Steelers Draft Profile: Notre Dame cornerback, Julian Love
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a defensive back in the 2019 NFL Draft and Notre Dame’s Julian Love is an option, but in what round?
All stats come from und.com
School: Notre Dame
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5’-11’’
Weight: 195 Ibs
Career Stats: 176 Total Tackles, 5 Interceptions, 44 Passes Defensed
Career Highlights: Notre Dame Career Leader in Pass Breakups, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (2018), SI Second Team All American (2018)
Combine:
40 Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench Press: 14 reps
3-Cone Drill: 6.72 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.1 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 121.0 inches
Draft Projection: 1st Round, Pick: 20 – 32
Strengths
Julian Love leaves Notre Dame as the school’s career leader in pass breakups. He gets his hands on the ball a lot and came up with five interceptions in college. He generally plays with very good positioning and was a lock-down man to man corner in college. He played on the inside and outside at Notre Dame but will likely be looked at as the top pure Nickel in the draft. He needs to improve his tackling and play with more physicality but he does show a willingness to step up against the run.
Weaknesses
The biggest questions about Love are physical. He might not have the size and speed to play on the outside in the NFL. He is probably limited to the Nickel position in the NFL. He got burned deep a few times in college and won’t have the closing speed to make up for being out of position in the NFL. He needs to play with more physicality and his tackling needs a lot of improvement.
Analysis of Potential Selection
If the Steelers want to take Julian Love they likely would have to do it in the first round which would be a little too early in my opinion. I see him going at the very back end of the round to a playoff team looking to add another piece in the secondary. For Pittsburgh to feel comfortable making the selection of Love at pick twenty they would need to think that he could potentially contribute on the outside. Boundary corner is a lot bigger need for the team than interior where they have a couple young players, who should continue to improve.
Grade for Potential Selection: C+
Love’s 40 time at the combine did nothing to make me feel more comfortable with this pick. I like what Love shows on film for the most part despite the physical limitations. The biggest issue I would have with Love is his size and likely position in the NFL.
Next. Steelers Mock Draft 3.0. dark
In my opinion the Steelers need to find a better option across from Joe Haden and begin searching for Haden’s eventual replacement as well. I like Love as a player but I just don’t think he fits what the Steelers are likely looking for as well as some other players.