Steelers 2020 NFL draft recap: Re-tooling both offense and defense

The Steelers capped off the draft by selecting two defensive players in the final two rounds

With no fifth-round pick and based on how the draft was unfolding, I thought the Steelers would draft a safety eventually.  Antoine Brooks Jr., a safety out of Maryland, was, in fact, our sixth-round pick. Brooks, in my opinion, has a chance to carve out a role for himself on the Steelers defense. Here is what I mean by that:  Brooks Jr.

So what I envision Brooks Jr. bringing to the defense initially is a safety who might be able to play the ‘sub LB’ spot.  He seems to have a ‘nose’ for the football. Whether or not he can cover a TE in the seam remains to be seen, but if he can cover at all, that would be a boon for the Steelers defense.

Is he is Free Safety or a Strong Safety? I guess it remains to be seen where he is most comfortable, but I think the Steelers may have found another late-round pick who has a good chance to contribute immediately.

With our seventh-round and final pick of the draft, the Steelers selected an extremely athletic defensive lineman out of Nebraska.  Carlos Davis, listed at 6′ 2″ and 320 lbs, will probably play DT in our scheme.  He’s a little short, in my opinion, to play DE, but he is athletic.  If you don’t believe me, watch this:  Carlos Davis

Full disclosure:  In the highlight reel, he is listed at 313 lbs; on the official Steelers website, he is listed at 320 lbs.  Quite frankly, it makes no difference to me.  Davis is an athlete, plain and simple.  If we do play him at DT, I’m sure the Steelers are going to want to see how he stands up against taller and perhaps heavier offensive lineman, but the fact that he ran a 4.82-second 40-yard dash at the combine tells you all you need to know about his athleticism.

Let’s wrap up this particular discussion, shall we?