Steelers first 3 draft picks based on Gil Brandt’s hot 100

Steelers round 3

Once again following Brandt’s rankings, the Steelers would be double-dipping at safety in the third round and drafting Lewis Cine. Obviously, the team won’t be taking two safety types in the first three picks, but Cine’s name should be circled here. At one point in time, Cine was seen as a late first-round pick. While falling to the third may be aggressive, he would be a logical fit this late in the draft.

Cine has legitimate starting potential at strong safety. He has the size and coverage skills to hold his own on defense. The Steelers were heavily present at Georgia’s pro day as well. If he fell this far and the Steelers didn’t land a safety in the first, he would be a great pick here.

There aren’t a lot of names past 84th overall that makes a lot of sense. Tariq Woolen, the athletic marvel, is ranked just three spots away. Shifty slot receiver Calvin Austin and deep threat Tyquan Thornton are also available here. Another safety, Jaquan Brisker, also sees his name pop up this late in the third round.

Right before this third-round pick, you saw a slew of interior offensive linemen go. Again, with the team so heavily investing in the line in free agency, odds are they don’t use one of their first three picks on a lineman anyway. Also, this late is Desmond Ridder, a far cry from the first-round hype he is receiving right now.

If the Steelers could land Cine in the third, a receiver in the second, and one of those quarterbacks or other positions in the first, it would be quite the haul. Don’t mistake this as Brandt will be 100 percent correct in his predictions. That said, look at the names and rankings as an idea of roughly where a prospect will go.