Finding the next great player through the draft is no easy task to accomplish. The best thing that good teams do is consistently find ways to get quality players throughout the seven rounds of the draft and beyond. The Steelers have been one of the more consistent teams over their franchises history when it comes to evaluating, drafting, and developing talent from within.
This week marks the start of the NFL combine as it lasts from February 28 through March fifth. During that time, players and teams will meet in unique interviews and workouts. Another part of the draft puzzle commences at the combine in Indianapolis every year and Pittsburgh will have their personnel present.
Cody Mauch brings a lot of intrigue if the Steelers go against the grain
One of the best showings at the Senior Bowl event was Cody Mauch. The North Dakota State product has started to separate from the pack in this draft class. One of the biggest things that Mauch accomplished was his exposure with position flexibility.
The Steelers normally steer clear of top prospects that have not attended power five schools. Omar Khan holds the reigns with this being his first draft as the organization’s active General manager. He could have different viewpoints on this draft philosophy. Mauch is an interesting day two prospect that played tackle in college and showed ability at both guard and center at the Senior Bowl.
Seemingly every year there is a "big man" that visually stands out among the crowd. Mauch seems to be taking that moniker this draft season and that should continue moving forward. The Steelers should have interest in this player, especially with the type of position flexibility he provides.
Cornerbacks always show speed but Ringo should have a great outing
Not too many have struggled to keep their names in the spotlight of NFL evaluators worse than Kelee Ringo. Many thought he could be a top ten selection in the draft just a month or two ago, but time changes perceptions. Many still believe that RIngo is a first-round talent, but he has some concerns that have also brought that thought process down.
The Steelers desperately need a top cornerback to enter their room, especially with the current unknown future of Cam Sutton. Joey Porter Jr. is going to get a lot of attention throughout the combine, and it makes sense. He has a huge connection with Pittsburgh, but Ringo could be an interesting option in round two. His draft stock is going to have major implications based on how he performs at the combine as he relies on his athleticism.
Many believe that Ringo is going to have an amazing week down at the NFL combine this week. He has shown great athleticism during his collegiate career, but many wonder about some of his tendencies at the corner position. His reaction time and technique could hinder his draft stock. With a good showing at the combine plus a good outing at his pro day at Georgia, and his name should stay in the first-round conversation.
Calijah Kancey could have an impressive showing for Pitt
One of the "local" products participating in the NFL combine is Calijah Kancey from the University of Pittsburgh. The red-shirt junior hails from Florida, but many consider Pitt products as local kids. It is not common where the Steelers invest into players coming out of this program, but they went against that logic last year when they selected Kenny Pickett with their first-round pick.
Aaron Donald was one of the most dominant defensive players to ever play for the University, and Kancey could be the next great player at the position. This defensive tackle is lean and short in stature, which resembles Donald in some ways. The NFL combine is where Donald was able to continue his draft stock propelling into the atmosphere. Comparing any player to Donald is unfair, but that is going to happen a lot with Kancey as he reminds so many of Donald.
Kancey will hope to live up to the hype after displaying some destructive tendencies in the trenches during his collegiate days. His size could cause for some teams to be scared off, but that worry should go away when you see how players like Donald have succeeded in the NFL. The Steelers should keep a close eye on this Pitt product as the draft gets closer with the potential of being a day two steal.
Ivan Pace needs to have a huge week at the NFL combine to impress
Finding an answer at inside linebacker is something that the Steelers need to accomplish this offseason. It was the weak point of the defense last season and there are no remedies on the roster currently. Signing someone in free agency might be the best course of action but finding someone in the middle rounds of the draft could be another solution.
There are more pressing issues for the black and gold to handle before middle linebacker is addressed in the draft. Waiting until the second to fourth round might be the best course of action for the club to take if they wait until the draft to address this need. Ivan Pace Jr. could be an interesting name as he displays an undersized athletic type that they seemed to want in Devin Bush.
Pace is undersized and that is going to bring a lot of uncertainty with his game. Many will see Bush when they look at this guy, but he should be able to test well. He succeeded at the collegiate level because he was able to get past players with his speed. Taking Pace in the third or fourth round would be good value as he could be a starter and add a speed element to the game. If he fails to test well at the combine, then his draft stock could plummet.