Pittsburgh Steelers 2014 NFL Re-Draft
The two weeks that have passed since the NFL Draft have helped me calm down to the Steelers’ draft choices. Because of this, I figured it would be a good time to do a re-draft for the their draft class. I’m not going to stick to the well recognized re-draft rule of choosing the same positions that were chosen in the actual draft, mostly because I hated the actual draft. These are the players could have had on draft day, read it and weep.
Round 1
Original Pick: Ryan Shazier, ILB, Ohio State
Re-Draft Pick: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
This pick was VERY close between Shazier and Mosley, but in the end I went Mosley because he is without question the better player. The only thing that held me up was Mosley’s injury questions, but with already having a capable starter in Vince Williams I figured it was worth the risk. You may be wondering why I would take a linebacker after I bashed the pick when it happened, and it is mostly due to the fact that there were players at other positions that fell, but not so much at inside linebacker. Nevertheless, if Mosley can stay healthy he would have been a great fit in Pittsburgh and will be a great player in Baltimore. It just pains me to say it.
Original Grade: B+
Re-Draft Grade: A-
Round 2
Original Pick: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
Re-Draft Pick: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State
This one isn’t difficult. Davante Adams was one of the best players available when the Steelers picked in the second round and he also filled a huge need. They chose to go, instead, with a player that also filled a huge need but represented horrid value. Adams is a beast at the catch point and in the red zone, he is exactly what the doctor would have ordered for the offense in the Steel City. Instead our wonderful (excuse the sarcasm) front office decided to go with the defensive lineman who doesn’t know how to use his size or athleticism. Sigh. No doubt, they will regret it when the 2014-2015 season is over.
Original Grade: C-
Re-Draft Grade: A
Round 3 (Compensatory)
Nov 2, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (91) during the second quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Original Pick: Dri Archer, RB, Kent State
Re-Draft Pick: DaQuan Jones, DL, Penn State
When this picked showed up on the NFL Network ticker on Friday, May 9th I was arguably the angriest I had ever been. And for good reason. Archer is a fantastic player, yes. However, in the NFL he will need to have his touches manufactured. You simply don’t take a guy like that on the second day of the draft, especially in a deep draft like this one where you could get immediate starters at that juncture. DaQuan Jones should have gone two rounds earlier than where he ended up, and the Steelers could have capitalized on that. Jones is an immediate starter and would have filled a giant need in Pittsburgh.
Original Grade: D+
Re-Draft Grade: A+
Round 4
Original Pick: Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson
Re-Draft Pick: Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood
Some may say it isn’t fair to give the Steelers Desir because no-one could have foreseen his fall this far, and I would agree if they had taken a corner earlier. But they didn’t, so this is completely fair. Needless, to say I don’t view Martavis Bryant near as highly as others do. I think he has a lot of work to do before he can even become a reliable contributor, not to mention a starter, in the NFL. Desir, on the other hand, has the tools to be an immediate contributor and a potential star in the future. He also fits the mold of cornerback that the Steelers covet. If only the front office hadn’t made the mistake of passing on him on draft day.
Original Grade: B
Re-Draft Grade: A+
Round 5
Original Pick: Shaq Richardson, CB, Arizona
Re-Draft Pick: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
The Shaq Richardson pick was a good pick on draft day, but in the re-draft when Desir was already picked there is no need for him. Lache Seastrunk is a much better use of the pick. Seastrunk may very well have the worst instincts and vision of any running back in the class, but he also possesses electrifying speed, elusiveness, quickness, and acceleration. Which is exactly what is needed in the Pittsburgh backfield. He wouldn’t see an exceedingly large amount of carries in his first season either, which would give him plenty of time to learn all of the skills that he so desperately needs.
Original Grade: B
Re-Draft Grade: B+
Round 5 (Compensatory)
Original Pick: Wesley Johnson, OT, Vanderbilt
Re-Draft Pick: Wesley Johnson, OT, Vanderbilt
Some picks you just hit straight on the head, and that’s exactly what the Steelers did with this pick. Wesley Johnson is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ zone-blocking scheme and he is also a fantastic player in his own right. He started at every single position along the offensive line at one point in his Vanderbilt career. His position versatility probably made him coveted in many team’s eyes, but even more so in the eyes of the Steelers front office due to the seemingly unending trend of offensive line injuries in Pittsburgh. He may never develop into a starter, but he will most definitely be an outstanding swing lineman.
Original Grade: A-
Re-Draft Grade: A-
Round 6
Original Pick: Jordan Zumwalt, ILB, UCLA
Re-Draft Pick: Jordan Zumwalt, ILB, UCLA
This is another pick that the Steelers nailed on the head. Zumwalt may not have filled a huge need, or even a need at all, but he presented amazing value. You can also never have too many linebackers. If you don’t agree with me on this, look at any good defense in the NFL, their linebackers will be top notch. Zumwalt probably won’t see the field much at all during his rookie contract but he will be an ace on special teams. If the Steelers can retain him for his second contract I think there is a very good chance that he will become a good starter. A Zumwalt/Shazier combo would be almost as good as a Timmons/Shazier combo.
Original Grade: A
Re-Draft Grade: A
Round 6 (Compensatory)
Original Pick: Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee
Re-Draft Pick: Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State
Other than being an absolute mountain of a man, McCullers really doesn’t provide you anything. Nothing at all. If he were 6’2″ and 300 pounds there is not a doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t have even garnered consideration as a draft pick. Rashaad Reynolds, on the other hand, is victimized by his size. Despite going undrafted, Reynolds is a stud slot corner back who will be an eventual starter in the pros. He had an outstanding rookie mini-camp and may even garner consideration as an immediate nickel starter in Jacksonville. He could have had that camp in Pittsburgh.
Original Grade: C-
Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Oregon Ducks tight end Colt Lyerla (15) against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Re-Draft Grade: A+
Round 7
Original Pick: Rob Blanchflower, TE, Massachusetts
Re-Draft Pick: Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon
It is very hard to dispute a seventh round pick because by that point there are so many options left on the board. I wasn’t hugely familiar with Blanchflower going into the draft, so I’m not going to say it was a good or bad pick. What I will say is that I would have much rather had Colt Lyerla. He may be a cocaine addict and a locker room cancer but if he can change his off the field ways he could be an above average starter in the NFL. He would have been my third ranked tight end had it not been for off the field issues and this late in the draft is exactly when to draft a player like Lyerla. If he keeps getting in trouble then he will turn out like the other 95% of seventh round picks.
Original Grade: B-
Re-Draft Grade: A-
There it is Steelers Nation, my 2014 Steelers re-draft. What do you think? How would you do it different? Leave your thoughts in the comment section?