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5 Senior Bowl standouts who should be on Steelers radar

By Tommy Jaggi

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 28: Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs with the ball after catching a pass in the second quarter of the game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 28, 2017 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 28: Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs with the ball after catching a pass in the second quarter of the game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 28, 2017 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Camp Randall Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Camp Randall Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Zack Baun

Linebacker/Edge defender, Wisconsin

Zack Baun just screams “Pittsburgh linebacker” when you watch him play. The Wisconsin senior has tweener size between an off-the-ball linebacker and a true edge defender (6’2”, 240 pounds), but 3-4 teams should fall in love with him.

Baun was extremely productive in college – earning 75 tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, and an interception as a senior. However, he also displays plus athleticism with an ability to dip the edge as a rusher and move well in pass coverage. Baun can play all four linebacker spots for the Steelers and would be an excellent chess piece to add to their defense.

Brycen Hopkins

Tight end, Purdue

Hopkins is a player the Steelers would love to have. Though the tight end came in at just 6’3 1/2”, he good overall size and massive 10 1/8” hands. Hopkins is a willing blocker but isn’t going to maul anyone in the run game. Rather, it’s the receiving game that he excels at.

Hopkins can line up all over the field and can stretch the seams vertically. He is a smooth route runner who gets open easily and displays soft, natural hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Vance McDonald is due $14.2 million over the next two seasons while Nick Vannett is an unrestricted free agent. Hopkins could come in and be Pittsburgh’s number two tight end right away.

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