Why Steelers Justin Layne is the NFL Draft’s best sleeper

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the draft in a compromised draft position. Based on their top need being inside linebacker, no players remaining would’ve been worthy of the No. 20 overall selection. This according to numerous mock drafts, including my own. 

I had ILB Devin White mocked to the Oakland Raiders at No. 4, and ILB Devin Bush mocked to the Denver Broncos at No. 10. Unconventional wisdom would tell us this mock draft is wrong on so many levels. Why? Because since 2000, only five inside linebackers were drafted inside the top 10. But my gut feeling told me otherwise and I stuck to it.

As it turned out, the Raiders reached for DE Clelin Ferrell, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reaped the benefits by selecting White one pick later. So what does Steelers GM Kevin Colbert do next? He struck a deal with the Broncos to secure Bush’s services – knowing the Broncos were considering him at No. 10.

This left no guesswork involved that Bush would be openly available, because the deal was made just minutes after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected OLB, Josh Allen.  They were the last remaining team inside the top 10 who were in the market for an inside linebacker.

The Steelers made the deal. Three picks later Bush was their man. However, due to the trade, they relinquished draft capital – a second-round pick (No. 52) and a 2020 third-round pick. Denver later traded away some of that capital to the Cincinnati Bengals, in order to move up 10 spots for QB Drew Lock.

The draft capital lost was well worth the risk, but it also didn’t go unnoticed. I tweeted just an hour and a half before the second-round began, that as many as six offensive lineman would be drafted in the first 17 selections. Turns out that prediction came true.

Furthermore, I said there would be a run on defensive backs in the second-round. And that came true as well, with three safeties coming off the board to end the round.

This didn’t bode well for the Steelers, who were in the market for an offensive lineman, cornerback, and free safety. But some way, somehow, the Steelers managed to luck out in the third-round.

Thanks to the Antonio Brown trade, the Steelers managed to find a complement receiver to Pro Bowl WR JuJu Smith-Schuster with the selection of Toledo WR Diontae Johnson. Coincidentally, replacing one MAC receiver with another. This immediately filled a need while not reaching for an offensive lineman – another need that was a top priority with the loss of OT Marcus Gilbert.

Then it happened. Just 17 picks later, the Steelers managed to steal Michigan State CB Justin Layne. The perfect storm where needs meets BPA (Best Player Available), the Steelers were able to land the Michigan State product without trading up. Talk about value.

I had Layne mocked to the Houston Texans in the middle of the second-round. To get Layne in the middle of the third-round was just too good to pass up. Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary coach Teryl Austin echoed that evaluation in his post-draft presser shortly after the pick was made.

“I think it’s just a matter of flavor. I think when we saw him, sitting where he was, I’m very excited! I didn’t think he’d be around this long,” Austin said.

54. #Texans: CB Justin Layne

So what exactly stood out during Layne’s pre-draft process with the Steelers? One word. Competitiveness.

“He’s very competitive. I think that’s one thing that sticks out with him. When you watch him. He’s competitive. He’s not afraid to throw it up in there. He’ll tackle He’ll compete at the point of attack for the ball,” Austin said.

And then came the measurables.

“I think one of the things you look for when you’re evaluating cornerbacks is obviously you’re looking for some size. You’re looking for length because when you start talking about a lot of these receivers that are being drafted, they’re big men. And you have to be able to compete and win some 50-50 balls. You can’t lose those balls because you’re too small. And you can’t get in there and win,” Austin said.

Layne has that box checked.

Measuring in at 6-2, 192, Layne has the HWS (Height, Weight, Speed) NFL coaches covet. Combine the length with his coverage radius, displaying a 37.5-inch vertical and 134-inch broad jump, and you have yourself a starting caliber cornerback.

Let’s be honest: 2016 first-round pick (No. 25) CB Artie Burns is not the long-term answer. Neither is 10-year veteran CB Joe Haden, who’s playing in the last year of his contract. This selection was made, in hopes that the Steelers found their diamond in the rough.

While Bush deservedly garners all the media hype, don’t sleep on Layne. A player the team has high hopes for, he just may prove to be the draft’s best sleeper pick of 2019, all while filling a need.