All around, the Steelers have gotten high grades for their recent haul from the NFL Draft, but how do high grades in May translate to production in September?
I’ve already looked at the roles that Bud Dupree, Senquez Golson, Sammie Coates, Doran Grant, Jesse James, and Leterrius Walton will have in 2015. Now, let’s take a look at the second of the Steelers’ two sixth round picks, Anthony Chickillo.
Chickillo is the first of the 2015 draft picks that I’ve covered here that I see as a camp casualty. I do not envision Chickillo being on the roster by the time the regular season starts.
My reasoning has as much to do with depth as it does with Chickillo. It’s true that Chickillo isn’t the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker and that there are some questions concerning his suitability for the Steelers’ system.
The thing about Chickillo is his motor. Even watching his combine drills you can tell that this is a linebacker who leaves it all on the field. He smells like a special teams difference maker.
The problem is that a player like Arthur Moats has much more experience in the Steelers’ defense and fits the role better than Chickillo, and first round pick Bud Dupree has much better upside–and it’s assumed that those two are back ups.
Then you have players like Shawn Lemon and Howard Jones who are also competing for a roster spot at outside linebacker. After that is Jordan Zumwalt, who can provide depth at both the inside and outside positions. It doesn’t look too good for Chickillo.
If they can sneak him onto the practice squad, the Steelers probably will. Even with all of the question marks at the linebacker positions, the Steelers have a bunch of depth at the position. It will be tough for Chickillo to take a roster spot from some of the young veterans with greater upside.
Even though players like Bud Dupree and Jarvis Jones haven’t proven themselves in the NFL yet, they still get first crack at the position. Look for Chickillo to fight for a roster spot, but come up short.
He’ll be a player to watch if there is an injury to another outside ‘backer or if they can get him on the practice squad for 2015.
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