Steelers Draft Grades, Needs, Dupree’s Visit

The 2015 NFL Draft has come and gone and your Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 draft class is preparing to enter rookie minicamp. There are just a few more phases of the offseason training program before the team breaks in June before training camp. While the new Steelers get acclimated with the Steel City we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, May 5^th.

How’d they do?

For every site that turned out a mock draft there was also a grade given for how the draft panned out for real. The Steelers received high marks from ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who gave the team an A-, the same grade he gave their 2014 draft.

Sports Illustrated gave the Steelers a B+ citing that the Bud Dupree pick in the first round was a “steal” and that TE Jesse James could be the eventual heir apparent to Heath Miller. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco gave the Steelers a B- and said their most questionable move of the draft was taking WR Sammie Coates in the third round.

NFL.com’s College Football 24/7 writer Bryan Fischer was a bit more critical. He gave the Steelers an A- for their Day 1 grade but gave them a D- for day two, giving them an overall grade of C. He also agrees that Dupree was a steal at No. 22 but believes the Steelers taking Golson, who is 5’8” to fortify their secondary, was a bit of a reach.

What grade would you give the Steelers on their 2015 Draft class?

Drafting for need

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert has long professed that the team goes into the draft with the mind set of taking the best player available and not necessarily drafting for need. According to the PPG’s Ed Bouchette, however, Colbert finally admitted after all this time that need does play a big factor in which direction the Steelers go in the draft.

Colbert admitted the team wanted six out of their eight draft picks to be defensive players and to have at least two cornerbacks in the group and they got exactly that. He also explained that they draft players with every intention on them making the roster, but I guess whether that actually happens depends on how the player performs in camp kind of like Shaquille Richardson of last year.

Bud’s Day in the Burgh

As is the custom in Pittsburgh, the No. 1 overall draft pick arrived this weekend to have a tour of the city. Bud’s tour included a trip to Primanti’s in the Strip District, a ride on the Duquesne Incline and a trip to Heinz Field to visit with fans at the Steelers Fan Blitz. You can watch Bud Dupree’s tour of Pittsburgh right here.

Next: Coaching Up Steelers Draft Picks Could Be a Problem

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