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.
LB Akeem Davis Gaither (App. State) - 6'1" 224lbs
2019: 104tckls (14.5TFLs), 5scks, 1INT, 8PU's, 1 block, Sunbelt DPOY
combine: 21reps
strengths: Above-average run instincts. Block slipper deluxe. Drops hips & shoulders to dip under blocks and makes tackles. Rangy & long with top-end speed in pursuit. Talent for timing & batting down passes. Good hip explosion into wrap-up tackling. Has special teams cover talent.
weaknesses: Mental mistakes covering in space. Likely a drag-down tackler. A straight-line mover with tight hips. Limited reactive agility. Needs more urgency getting off blocks in space. Occasionally loses leverage on backside.
grade: 6.12 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Maurice Alexander
proj: Rd. 4
RB Zack Moss (Utah) - 5'9" 223lbs
2019: 235car/1,416yds/15TDs, 28rec/386yds/2TDs, 3rd All-American/1st All-PAC12
combine: 4.65s 40, 19reps, 33"vert
strengths: He's both patient & urgent. Runs with a rare calm. Underrated vision to process beyond the line of scrimmage. Elite contact balance. Absorbs contact. Spin moves toss tacklers aside. Drops & squares up pads as a finisher.
weaknesses: Tight hips can limit his turn radius. Average overall game speed. Running style could lead to durability issues. Quicker than fast & unlikely to run away from NFL speed.
grade: 6.34 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: Marion Barber
proj: Rd. 4
CB Cameron Dantzler (Miss. St) - 6'2" 188lbs
2019: 40tckls (2TFLs), 2INTs, 8PUs
combine: 4.64s 40, 34.5"vert
strengths: An explosive athlete. Good anticipation to jump in squeeze slants. Crowds & stays in phase with routes outside numbers. Maximizes length to shield 50/50 balls. Rips through hands if he can't make the catch. Response time from the zone is fairly immediate. Sticks & drives back with suddenness.
weaknesses: Bigger WRs can body him up at the top of routes. Needs to limit handsy face-guarding. Loses positioning when turning to find the ball. Slow to get off blocks in quick game. Not a square & wrap tackler. Tackling style could lead to durability concerns.
grade: 6.26 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Al Harris
proj: Rds. 1-2
CB Jaylon Johnson (Utah) - 6' 193lbs
2019: 36tckls, 2INTs, 11PUs, 2nd AP All-American/1st All-PAC12
combine: 4.50s 40, 15reps, 36.5"vert
strengths: Low & leering from the press crouch. Alters press techniques to keep foes guessing. Slides & jabs forcefully. Smart & instinctive in off-man & zone. Good recognition of route combinations & route breaks. Explosive vertical leaper to eliminate jump balls. Good size & range to hold down run support in space.
weaknesses: Feet get jittery & impatient at times. Overreactions lead to longing & reaching. Quick counter steps against press could cause early problems. Has average balance. Gives ground & lateral transitions. Occasionally loses sight of the WR when focusing on passer.
grade: 6.43 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: Shaquill Griffin
proj: Rd. 2
OLB Josh Uche (Michigan) - 6'1" 245lbs
2019: 35tckls (11.5TFLs), 8.5scks, 2PUs, 2FF, 2nd All-Big 10
combine: 18reps
strengths: Sudden & lively feet on the 2nd level. Impressive burst to close as a tackler. Has diversified rush attacks. Good edge speed with ability to dip & bend at the top. Can peel & cover when lined up as a rusher. Good pop & redirect on TEs into routes.
weaknesses: Can be engulfed by size as an edge rusher. Signs of confusion on 2nd level alignments. Hasn't developed LB's instincts yet. Could struggle in cover-man early on. Foot & meniscus injury history.
grade: 6.26 (Good backup who could become a starter)
proj: Rd. 4
WR Devin Duvernay (Texas) - 5'10" 200lbs
2019: 106rec/1,386yds/9TDs, 1st All-Big12
combine: 4.39s 40, 35.5"vert
strengths: Potential to separate on deep balls. Thrives with catch & runs. Blasts through tacklers. Good sideline awareness. Slows & settles into zone windows. Can pluck throws. Very reliable hands.
weaknesses: Tight hips limit lateral agility. Needs greater attention to detail as a route runner. Tends to drift on overs & deep digs. Inconsistent use of burst. Below-average ball skills down field. Lacks length & timing for 50/50 wins.
grade: 6.0 (developmental traits prospect)
proj: Rd. 5
S Brandon Jones (Texas) - 5'11" 198lbs
2019: 86tckls (4.5TFLs), 1sck, 2INTs, 4PUs, 2nd All-Big12
strengths: Has an attacking demeanor. Motor to pursue ball-carriers from across the field. Displays agility & reactive athleticism as an open-field tackler. Speed & range to play over the top. Runs with deep cover targets. Can step into early role on return coverage.
weaknesses: Can be exploited in man coverage. Needs to play with better route anticipation. Average response time. Has average instincts. Could have issues handling big targets on jump balls. Can be a little slow to read & react.
grade: 5.99 (backup/special teamer)
proj: Rd. 4
OT Ezra Cleveland (Boise St) - 6'6" 311lbs
2019: 1st All-MWC
combine: 4.93s 40, 30reps, 30"vert
strengths: Ability to accelerate and cross-fade from backside. Consistent reach & seal as play-side blocker. After contact works feet & hips into position to secure the block. Foot quickness to stay connected. Patient approach in pass sets. Quiet hands with direct punch & quick resets.
weaknesses: Struggles to punch & separate. Gets walked into the pocket by speed-to-power charges. Needs better punch timing. Will coast at times rather than finishing blocks. Not much clinch & secure gap strength.
grade: 6.29 (Good backup who could become a starter)
proj: Rds. 2-3
OG John Simpson (Clemson) - 6'4" 321lbs
2019: 1st All-ACC
combine: 5.24s 40, 34reps, 30"vert
strengths: Accelerates into 1st contact. Always has eyes on the LB during work-up blocks. Difficult to bull-rush. Unlocks hips & anchors down when challenged. Athletic enough to get into space on screen passes.
weaknesses: Slow starts allow for head-starts for upfield three-techniques. Inconsistent bringing feet with him in base blocks. Too many holding & false-start penalties. Inconsistent angles up to the 2nd level. Slow to reignite feet to redirection against twists & counters.
grade: 6.35 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: Kelechi Osemele
proj: Rd. 4
S K'Von Wallace (Clemson) - 5'11" 206lbs
2019: 78tckls (3TFLs), 2scks, 2INts(1TD), 10PUs, 3rd All-ACC
combine: 4.53s 40, 18reps, 38"vert
strengths: Intense and aggressive play demeanor. Hard-charging and highly determined blitzer. Accelerates through hips as a tackler. A punishing striker. Quick response to QB from the zone.
weaknesses: Jittery at the break point. Lacks balance & route anticipation in man-coverage. Gets spun around in coverage. Short-area agility is limited. Below-average open-field tackling traits.
grade: 5.86 (backup/special teamer)
proj: Rd. 5
S Tanner Muse (Clemson) - 6'2" 227lbs
2019: 74tckls (6TFLs), 2scks, 4INTs, 5PUs, 3rd AP-All American/1st All-ACC
combine: 4.41s 40, 20reps, 34.5"vert
strengths: Has a history of finding the football. Excellent ball-tracking. Quick to diagnose & trigger downhill against the run. Good straight-line speed as a LB prospect. Leverages runner to the sideline. Wide & well-balanced in tackle approach. Should be a 4-phase special teams player.
weaknesses: Has tight hips & plays too upright in space. Lacks fluidity. Can't stay with RBs or WRs as a safety. Average instincts & urgency in fitting up in run support. Lateral change of direction is a little labored. Below-average agility & short-area athleticism as an open-field tackler.
grade: 5.80 (backup/special teamer)
proj: Rd. 6-PFA
OG Ben Bredson (Michigan) - 6'5" 315lbs
2019: 3rd AP All-American/1st All-Big 10
strengths: Peppery pass punch to stun defenders. Sharp to snap & catch in response to twists. Looks for work when uncovered. Able to unlock hips & creates leverage in the run game. Can match power across from him as a drive blocker.
weaknesses: Below-average initial quickness. Heavy feet hinders lateral movements. Will struggle redirecting & adjusting. Needs more accurate hand placement. Room for improvement with anchor technique in pass sets.
grade: 6.11 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Joe Dahl
proj: Rd. 3
LB Evan Weaver (California) - 6'2" 237lbs
2019: 182tckls (10TFLs), 2.5scks, 3PUs, 3FF, 1st AP All-American/1st All-PAC 12
combine: 4.76s 40, 15reps, 32"vert
strengths: Instinctive with elite recognition of blocking schemes. Patience to not get trapped by misdirection. Feels blocks & alters flow angles when necessary. Has aggressive heavy hands. Punches & plays off blocks with consistency. Motor & pursuit seem unfazed by contact. Makes plays on the ball in passing game.
weaknesses: Lack of speed offers little margin for error in diagnosing plays. Lower body tightness creates movement limitations. Lacks agility to circumvent traffic quickly. Plays upright. Not sudden enough for NFL blitzing.
grade: 5.95 (backup/special teamer)
proj: Rd. 5
QB Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) - 6'1" 222lbs
2019: 69.7compl%, 237/340, 3,851yds, 32TDs/8INTs, 233car/1,298yds/20TDs, 2rec/25yds/TD, 3rd AP All-American/1st All-BIG 12, Heisman/Maxwell/O'Brien award finalist
combine: 4.59s 40, 35"vert
strengths: Extremely tough & durable. Poise to make plays late in games. Experience in a variety of schemes. Uses athletic ability & strength to elude pocket pressure. Good accuracy on intermediate passes. A capable roll-out passer. A talented, powerful runner.
weaknesses: Issues sustaining rhythm as a passer. Inconsistent patience allowing routes to develop. Leaves slants & crossers behind targets. Misses checkdowns & opts for harder throws. Needs to get better at trusting his pocket. Quick to drop eyes when pressure mounts.
grade: 6.14 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Tim Tebow
proj: Rds. 3-4
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