The combine has wrapped up, and the Steelers have been doing their homework on the incoming crop of prospects. While the new regime has changed a lot with this team, one thing that is still consistent is their drafting of players that fit certain molds.
This team likes their tackles big, their defensive linemen long, and their running backs bulky, for example. The combine is a great time to get a feel for who will be potential fits for their team based on their athletic profile and size. Knowing what this team likes, here are five defenders from the combine that the Steelers are likely drooling over.
Steelers will be all over Cam Hart
A newer trend for the Steelers has been their desire to utilize extremely tall and lanky press cornerbacks for their defense. Gone of the day of the tiny and safe zone cornerbacks of roughly 10 years ago, as Joey Porter, last year's second-round pick, is the new prototype of what this team wants in their boundary cornerbacks.
Cam Hart looks like he can make a claim as one of the best fits for the Steelers as a boundary cornerback. He played outside at Notre Dame, was productive, and now looks to continue his success at the NFL level.
In terms of size, he may be the closest to the team's desired frame of a cornerback. He’s 6’3, has a built frame, and has long arms. While not as freaky of an athlete as Porter was, Hart is no slouch and can move well for his size. Pittsburgh has some major question marks at cornerback, and Hart fits the mold of a potential solution.
Steelers will be all over Payton Wilson
On the surface, linebacker isn’t the biggest need with the likely return of both Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb. It seems as though there are some questions with Holcomb’s health though, and there is a need for a long-term solution at the position. Because of this, the team has openly talked about drafting someone.
That someone could be Payton Wilson, as he looked elite during the combine’s drills. His speed was off the charts, but his overall testing numbers were some of the best in the class. He isn’t your typical undersized linebacker either, as he is nearly 6’4 despite a more slender build.
Pittsburgh has been attracted to athletes at the linebacker position. Each of their last two early-round investments at the position were freak athletes. While that doesn’t mean you will be successful as a linebacker (I’m looking at you Devin Bush), the modern off-ball defender needs to be a decent athlete to help chase down running backs and work in space during coverage.
Wilson can be all of that, as his game doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses. His issue is his health, as he has struggled with injuries for most of his career. If he can come back clean on the medical evaluation, he should be an early favorite to land with the Steelers given his build, production, and insane athleticism.
Steelers will be all over Maason Smith
When it comes to prototypes and builds, the Steelers have a very noticeable type when it comes to defensive linemen. They like them tall, heavier, and with extremely long arms. Good athleticism is also a plus. Unfortunately, college defenses are getting smaller, so linemen like this aren’t as common as they used to be.
Purely from a build perspective, it doesn’t get much better than Maason Smith. He checks all of the highlighted boxes, with good height (6’5), weight (306 lbs), and incredible length (35’’). In a defensive line class that features a lot of smaller interior rushers, Smith sticks out as a very unique build and one the Steelers will like.
While not an incredible athlete, Smith still helped his cause with good numbers. As a prospect, the numbers all seem to be there. The issue is his play. He was dynamic early in his career and looked like a potential top-draft pick. Inconsistencies and stretches of being a non-factor have pushed him down the board this year.
That said, you can draft him and sit him behind the current starters so he can learn and grow. He is an extremely young player, and he has all of the tools, he just needs to be molded. They don’t build defensive linemen like the Steelers want anymore, so it may be hard to pass on Smith in the draft.
Steelers will be all over Max Melton
I mentioned before that the Steelers are developing a type of player that they like for their cornerback room, with them being tall, long, and have the ability to play press coverage. Max Melton isn’t that, but his tape had to have intrigued the team. His athletic testing should just be the cherry on top.
While Melton lacks the height this team looks for in a boundary cornerback, that shouldn’t be the end of the world due to the fact he is destined to play in the slot. He is the prototypical physical run defender as a defensive back and he likes to hit. The caveat to that is his coverage skills which are hit and miss.
While Melton didn’t complete every test at the combine, he nailed the explosive numbers. His forty was one of the best in the class, and he had insane vertical and broad jump numbers. Add that in with his physical tape and you have a really good-looking slot cornerback on your hands.
Pittsburgh has needed a good physical slot cornerback since Mike Hilton left town. They have tried a few different middling options, but Melton could be the solution for this defense. On top of fitting the mold of an interior defensive back, he tested like a great athlete to cement himself as a legitimate option for this team in the draft.
Steelers will be all over Ruke Orhorhoro
As stated in the Smith write-up, the Steelers have a type along the defensive line, and that type is becoming harder to find. While Smith has the better build of the two, I think Ruke Orhorhoro has a much higher floor and can contribute sooner rather than later.
That isn’t to say Orhorhoro has a bad build. He is an inch shorter and about ten pounds lighter than Smith, but he still has good length at 34”. He tested as an even more explosive athlete than Smith though, blazing one of the fastest forty times of the defensive linemen and looking smooth in the athletic drills.
If the team has a more immediate need for a defensive lineman and prefers a better athlete, Orhorhoro should be their guy. While an older prospect, he also started his football career later, so there is plenty of room for growth. Pittsburgh will have no choice but to consider Orhorhoro given his fit as a defensive end for this defense.
The combine allowed quite a few defenders to shine as potential pro prospects. While not every combine star should intrigue the Steelers, these five names need to be on a shortlist. They fit the profile that this defense likes and all of them rocked their respective drills in Indianapolis.