5 NFL Combine stars that are rising up the Steelers draft board
By Andrew Falce
Steelers should be interested in Day-2 LBs
While technically a group of names, no group of players did more for their Steelers stock than the linebackers projected to go on day two of the draft. It is an incredibly deep class past the first round, as there are a handful of names that would make sense at either pick 52 or pick 84. Specifically, Darrian Beavers, Leo Chenal, Damone Clark, and Chad Muma all are squarely in play for the Steelers to draft on day two.
The two oversized run-stuffers are Beavers and Chenal. Both are bigger options and are throwbacks to the gap-filling run stoppers of a decade ago. While Beavers didn’t test athletically, expectations are that the former safety is a fine athlete. Chenal, meanwhile crushed the combine and tested far better than his tape suggests. While both would be great two-down backers early with the potential to develop into every-down linebackers down the road.
Clark and Muma are also built in the same mold, as both are almost identical in size and equally athletic. That said, both are slightly less accomplished run stoppers but better overall players as they have some coverage ability at this point in their career. Both would be great additions to this defense in rounds two or three.
Linebacker typically falls down the draft board in most years, and 2022 may be no exception. While the two top names did ok, neither made themselves unpassable as a player in the draft. My guess is you don’t see any linebackers go early, but you see a slew of them get picked on day two. The Steelers should be squarely in that group, as they could use a talented linebacker in the center of this defense.
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The NFL Combine has wrapped up and the draft focus will now shift to Pro Days. Based on the results in Indianapolis though, these five players have to be jumping up the Steelers draft board. All of them tested extremely well as athletes and have the tape to back them up. Keep these names in mind as the draft gets closer for the Steelers.