed features access to functional burst. Can defeat inside leverage. Works aggressively back to the ball. Dominates in the redzone. A high-point catcher.
Weaknesses: Doesn't always sell vertical routes aggressively. Sometimes allows defenders to squeeze route. Needs to improve quickness into and out of his breaks underneath. Has some focus drops. Not asked to do much blocking.
Comp: Eric Decker
Grade: 6.26 (Chance to become a good starter)
QB Nathan Peterman - Pittsburgh (6'2", 226lbs)
2016: 60.5% compl, 2,855yds, 27TDs/7ints
Combine: 4.82 40, 31in vert jump
Strengths: Smooth, quick set-up in the pocket. Poised in the pocket. Can cut it loose from off-balance angles. Full field reader. Strong natural accuracy. Can pinpoint passes to moving targets in intermediate work. Sees passing window before it develops. Outstanding timing & anticipation. Challenges windows on all three levels. Has good escapability.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent delivery base causes throws to sail. Will float some throws on seams. Ball handling a little sluggish in screens. Wants to play hero-ball. Gets too cute with some sideline throws.
Comp: Kirk Cousins
Grade: 5.79 (Could become an early starter)
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