The first round of the NFL draft officially wrapped up last night, and the Pittsburgh Steelers got their guy in Derrick Harmon. While there was a lot of speculation as to who would ultimately be the pick, the team played it safe and worked on improving their trench play.
The rest of the AFC North also tried to improve in round one, with each team making one pick in the first round. Frankly put, the rest of the division didn’t let up, and an already tough division just got that much tougher.
Pittsburgh, to their credit, filled their biggest need, but so did the rest of the division. Cleveland was also notable in adding some more picks following their trade back at the start of the draft.
While time will tell how good these players turn out, I don’t see a weak pick from this group. That said, based on the entire outcome of the first round, I do have my early rankings of who did the best and worst in the opening round of the NFL draft.
How did the Steelers stack up to the rest of the AFC North?
4. Cincinnati Bengals, Shemar Stewart, EDGE
The fact that a player I really like makes up the bottom of this list should be telling. Shemar Stewart was an early draft crush of mine, but that dream quickly died when he appeared at a trim 267 pounds at the combine. My hope of him being a traditional 3-4 end died there.
Stewart was a freaky workout warrior who failed to produce in school. Had this defensive line class been weaker or had he just been more productive in school, you are talking about a potential top-five pick.
Why does this pick feel like the worst one? The Bengals are in win-now mode, and while landing another edge rusher fills a need, I struggle to see Stewart’s early impact. He is extremely raw as a prospect and will need quite a few seasons to get up to speed.
If he pans out, look out, but he needs to get in the right system and be given time to develop. I’m not sure the Bengals can give him that. This is the definition of a high-risk, high-reward prospect.
3. Baltimore Ravens, Malaki Starks, DB
The second and third spots are essentially a coin flip. The Ravens filled a major need with one of the best positional options in the draft. Malaki was one of the safest prospects in the draft, and his ceiling is still lofty as a free safety.
Early on, he can wear multiple hats, including free safety work as well as snaps in the slot. He is stout in coverage and is a hard hitter. He doesn’t have a lot of deficiencies in his game, and he should be an impact player sooner rather than later.
Pairing him with Kyle Hamilton just seems unfair. It gives them a strong combo that can thrive all over the defense. This makes the impressive backend of an already stout Ravens defense that much harder to pass on.
So why is he only third? Safeties are a position that has been devalued in recent years. We have seen a surge of veterans year over year available in free agency, so using your top pick on one isn’t the best value. That said, he helps secure a position of need for a talented roster.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, Derrick Harmon, DL
As I said, you could easily argue that Starks should be second over Derrick Harmon, and I couldn’t argue that point. That said, the positional value of the defensive line and the void he fills make him the slightly better pick in my opinion.
Steelers fans should be very aware of who Harmon is. He was a constant fixture in draft rumors for this team, and his fit along the defensive line is obvious. He is a disruptive pass rusher and can hold his own against the run.
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My loan issue with him is his ceiling. I don’t see the traits that will make him an elite player in the NFL. That said, I do see a very good and steady starter for a team that needs to revamp this defensive line. His fit in this system is as close to perfect as you can get.
1. Cleveland Browns, Mason Graham, DL
It wasn’t close to me, as I think Cleveland had the best draft of any AFC North team. Picking at number two overall is a huge aid, as it gives them access to some top talent, but the Browns made the most of it.
It started with the trade, moving back a few spots with the Jaguars and landing a big haul, including an early second-round pick this year and a first-round pick next year. Assuming they need a quarterback, those assets will be huge.
Mason Graham isn’t a bad player either. Easily the best player along the defensive line, he is a twitchy athlete who can burst through any offensive line. He is a complete player and one of the best defenders in the draft.
Getting that and a slew of ammo to continue their rebuild is a great haul. Props to the Browns for getting some extra picks and landing a top player.