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 Tee Higgins (Clemson) - 6'4" 216lbs
2019: 59rec/1,167yds/13TDs, 1st All-ACC
strengths: He played all 3 WR spots. Can be used to create mismatches. Uses subtle speed changes in routes to game the coverage. He creates considerable coverage panic & draws interference penalties. Has rare instincts once the ball goes up. Separates late for better catch space. Rises highest for high-point victories. Has soft hands to pluck & hide the ball. A reliable target in space.
weaknesses: Unimaginative press release. CBs mirror & delay his entrance into routes. Lacks physicality at the top of the route. A fairly limited route tree. Needs a little more upper-body strength for run blocks.
grade: 6.45 (Will be a starter within first 2 seasons)
comp: A.J. Green
proj: Rds. 1-2
DE Bradlee Anae (Utah) - 6'3" 257lbs
2019: 41tckls (14TFLs), 13scks, 3rd AP All-American/1st All-PAC 12
combine: 4,93s 40, 25reps, 31" vert
strengths: Quick to land 1st at the point of attack. Can play with a hand up or down. Gives TEs a rough ride when they square off in the run game. Above-average skill level to dissect pass protection. Flashes a good 1st step explosion upfield. Uses an aggressive chop. Actively pursues strip-sacks.
weaknesses: His results defending the run are inconsistent. Awareness to find the ball runs hot & cold. Pursuit range is a little limited. At times he'll lunge. His spin move is labored. Won't help much if asked to drop & cover.
grade: 6.10 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Dawuane Smoot
proj: Rds. 3-4
S Geno Stone (Iowa) - 5'10" 207lbs
2019: 70tckls (3TFLs), 1sck, 1INT, 4PU's, 3FFs, 2nd All-BIG 10
combine: 4.62s 40, 12reps, 33.5" vert
strengths: Plus awareness of route development. Instincts allow for early breaks on throws. Has eyes to the QB as soon as he sees route breaks. Not much hesitation to pull the trigger in run support. Quick to find his pursuit angle.
weaknesses: Inconsistent urgency to close on Redzone targets at times. Below-average explosion off the ground on jump balls. Tightly bound. Lack of lateral agility is a concern as a tackler.
grade: 5.62 (Chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
proj: Rd. 6
TE Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) - 6'6" 262lbs
2019: 43rec/515yds/6TDs
combine: 4.70s 40, 37" vert
strengths: Lands blows on wham blocks. Runs his feet through blocks. Gets defenders off of him downfield for catch space. Calm in the air to adjust. Has ability to absorb contact. Rumbles after the catch.
weaknesses: Body control & strength as a blocker needs work. Below-average instincts as a move blocker. He's too tall coming off the ball & into routes. Issues playing through contact. Upright into brakes. Questionable hand strength to secure contested catches.
grade: 6.34 (Will be a starter within 1st 2 seasons)
comp: Tyler Higbee
proj: Rds. 2-3
DE Trevis Gipson (Tulsa) - 6'3" 261lbs
2019: 49tckls (15TFLs), 8scks, 2FFs, 1st All-AAC
combine: 25reps
strengths: First step is long & explosive. Flexible & athletic to wriggle around pass protection. Has a long lateral slide. Able to stride through the gap, leaving tackles behind. Quick violent hands when active. Has reactive agility.
weaknesses: Still raw. Locks into battle & loses sight of the ball. Needs to punch & separate more consistently. Lacks game plan & finesse as a pass rusher. Predictable balance concerns.
grade: 6.22 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Roy Robertson-Harris
proj: Rds. 4-5
WR K.J. Hamler (Penn State) - 5'9" 178lbs
2019: 56rec/904yds/8TDs, 2nd All-BIG 10, Honorable All-BIG 10 returner
combine: 15reps
strengths: Explosive athletic ability. Separation burst to open passing windows. Deep speed to separate. Electrifying running after the catch. Has ability for jet sweeps & gadget packages.
weaknesses: Needs to tighten turns. Balance issues avoiding route redirection. Physical coverage wears on him underneath. Lacks feel in traffic. His ball tracking needs work.
grade: 6.40 (Will be a starter within 1st 2 seasons)
comp: Tavon Austin
proj: Rds. 2-3
WR Kalija Lipscomb (Vanderbilt) - 6' 207lbs
2019: 47rec/511yds/3TDs, 4car/52yds
combine: 4.57s 40, 16reps, 32" vert
strengths: Route specialist working with efficiency. Does an excellent job of disguising route intentions. Manipulates CBs into opening hips. Pass catching is natural & clean. Flexibility as a punt returner. Capable of mirroring as a run blocker.
weaknesses: Doesn't appear to have menacing vertical push. Needs to fight back against clingy CBs. Average acceleration to uncover out of breaks. Defenders can crowd catch space. Occasional inconsistencies with deep-ball tracking.
grade: 6.10 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Malcolm Mitchell (out of college)
proj: Rd. 4
OT Lucas Niang (TCU) - 6'6" 315lbs
strengths: Widens & centers into contact. Hands & hips work in unison as a run blocker. Physical ability to handle all run-blocking schemes. Alter-slide speed to mirror potential inside counters. Eyes are wide open for twists & blitzes. Drops a sudden anchor.
weaknesses: Uneven kick slides. Punch hands can be inaccurate & lacks sharpness. Inconsistent moving feet to protect edges. Loses hand dominance & sustain as a base blocker. Recovering from torn hip labrum.
grade: 6.29 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Tytus Howard
proj: Rd. 4
S Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois) - 6'3" 221lbs
2019: 71tckls (2.5TFLs), 4INTs, 3PUs, 2nd AP All-American/1st All-MVC
combine: 4.45s 40, 20reps, 41" vert
strengths: Speed for sharper pursuit angles. Bodies up. Aggressive stack & shed to rid blockers. Footwork & athleticism of a big CB. Above-average closing burst & recovery speed. Excellent ball production & disruptive at the catch point.
weaknesses: Not as instinctive as he needs to be. Eye-balance needs improvement. Bait routes pull him out of deep coverage duties. Slow to read keys & flow to football from the box. Will need to eliminate head ducking as a chop-down tackler.
grade: 6.15 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Harrison Smith
proj: Rds. 3-4
RB A.J. Dillon (Boston College) - 6' 247lbs
2019: 318car/1,685yds/14TDs, 13rec/195yds/TD, 3rd AP All-American/1st All-ACC
combine: 4.53s 40, 23reps, 41" vert
strengths: Above-average athletic traits. Can move piles or leap over them. Absorbs contact like a LB. Trusts the process. Reads block development & acts decisively. Stiff-arm cleans up angles on perimeter. Size to square & slow charging LBs.
weaknesses: Long-term durability concerns. Not much creativity to elude sudden traffic. Just an okay burst to the 2nd level. Needs to square & accelerate into contact more consistently. Not a natural pass catcher. Feet get stagnant taking on moving targets against the blitz.
grade: 6.27 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: James Conner
proj: Rds. 3-4
RB Tony Jones Jr (Notre Dame) - 5'10" 220lbs
2019: 144car/857yds/6TDs, 15rec/104yds/TD
combine: 4.68s 40, 13reps, 32.5" vert
strengths: Reads blocks & makes timely cuts. Size to rattle pads when he drops & finishes. Special Teams tackle production. Talent for picking up blitzes. Lands sufficient blows to slow attacking LBs.
weaknesses: Slow starter out of his stance. Downhill cuts are dull & lack acceleration. Unable to make subtle, elusive movements in tight quarters. Hands aren't suitable as a pass catcher. Unable to flow quickly enough as an outside running option.
grade: 5.40 (Priority Free Agent)
comp: Rds. 5-6
C Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin) - 6'4" 314lbs
2019: 1st AP All-American/1st All-BIG 10, Remington & Outland Trophy
strengths: Able to unlock flexibility in his hips. Accurate quick-strike hands into 1st contact. Works well in a double-team. Smart angles to the 2nd level with ability to adjust in space. Plays with body composure & contact balance. Identifies & communicates protection duties pre-snap.
weaknesses: Doesn't generate much push as a drive blocker. Needs stiffer secure blocks before climb. Average core power. Needs to stay back & punch with posture. Leans & falls off-balance against moving rushers. Gets overextended in lateral protection help.
grade: 6.16 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Stefen Wisniewski
proj: Rds. 2-3
LB Joe Bachie (Michigan State) - 6'1" 230lbs
2019: 71tckls (8.5TFLs), 3.5scks, 1INT, 4PUs, Honorable All-BIG 10
combine: 4.67s 40, 26reps, 33.5" vert
strengths: Natural feel to shadow ball-carrier from the 2nd level. Recognizes play design. Steps deeply into gap to constrict runner's option. Leverage & leg strength to fight through angle blocks. Impressive ball production against the pass. Reads the QB accurately.
weaknesses: Was suspended the 2nd half of 2019 because of 2nd positive PED test. Misses out on perimeter tackles due to range issues. Tightly bound with limited length. Below-average reactive athleticism. Change of direction is heavy & ineffective. Can be targeted by opponents if asked to cover man.
grade: 5.60 (Chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
proj: Rds. 4-5
WR Quintez Cephus (Wisconsin) - 6'1" 202lbs
2019: 59rec/901yds/7TDs, Honorable All-BIG 10
combine: 4.73s 40, 23reps, 38.5" vert
strengths: Build-up speed offers glimpses of downfield openings. Hand-fighter with skill to gain late catch space. Talent & focus to bring it in with one hand. Boxes out & keeps CBs on his hip. Works aggressively back to the ball. Picks it outside his frame with strong hands. Runs with good aggression after the catch.
weaknesses: Limited vertical push off the snap. Monotone route speed. Marginal footwork for complex routes. Rolls to a stop on come backs due to hip tightness. Below-average separation burst from turns.
grade: 6.16 (Good backup who could become a starter)
comp: Zach Pascal
proj: Rds. 3-4
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