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.
WR Hakeem Butler (Iowa State) 6'5" 227lbs
2018: 2nd All-B12, 60rec/1,318yds/9TDs
combine: 4.48s 40, 18reps, 36" vert
strengths: Has impressive build-up speed. Uses his frame to create space at the top of routes. Extremely physical with the ball in his hands. Rag-dolls DBs after the catch. A long ball threat. Has a sudden toe tap near the boundary. Has frame & strength to stick to blocks.
weaknesses: Lacks short-area quickness. Telegraphs his route running. Labored & heavy getting out of breaks. Has problems with drops, with concentration lapses.
comp: Danario Alexander
grade: 5.69 (Chance to be a starter)
CB Justin Layne (Michigan State) 6'2" 192lbs
2018: 2nd All-Big10, 72tckls/2.5TFLs, 1INT, 15 breakups
combine: 4.50s 40, 37.5" vert
strengths: Has a plus football IQ. Above-average route feel. Quick to digest & adjust to route combinations. Catches WRs off-guard with his punch routine. Fluid sink & redirect. A decisive, quick plant and drive from the pedal. Calm with his back to the ball. Turns to locate with good-timing.
weaknesses: He could struggle with physicality at the top of routes. Feet get away causing occasional imbalance in transitions. Below-average make-up gear. Somewhat conservative routes to throws. Stays wired on blocks and run support.
comp: William Jackson
grade: 5.80 (Chance to be a starter)
DT Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) 6'3" 306lbs
2018: 51tckls/13.5TFL, 9.5scks, 3 breakups, 2FF
combine: 5.15s 40, 20reps, 24.5" vert
strengths: Fires out of his stance. Quick to find the neutral zone. Roots up under blockers' pads at the point of attack. Early up-field explosiveness. Lateral quickness to beat blockers. Smooth on the move as a twisting rusher.
weaknesses: Loses his frame to long-armed tackles. Can struggle to maintain early control. Needs to refine his hand work. Can be stiff-kneed at the point of attack. Tends to fatigue. His secondary effort is hit or miss.
comp: Tyson Alualu
grade: 5.39 (Backup/Special teams potential)
TE Josh Oliver (San Jose State) 6'5" 249lbs
2018: 1st All-Mountain West, 56rec/709yds/4TDs
combine: 4.63s 40, 22reps, 34" vert
strengths: A heavily targeted primary receiver. Has a good hip flip and good balance. Accelerates to separate out of turns. Ability to maintain top speed. Rises & captures high throws. Has a superb catch radius. Catches through crunching blows.
weaknesses: Might lack top-end speed to separate as a vertical seam-worker. His run blocking needs work. Inconsistent footwork. Plays with a narrow base. Too many whiffs on blocks across formation.
comp: Vance McDonald
grade: 5.63 (Chance to be a starter)
S Sheldrick Redwine (Miami) 6' 196lbs
2018: Honorable All-ACC, 64tckls/3.5TFL, 3scks, 3INTs, 2 breakups
combine: 4.44s 40, 39" vert
strengths: Versatility to play all over. Good combo of size & speed. Effective reading QBs and routes from the zone. Ability to track & high-point like a WR. A forceful striker. Patient & balanced as an open-field tackler. Has special teams skills.
weaknesses: Needs to recognize incoming danger from the split zone. Can be lackadaisical on the back side of coverage. Combination routes can cause confusion. Average lateral transitions. Room to improve with his back to the ball.
comp: Rayshawn Jenkins
grade: 5.55 (Chance to be a starter)
DE/OLB Porter Gustin (USC) 6'4" 255lbs
2018: 28tckls/10TFL, 7scks
combine: 4.69s 40, 31reps, 35.5" vert
strengths: A relentless motor. First to land and extend as an edge-setter. Maintains good distance from blockers. Offers up strong physical challenges to blocking TEs. A heavy thud tackler.
weaknesses: Some tightness in his lower body. A short-stepper. Provides very little threat to bend & turn the corner. Below-average burst to close out. Sluggish change of direction in space. Has an injury history.
grade: 5.35 (Backup/Special teams potential)
LB Ty Summers (TCU) 6'1" 241lbs
2018: Honorable All-B12, 47tckls/6.5TFL, 4scks
combine: 4.51s 40, 27reps, 36" vert
strengths: A high-motor player. Plus play-strength. Showed the ability to hold-up on the edge. Has a sturdy base. Heavy tackler with a compact strike zone.
weaknesses: Average lateral agility & change of direction. Below-average as an open-field tackler. Not enough reacting. Comes off the field on passing downs.
grade: 5.32 (Backup/Special Teams potential)
CB Hamp Cheevers (Boston College) 5'9" 169lbs
2018: 3rd All-American/1st All-ACC, 39tckls, 7INTs, 7 breakups
combine: 4.52s 40, 8reps, 39" vert
strengths: Route feel to stay in proximity from the trail position. Good balance in space. Able to change direction with pace. Solid ball production. Has quick eyes to locate the ball. Sudden hands to capitalize abrupt INT chances.
weaknesses: WRs are able to play through his press punch. Very average burst on the top of routes. Sticks to blocks and struggles to shake free. A grab & hold run supporter.
grade: 5.29 (Backup/Special teams potential)
WR Andy Isabella (UMass) 5'9" 188lbs
2018: 2nd All-American, 102rec/1,698yds/13TDs, 11car/79yds/1TD
combine: 4.31s 40, 15reps, 36.5" vert
strengths: A blazing top gear. Formidable deep threat. Routes feature sharp, leveraged angles. Elite short-area separation. Unscripted dashes to open areas when QB leaves the pocket. Creates after the catch with play strength & elusiveness. Has value as a returner.
weaknesses: Restricted escape angles. Can be shoved off route path by solid contact. Catch-radius limitations due to size. Rolling starts leads to false-starts.
comp: Phillip Dorsett
grade: 5.57 (Chance to be a starter)
TE Kendall Blanton (Missouri) 6'6" 262lbs
2018: 22rec/177yds/2TDs
combine: 4.95s 40, 22reps, 31" vert
strengths: Played in-line as a H-back. Has high-point ability. Athletic ability after the catch. Bursts to accelerate away from trailing tacklers. Plus body control. Athletic feet to adjust & mirror to 2nd level movement.
weaknesses: Gets jammed into routes. Poor route adjustment in space. Struggles to finish contested catches. Needs more consistent aggression as a run blocker. Leg drive as a base blocker needs improvement.
grade: 5.04 (Better than average chance to make a roster)
DE/OLB Justin Hollins (Oregon) 6'5" 248lbs
2018: Honorable All-Pac12, 64tckls/14.5TFL, 6.5scks, 1INT/7 breakups, 5FF
combine: 4.50s 40, 25reps, 36.5" vert
strengths: Ability & looseness in his upper and lower body. Plays with his eyes beyond the initial block. Has stick & move handwork. Can drop & cover. Hunts for the football as a pass rusher. Has quality up-field get-off. Unique "triple -jump" stride.
weaknesses: Needs to confront & shed blockers at the point of attack. Below-average play strength. Tendency to lose leverage when forced over the top of blockers. Needs to improve hand-work. Tends to disappear during stretches.
comp: Obum Gwacham
grade: 5.31 (Backup/Special Teams potential)
T Oli Udoh (Elon) 6'5" 323lbs
2018: 1st All-CAA
combine: 5.05s 40, 26reps, 28.5" vert
strengths: Has natural power. Good rhythm in kick slides. Has feet for early mirror work. Grip strength with plus power in his hands.
weaknesses: Below-average quickness. Unable to hit landmarks. Opens outside half early in vertical sets. Carries his hands too low. Lacks athleticism for extended mirroring around the top of the arc.
comp: David Sharpe
grade: 5.29 (Backup/Special teams potential)
DE John Cominsky (Charleston) 6'5" 286lbs
2018: Mountain East DPOY, 67tckls/16.5TFL, 3scks, 2FF
combine: 4.69s 40, 22reps, 33.5" vert
strengths: Plays with desired aggression in field demeanor. A disruptive run defender. Flashes upper-body turn to work around the edge of the blocker. Plus closing burst to the QB as a rusher.
weaknesses: Average pass rush talent. Too upright in his rush. Hasn't learned to work his hands & feet in unison. Physical traits as a two-gapper not there yet. Takes longer than expected to generate full arm extension.
grade: 5.46 (Backup/Special Teams potential)
CB Rock Ya-Sin (Temple) 6' 192lbs
2018: 1st All-AAC, 47tckls/2TFL, 2INTs/12 breakups
combine: 4.51s 40, 18reps, 39.5" vert
strengths: Light in backpedal. Possesses feet quickness. Has traits for press-man or off-man. Plays into catch-point with aggressive hands. Ability to stick & drive from ball coverage. Willing in run support.
weaknesses: Not as disruptive from the press. Average long speed. Needs more technique work. Struggles to maintain proper leverage. False steps at the top of routes. Has tendency to grab & face-guard. Average field awareness. Requires additional tackling technique.
comp: Nate Hairston
grade: 5.80 (Chance to be a starter)
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