As the Draft approaches, its time to bring back my annual preview of prospects with some connection to the Steelers (official visits, mock drafts, etc). The summaries are from NFL.com.
WR Van Jefferson (Florida) - 6'1" 200lbs
2019: 49rec/657yds/6TDs
strengths: Above-average release against the press. Alters speed & angles to keep CBs off-balance. Agility & footwork for complex routes. Attention to detail allows him to separate underneath. He works hard back to the throw. Uses his frame & strong hands to protect the catch point. Gets the ball upfield quickly after the catch.
weaknesses: Doesn't have the same vertical push on comeback routes. Lacks top-end speed to threaten vertically. More shifty than sudden at times. Can improve in creating late space at the catch point.
grade: 6.27 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Adam Humphries
proj: Rds. 3-4
TE Harrison Bryant (FAU) - 6'5" 243lbs
2019: 65rec/1,004yds/7TDs, 1st AP All-American/1st All-CUSA, John Mackey Award
combine: 4,73s 40, 13reps, 32.5" vert
strengths: He offers 2nd & 3rd level catching options. Bursts into routes side-stepping traffic. Alters route tempo. Highly instinctive in space. Tenacious but technically savvy as a run & pass blocker. Shows ability to secure the catch through contact.
weaknesses: Needs a little better knee bend to improve leverage. Average in making body adjustments. Needs to tighten up route turns. Short-area shake after the catch is just average. Occasional peaks inside will cause focus drops.
grade: 6.32 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: George Kittle
proj: Rd. 4
QB Nate Stanley (Iowa) - 6'4" 235lbs
2019: 237/399 (59.4%), 2,941yds, 16TDs/7INTs, Honorable All-BIG 10
combine: 4.81s 40, 28.5" vert
strengths: Works with pass-ready footwork/platforms in the pocket. Arm talent to work into challenging windows on all levels. Has an effortless throwing motion. Has deep-ball accuracy. Ability to alter his delivery. Shows ability to get himself protected.
weaknesses: Heavy feet in setup & in rollouts. Needs more consistency in parking safeties with his eyes. Failed to see easy reads & throws. Poor accuracy & production against pressure. Lacks early bounce to elude pocket pressure.
grade: 5.93 (backup/special teamer)
comp: Mason Rudolph
proj: Rds. 4-6
C Cesar Ruiz (Michigan) - 6'3" 307lbs
2019: 2nd All-BIG 10
combine: 5.08s 40, 28reps, 33" vert
strengths: Excellent snap-to-step quickness. Consistent to run his feet through double-teams & down-blocks. Plays with bend & leverage. Has a tenacious demeanor. Early into pass sets with good hand placement. Has a compact, stiff pass-punch with good arm extension. Clear eyes to identify pre & post-snap danger.
weaknesses: Could benefit from better acceleration & thump into the 1st blow. Needs to work at steering blocks into position. Positional blocker with average face-up power. He could struggle to set a shallow anchor.
grade: 6.37 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: James Daniels
proj: Rds. 2-3
WR Marquez Callaway (Tennessee) - 6'1" 205lbs
2019: 30rec/635yds, 1 punt return TD, 2nd All-SEC (returner)
combine: 4.55s 40, 38" vert
strengths: Agility & foot quickness to stem & slide past the press. Above-average ball skills. Hands are sudden & soft. Makes challenging mid-air adjustments to the catch. Long arms & elevation to rise and secure 50/50 throws. A dangerous punt returner.
weaknesses: Needs to play faster & do less coasting. Route-running doesn't manipulate the coverage. Slow to gather & open on comebacks. Rarely beats tight coverage underneath. Too easily crowded against the boundary.
grade: 5.88 (backup/special teamer)
proj: Rds. 5-6
WR Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) - 6'1" 206lbs
2019: 86rec/1,318yds/13TDs, 1st All-BIG 10
strengths: Recognizes acceleration opportunities to play past coverage. Rare ball skills & instincts as a ball-winner. Skillful bodying defenders at the catch-point. Uses tracking & stacking to handle deep catches. Excellent high-point timing & mid-air adjustments. Has top play strength.
weaknesses: Tight hips limit agility to elude the press. Lacks leaping ability & arm length for desired catch radius. Unable to find 2nd gear to run under throws. Below-average foot quickness to cross-up corners at the route stem. Disappointing separation burst out of his break. He's physical after the catch, but not very elusive.
grade: 6.16 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Jakobi Meyers
proj: Rds. 3-4
S Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) - 5'9" 203lbs
2019: 88tckls (3.5TFLs), 3scks, 7INTs (1TD), 2FFs, 1st AP All-American/1st All-BIG 10
combine: 4.45s 40, 36" vert
strengths: Highly instinctive. Takes cues from the QB. Recognition of play design puts him in opportunistic positioning. Ball tracking comes naturally. Turns to locate the ball with his back to the QB. Pursuit leverage & angles to the ball are a strength. Strikes with intensity & focus. Looks to punch out fumbles & creates turnovers.
weaknesses: Range over the top is a little bit limited. Hip tightness prevents fluid transitions. Below-average burst to drive on throws. Lack of length shows up as a tackler. Struggles to wrap-up & finish if positioning and footwork aren't on point.
grade: 6.36 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: T.J. Ward
proj: Rd. 2
RB Darrynton Evans (Appalachian St.) - 5'10" 203lbs
2019: 255car/1,480yds/18TDs, 21rec/198yds/5TDs, Sun Belt OPOY
combine: 4.41s 40, 20reps, 37" vert
strengths: Runs low & smooth with plus change of direction quickness. Has rare ball security. Hips are fluid & loose. Takes away tackle angles once he's past the 2nd level. A patient runner. Runs quickly after the catch. Proven effective as a kick returner.
weaknesses: Lacking determination as an inside runner. Decelerates & tucks into interior contact. Needs better recognition to find cut-backs. Elusive but not a strong tackle breaker. Needs to speed up process as a route runner.
grade: 6.18 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Ronald Jones
proj: Rds. 4-5
WR Michael Pittman Jr (USC) - 6'4" 223lbs
2019: 101rec/1,275yds/11TDs, 2nd AP All-American/1st All-PAC12, Bilentikoff Award Finalist
combine: 4.52s 40, 13reps, 36.5" vert
strengths: Clears tight coverage underneath with hands & physicality. Makes contested catches on all 3 levels. Strong hands attack throws away from his frame. Can run a full route tree. Build-up speed to sneak & stack CBs vertically. Excellent work-back talent to own back-shoulder throws. Will get after it as a run blocker. Talented on special-teams with gunner value.
weaknesses: Big press corners can delay departure. Lacks suddenness to elude & burst past early punch. Takes time to present as a target on intermediate crossing routes. Will always be working with smaller catch windows.
grade: 6.38 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: Courtland Sutton
proj: Rds. 2-3
DE/OLB Anfernee Jennings (Alabama) - 6'2" 256lbs
2019: 83tckls (12TFLs), 8scks, INT, 5PUs, 1st All-SEC
strengths: Shows good recognition skills. He locks out blockers. Gains backfield depth to aid in contain & make tackles for loss. Strikes to finish driving through targets. Shows some power at the top of his rush. Long euro-step to gain separation with inside counter. Swats passes down at an unusual clip.
weaknesses: Unable to sink & slither around the edge. Pops up too tall on inside counters. Can become straight-legged at the point of attack. Inconsistent hustle from backside. Below-average lateral agility. Pursuit speed is limited when the play extends.
grade: 6.20 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Kyle Van Noy
proj: Rds. 3-4
DT Rashard Lawrence (LSU) - 6'2" 308lbs
2019: 28tckls (6TFLs), 2.5scks, 3PUs, 2nd All-SEC
combine: 5.07s 40, 22reps
strengths: A team player willing to eat up blocks. Good snap quickness & quick hands. Power to punch & lift the blocker. Spins out of blocks. Excellent hustle down the field to chase.
weaknesses: Plays too straight-kneed at the point of attack. Below-average body control. Upright with limited lateral quickness to work the edges. Needs better footwork to provide contact balance. Frenetic playing style leads to missed tackles.
grade: 5.92 (backup/special teamer)
comp: Carlos Watkins
proj: Rds. 4-5
ILB Shaun Bradley (Temple) - 6'1" 235lbs
2019: 87tckls (8TFLs), 3PUs, 2nd All-AAC
combine: 4.51s 40, 14reps, 32.5" vert
strengths: Patient sifting through misdirection before attacking. Effective radar as a gap-shooter to disrupt near the goal-line. Quick slide-step to slip the blocker. Core special teams experience with a history of production.
weaknesses: Struggles to stack & shed climbing blocks. Average play recognition & instincts. Average play speed & pursuit quickness. Loses gap integrity when avoiding blocks. Lacks twitch & short-area quickness to stay with cover man duties.
grade: 5.59 (Chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
proj: Rd. 6
S Grant Delpit (LSU) - 6'2" 213lbs
2019: 65tckls (4.5TFLs), 2scks, 2INTs, 7PUs, 2nd AP All-American/1st All-SEC, Jim Thorpe Award
strengths: Gets downhill into the fit before blocks get acclimated. Rushes into the backfield to set edges when needed. Offers physical detour for TEs when pressing. Covers with solid anticipation. Size & length to challenge and win contested catches. Able to jar throws free.
weaknesses: Hips lack flip-and-go fluidity in coverage. Range as a high safety is very average. Inconsistent angles in run support. Wiry frame could be a durability as a tackler. Misses an inordinate amount of tackles in a variety of ways. Frequently fails in coming to balance to strike.
grade: 6.25 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Kenny Vaccaro
proj: Rds. 1-2
CB Damon Arnette (Ohio St) - 6' 195lbs
2019: 35tckls (1TFL), 1INT, 8PUs, 2nd All-BIG10
combine: 4.56s 40
strengths: Experience as an inside & outside CB. Stiff jab in press alters the release. Able to stay with WRs using strength & pressure. Bounces his eye between the route & passer. Has upper body strength to toss WRs aside & defeat blocks.
weaknesses: Quick declaration of hips makes him vulnerable. Needs to hitch riders to keep up with vertical speed. Downhill trigger stalls at the top of his drop. Some inconsistencies with angles in run support.
grade: 6.10 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Jourdan Lewis
proj: Rds. 2-3
S Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne) - 6'1" 217lbs
2019: 31tckls (1TFL), 2INTs, 4PUs, 2 punt return TDs, 2nd All-American/1st All-South Atlantic
combine: 4.49s 40, 17reps, 42" vert
strengths: A rare combination of size, speed & explosiveness. Plays with an instant twitch to pursue tackles or break on throws. Bodies up to contest downfield throws. A clear understanding of leverage in pursuit. Range for high safety & toughness to play in the box. Speed & angles to run the alley and derail or contain outside runs.
weaknesses: Idle motor from back-side at times. Inconsistent rush to fill downhill. More reactive than instinctive. Needs to improve footwork fundamentals. Eyes get hung up on WRs over diagnosing QB's intentions.
grade: 6.34 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: Gerald Sensabaugh
proj: Rd. 2
DT Davon Hamilton (Ohio St) - 6'4" 320lbs
2019: 28tckls (10.5TFLs), 6scks, 3rd All-BIG10
combine: 5.14s 40, 33reps, 29.5" vert
strengths: Above-average athleticism as an interior lineman. Quick to see & react to blocker's movements. Upfield quickness to penetrate into the backfield. Solid take-on technique to occupy double teams. Big closing burst down the line. Bend & leg-drive to move through redirect blocks as a rusher.
weaknesses: Loses body control & balance when play gets too frenetic. Upper body twitch to shed is just average. Rush approach is unimaginative. More of a pocket pusher than a pass rusher. Needs more skilled hands & quality counters to attack the pocket.
grade: 5.98 (backup/special teamer)
comp: Pat Sims
proj: Rds. 3-5
