These draft prospects come from a selection of mock drafts connected to the steelers, and/or team visits. The player summaries come from NFL.com.
DE/OLB Jaylon Ferguson (La. Tech) 6'5", 271lbs
2018: AP 3rd All-American, 64tckls/26TFLs, 17.5scks, 3 breakups, 2FFs
strengths: Consistent high-impact production during his college career. Able to unhinge from blocks with a spin move & violent hands. Varies pass-rush approach with go-to moves for all angles of attack. An instinctive rusher. Plays with forward lean and powerful rip-and-run move around the edge.
weaknesses: Could struggle to chase & close out outside run plays. Loses leverage battle when he fails to strike and lock out early. Upright attack limits his effectiveness of inside moves. Hard-charging, downhill approach to QB hinders body control to corral pocket-climbers.
comp: Marcus Davenport
grade: 6.06 (Should become instant starter)
CB Deandre Baker (Georgia) 5'11" 193lbs
2018: 1st All-SEC, 1st All-American, Thorpe Award, 40tckls, 2INTs, 10 breakups
combine: 4.52s 40, 14reps
strengths: Confident on press-coverage. Quick trigger to turn & sprint when needed. Good feel for timing of route breaks for effective matching. Has excellent field awareness. Impressive burst to close. Good timing on jump balls. Willing and able as open-field tackler.
weaknesses: Early to open hips against press faking. Grabby when trailing complex routes. Inconsistent reading QB's eyes for early jumps on the throw. Struggles to disengage from blocks in perimeter run support.
comp: Asante Samuel
grade: 6.15 (Should become instant starter)
LB Germaine Pratt (NC State) 6'2" 240lbs
2018: 1st All-ACC, 104tckls/10.5TFLs, 6scks
combine: 4.57s 40, 24reps, 32.5" vert
strengths: A controlled stepper in scrape to pursue. Backside lateral burst to find playside tackles. Play speed to range & chase. Above-average reaction twitch. Times up blitzes. Fluid, fast drops into space. Has ability to cover TE's.
weaknesses: Plays with tight ankles and below-average bend. Not a natural gap filler. Lacks some feel for blocking schemes. High pad level limits change-of-direction quickness.
comp: Tahir Whitehead
grade: 5.58 (Chance to become a starter)
LB Devin Bush (Michigan) 5'11" 234lbs
2018: Big 10 DPOY, 2nd All-American, 80tckls/9.5TFLs, 5scks, 6 breakups
combine: 4.43s 40, 21reps, 40.5" vert
strengths: Trusts his eyes. Has good patience. Very good body control & balance. Proactive with hands to balance against wash-down blocks. Strong legs drive through upright blocks. A sideline-to-sideline runner. Disguises launch point as a blitzer.
weaknesses: Average reactive time in early response. Slow to process & diagnose against misdirection. Too many block challenges. Requires better pursuit leverage. Runs himself out of tackle attempts.
comp: Stephen Tulloch
grade: 5.99 (Chance to become a starter)
LB Tre Lamar (Clemson) 6'3" 253lbs
2018: 2nd All-ACC, 85tckls/5.5TFLs, 3scks, 1int
strengths: Good knee-bend and eye-discipline in set-up. Power & size to leverage gap. Occupies blocks and clouds run lanes. Gas special teams values.
weaknesses: Feet are heavy & hips are tight. Poor foot quickness. Limited range to sideline. Absence of recovery traits. Needs to improve hand aggression. Below-average cover talent.
comp: Josh Perry
grade: 5.20 (Backup/Special teams potential)
TE Foster Moreau (LSU) 6'4" 252lbs
2018: 22rec/272yds/2TDs
combine: 4.66s 40, 22reps, 36.5" vert
strengths: Sustains & finishes blocks. Long strides to maintain positioning of hips. Well-conditioned and maintains technique late in games. Tends to be a punishing runner after the catch.
weaknesses: Sluggish start-up quickness. Doesn't work hard to create space. Can be clumsy around excessive foot traffic.
comp: Logan Paulsen
grade: 5.39 (Backup/Special teams potential)
CB Byron Murphy (Washington) 5'11" 190lbs
2018: 1st All-Pac 12, 2nd All-American, 58tckls/4TFLs, 4ints, 13 breakups
combine: 4.55s 40, 14reps, 36.5" vert
strengths: High football IQ & instincts. Twitchy feet for instant plant & drive. Good downfield body control to track and play the ball. Steps downfield & strikes. Hyper-competitive in run-support duties.
weaknesses: Below-average footwork. Grabs & hitches to receiver. Can overrun tackles. Lacks fluidity in transition. Not an explosive leaper. Has average recovery burst.
comp: Brent Grimes
grade: 5.95 (Chance to become a starter)
LB Lyndell "Mack" Wilson (Alabama) 6'1" 240lbs
2018: 2nd All-SEC, 71tckls/5TFLs, 2ints, 5 breakups
combine: 32" vert
strengths: Good with his hands. Able to unlock hips and explode into blockers. Anticipates run-lane choice. Can trigger downhill. Able to cover TE's & RB's. Fluid in drop coverage. Makes acrobatic catches.
weaknesses: Limited number of instinctive shots into gaps. Tends to widen run-lane when side-stepping blocks. Needs to better constrict the run lane. Some issues getting off of blocks.
comp: C.J. Mosley
grade: 5.90 (Chance to become a starter)
CB Andraez "Greedy" Williams (LSU) 6'2" 185lbs
2018: 1st All-SEC, 2nd All-American, 33tckls, 2int's, 9 breakups
combine: 4.37s 40
strengths: Patient & calm. Balance and agility to recover from missteps. Maintains route feel. Smooth hips. Good ball production. Balances his eyes. Able to find passing lanes.
weaknesses: Release mirror is average. Lacks initial quickness. Needs to eliminate grabbing & clutching from trail. Issues locating the ball when his back is to it. Not competitive enough getting off of blocks. A below-average tackler.
comp: Antoine Cason
grade: 6.21 (Should become instant starter)
DE/OLB Christian Miller (Alabama) 6'3" 247lbs
2018: 36tckls/11.5TFLs, 8.5scks, 1 breakup
combine: 38.5" vert
strengths: A quality get-off. Effective use of arm length. Maintains distance as a rusher. Avoids being punched squarely. Sudden, aggressive swats. Loose hips to pivot around the edge. Above average pursuit speed to the sideline. Fluid to drop & cover blocks headed out of the backfield.
weaknesses: Lacks sand to anchor and can get manhandled by tackles. Needs to ramp up physicality. He's unable to convert speed into power. Can't power through edges as a rusher. Doesn't have the base strength to balance against redirect blocks.
comp: Samson Ebukam
grade: 5.83 (Chance to become a starter)
RB Benny Snell (Kentucky) 5'10" 224lbs
2018: 3rd All-American, 1st All-SEC 289car, 1,449yds, 16TDs
combine: 4.66s 40, 16reps, 29.5" vert
strengths: Patient letting blocks develop. Eyes are quick. Preemptive fakes in open field creates additional running room. Has a strong base. Above-average catch radius out of the backfield.
weaknesses: Runs with heavy feet. Below-average lateral quickness. Trouble getting geared back. Very average burst through the line of scrimmage.
comp: David Cobb
grade: 5.34 (Backup/Special teams potential)
TE Jace Sternberger (Texas A&M) 6'4" 251lbs
2018: 1st All-SEC, 48rec/832yds/10TDs
combine: 4.75s 40, 17reps, 31.5" vert
strengths: A talented route-runner. Sets off-man coverage up before accelerating past. Runs routes like a big WR. Keeps some energy in & out of breaks. Above-average hands. Plus in-air adjustments and grab radius. Runs with vision after the catch.
weaknesses: Below-average run blocking. Allows backside leakage due to poor angles. Needs longer sustain as a blocker in space. Inconsistent finishing catches through contact.
comp: Jacob Tamme
grade: 5.66 (Chance to become starter)
No comments:
Post a Comment