This time of year most of the news about your favorite NFL team is about speculation and predictions.
Prior to the Draft everyone wants to read about Mock drafts, and now everyone wants to grade teams and players before anyone has even hit the field. Even after this weekend’s rookie camp, how is a Steelers coach not going to be positive in their remarks about a player?
They are going to say they like this guy’s hustle, that guy’s attitude, and that they did some good things today.
While it is an exciting time of year because of the fresh faces and roster changes, it is still too early to come to any real conclusions on our new Steelers. When looking at sites that are not Steeler-devoted sites, most of the grades they receive for the 2016 Draft are rather low.
They are lower than they have been the past few years, and in most cases lower than those of the Ravens, Bengals, and, in some cases, even the Browns.
It may be due to first round pick Artie Burns. I personally thought for sure they would have taken Vonn Bell before Burns in the first round if William Jackson III was not available (and we all know he was taken just one pick before by Cincinnati).
They stuck to their needs and took the Corner they thought was the best available. There are people out there that think Burns is a better Cornerback than Jackson. Only time will tell.
The player I am very excited about is Sean Davis. Davis has great size and physical stats. He ran a 4.44, 40 at his Pro-day and followed up that with 21 bench reps which is high for a Defensive Back and second at the Scouting Combine. In fact, Davis finished in the top ten in every Combine workout except one (the 60 yard shuttle).
Next: What will become of Jarvis Jones?
Davis’ father is a big fan of the Steelers and Coach Tomlin, and Davis was home-schooled in grade school by his mother. He exhibits great character and on the field at Maryland he played Cornerback in addition to Safety.
I was 100% expecting Vonn Bell to be the pick at number 58 (Bell went three picks later to the Saints with pick 61), but was pleasantly surprised that the team went with Davis (for one reason I had him as a hopeful pick on my post) because of his versatility, and physical attributes.
Again, it is impossible to tell the future of an NFL Rookie, but Davis looks like a winner at this point.