Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 Draft Cast Review

With the 2018 NFL Draft behind us, it’s fourth dimension to laid about the review procedure on how each squad stacks upwardly amongst the selections they’ve made. The Pittsburgh Steelers window for elite success could live closing rapidly every bit Ben Roethlisberger flirts amongst retirement in addition to LeVeon Bell could give-up the ghost a gratis agent side past times side season. This draft was an interesting i for the Steelers every bit they looked to gain an border for some other Super Bowl run, patch trying to construct for the future. Some intriguing selections were made from this class, let’s review… 

Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 Draft Class Review:

Round 1 – Pick 28 (28)

Terrell Edmounds (DB)

With their origin pick inwards the draft the Steelers may induce got reached on this i selecting sometime Virginia Tech security Terrell Edmounds. Seeing his blood brother chosen before inwards the origin circular to the Buffalo Bills happened to grade this every bit the origin fourth dimension inwards draft history nosotros induce got seen siblings taken inwards the origin circular of the draft. While Terrell isn’t every bit large in addition to may non induce got every bit much talent every bit his brother, he yet possesses a real skillful skillset that should move good amongst the Steelers. Edmounds is position together real good amongst a company frame teamed amongst cracking speed, skillful athleticism in addition to cracking tidings to adult man the security position. The inquiry is the value to where the Steelers chose to select Edmounds every bit it’s real possible he would’ve been in that location inwards the instant round. However, it’s obvious General Manager Kevin Colbert was taking no chances in addition to got the histrion he coveted in addition to so greatly.

In reviewing Edmounds college career, he was most productive inwards his sophomore crusade playing by in addition to large every bit a line of piece of occupation backer raking upwardly over 100 tackles in addition to 4 interceptions. With that said it’s his versatility that would’ve struck the Steelers oculus every bit he is capable of lining upwardly closed to the line of piece of occupation patch seeing no driblet off when playing dorsum into coverage in addition to manning the middle of the field. Terrell is a skillful histrion that should exercise goodness to a greater extent than from cracking coaching inside the Pittsburgh franchise whom is known for developing cracking defensive talent. He should abide by a role early on amongst the potential to adult man a starting gig afterwards inwards the season.      

ADF Prediction: Good potential, cracking squad fit.

Round 2 – Pick 28 (60)

James Washington (WR)

During the draft the Steelers constitute a merchandise partner inwards the Oakland Raiders in addition to shipped troubled, underused receiver Martavis Bryant leaving Pittsburgh brusk of a complementary receiver behind Antonio Brown in addition to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Enter James Washington formally of Oklahoma State amongst the Steelers instant circular pick. Washington is a real intriguing prospect that could easily fit the role i time held past times Bryant amongst his skillful direct line of piece of occupation speed to hold defenses honest, in addition to allowing the running game to yet come across no 8 adult man boxes. Starting deadening every bit a freshman, James was able to position things together rapidly progressing fantastically inwards his in conclusion 3 flavor at Oklahoma. Bosting career numbers which saw Washington haul inwards 226 receptions for 4472 yards in addition to 39 touchdowns proved he was a playmaker increasing his totals on a yearly basis.

James has some crimson flags that could live concerning at the side past times side grade beingness a lilliputian undersized inwards damage of superlative to adult man an exterior position, but his frame is real solid. At 215 pounds, Washington does possess skillful speed every bit he posted a prissy 4.54 at the combine. James clearly shows the instant grade outburst that allows him to trace away from defensive backs amongst ease. ADF does inquiry how he’ll handgrip NFL press coverages every bit his unloose off the line of piece of occupation does exit something to live desired. With a subpar release, nosotros likewise inquiry his road running mightiness in addition to separation science to abide by his agency opened upwardly on slant routes. With that said, the Steelers are magicians when it comes to finding talent at the receiver seat in addition to nosotros know he’ll live used favourably giving him the best chance to brand plays. This should move out good for Pittsburgh.   

ADF Prediction: Moderate potential, skillful upside.  

Round 3 – Pick 12 (76)

Mason Rudolph (QB)

With a potential historic class of quarterbacks coming from this draft, the Steelers got fantastic value from their 3rd circular choice inwards drafting Mason Rudolph to tentatively give-up the ghost the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger. ADF is a large fan of Rudolph in addition to what he brings to the fold. First, he looks the role of an NFL quarterback standing 6’5” tall in addition to weighing 235 pounds, much similar Big-Ben nigh looking similar mirror images of each other. Second, the fantastic progression seen from twelvemonth i to twelvemonth iv inwards college proves adaptability in addition to keen agreement of the game of football game which should live translated good into the NFL.

Mason is an accurate passer that shows skillful vision downwards the champaign in addition to reading defenses appropriately allowing his receivers to acquire separation patch throwing strikes consistently over the middle of the field, A+ marks for the hereafter NFL quarterback. Rudolph is i of our favorite quarterbacks to come upwardly out of this draft merely based on potential amongst what is yet to come. Having cracking success inwards college garnering 63 per centum completions for 13618 passing yards in addition to 92 touchdowns  to give-up the ghost lonely amongst a mere 26 interceptions isn’t something that should live overlooked. The greatest exercise goodness for Mason inwards twelvemonth i is that he volition induce got the luxury of sitting behind a hereafter hall of famer learning the game in addition to perfecting his skills to sweat in addition to accept over the Steelers every bit their starting pin for many years to come. If Mason progresses the agency nosotros believe he will, Pittsburgh exactly constitute some other franchise quarterback to run the show.     

ADF Prediction: Very skillful potential, high ceiling.

Round 3 – Pick 28 (92)

Chuks Okorafor (OL)

Seemingly the Steelers induce got had protection issues on the offensive line of piece of occupation to where Big-Ben has to maneuver his agency roughly rushing defenders buying fourth dimension to create plays. Adding Chuks Okorafor to aid furnish depth to the tackle seat is a definite measurement inwards the correct direction. This adult man is merely a animate beingness standing 6’6” tall coming inwards at 320 pounds patch running a 4.8 xx yard shuttle is real impressive for a large man. The appeal hither for those depth purposes is that Chuks tin adult man both the correct in addition to the left side of the line of piece of occupation allowing the Steelers to give-up the ghost to a greater extent than versatile if injuries exercise occur. Many scouts aren’t impressed amongst some of the record out in that location on Okorafor, but ADF sees a real skillful histrion inwards take away of amend coaching to circular out his overall game. Chuks does play amongst company nimble feet in addition to has cracking manus placement at the signal of attack. He should live tested early on in addition to volition acquire burned on occasion, but should live able to acquire from those mistakes beingness the intelligent histrion he is.  

ADF Prediction: Moderate/low potential.

Round v – Pick xi (148)

Marcus Allen (DB)

Adding to a greater extent than bruiser types to a defence that is known to dish out punishment, the Steelers selected a histrion inwards Marcus Allen that tin definitely convey the pain. Allen has fantastic size to play the security seat in addition to it seems similar Pittsburgh is somewhat doubling downwards on having to a greater extent than players that tin aid inwards run back upwardly forthwith that they volition live without Ryan Shazier for the entire season. Once Ryan was lost to injury (last season) the Steelers looked to cope terribly inwards stopping the run without their captain manning the middle of the field. Allen could absolutely aid inwards that regard every bit he is a pure hitting machine finding ball carriers racking upwardly tackles in addition to making plays. His crimson flags exercise come upwardly inwards the passing game where he could live seen every bit a liability at times. ADF could envision a province of affairs where Marcus could abide by playing fourth dimension inwards sub packages assisting the run defence in addition to blitzing schemes.   

Round v – Pick 28 (165)

Jaylen Samuels (RB)

Trying to aid ease a potential transition inwards the hereafter amongst a scenario that could come across LeVeon Bell non a fellow member of the Steelers, Pittsburgh drafted the multi-purposed runner from North Carolina State. Samuels has real skillful size desired for a NFL running dorsum patch posting decent speed clocking inwards at 4.54 on his twoscore time. Jaylen does induce got skillful clit to give-up the ghost on amongst a real skillful skillset that tin brand him a game changer amongst the ball inwards his hands. In reviewing his tape, in that location actually isn’t anything this adult man can’t do. In damage of production he does induce got similar appeal that of LeVeon Bell. He tin run betwixt the tackles, accept runs outside, has real skillful side-step ability, in addition to is a consummate transcend catcher out of the backfield, sounding familiar? We aren’t suggesting that Samuels is the side past times side coming of Bell, but it bods extremely well  for the Steelers that a similar skillset volition live on the roster if Bell happens to acquire injured, thence non having to alter the offensive game excogitation all that much. Jaylen should accept a role from solar daytime i every bit a alter of measurement for Bell patch potentially seeing both lined upwardly behind Big-Ben to create fantastic miss-matches all over the field. ADF actually likes the fit in addition to the potential that Samuels volition convey to Pittsburgh.  

Round seven – Pick 28 (246)

Joshua Frazier (DT)

Rounding out the Steelers draft class, they selected to a greater extent than depth for their strong defence amongst defensive tackle Joshua Frazier formally of the Crimson Tide. This pick screams of hereafter implications amongst the potential to abide by a role early on every bit a situational histrion rotating to give the starters a breather. Frazier does induce got appeal every bit a run stuffer amongst the size to clog holes halting opposing running backs from getting to the instant level. Joshua volition induce got a lot of move to exercise to acquire upwardly to NFL speed, but he’ll surly live nursed along amongst depression expectations to start his career.    

2018 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Greg Gilmore, NT, LSU

Jarvion Franklin, RB, Western Michigan

Parker Cothren, DT, Penn State

Quadree Henderson, WR, Pitt

Trey Johnson, CB, Villanova

Pharoah McKever, TE, North Carolina State

Patrick Morris, C, TCU

Ikenna Nwokeji, OL, Elon

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, LB, Toledo

Chris Schleuger, OL, UAB

Jamar Summers, CB, Connecticut

Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida State

Kendal Vickers, DE, Tennessee