FanPost

WR vs CB with the 15th overall pick?

Outside of depth and development players the Steelers are really only drafting 2 positions with a need for production this year. Not that you cant always or want to always improve but "needs" are where improvement is needed for the standard to remain "above the line" (as coach would put it). The pass rush, I feel will get its grove back which will in turn help the secondary, plus Troy can play like a safety this year as opposed to the LBish role he played last year. But CB is in major need of talent and with Jerricho and Manny gone, WR is barren as well. In many positions I feel they are comfortable with the projected starters. Which really speaks for the job the front office has done this off season and the youth we are bringing in. Recent signings have made these corps more respectable with a value on situation football but both WR and CB need a play maker to stabilize the position. We have no true cover corner to hang out hat on defensively and the WR corps has great speedy route runners but no imposing physical figure that just goes and gets the ball we needed.

So with that very high draft pick what do we do? Best player available right? Ha. Its WR or CB no doubt. Unless Mack or Robinson fall we are drafting a WR or CB. Of course we have other needs...TE and D Line....but the TE class sucks this year in my opinion and Ebron is an end of the first round pick to me. (everyone wants big TEs and CBs because of the Seahawks and Patriots and I feel a few players get overrated because of the "copycat" mentality of the league). Our starters are set on DLine. Sure we need depth/rotational guys and a big NT to play 2 downs but you dont draft a 2 down player 15th overall.

It is a very very deep WR class. Which would make you want to wait with so much great WR potential, even into the 3rd day of the draft. If you really look there are 3 special playmakers/game changing WRs in this class. sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, and Kelvin Benjamin.There are soooo many really good WRs that stand 6'2" 210lb or less that are fabulous route runners with hands and speed to kill but these 3 guys are physically imposing and really make more space on the field for completions. They are in the Megatron, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall mold. That is the reason to take WR in the first round ...you are pretty much guaranteed one of these 3 guys, and in todays NFL offenses have the advantage over the defense. So why not take a guy who could potentially be unstoppable down the field and a huge redzone addition that wont have the pressure on him every time he steps on the field.

I personally believe WR is the way to go. Our offense really got in its groove at the end of the year and with an experienced Le'veon and budding OLine and adding Lagarrett Blount our ground game is about to explode. The only piece our offense is missing is the physical WR that demands doubles and opens up the running lanes even more. Plus its a lot less to expect out of a WR starter in our offense....a rookie CB starting is like daring people to see how good he is right out of the gate and thats not fair and could hamper his development.

Also there is great talent in rounds 2-4 as far as CB goes. Whether its was injury or combine that dropped them... players like Verrett, Fuller, Roby, Desir, Colvin, and Roberson will be around at either pick 2.46 or 3:96. I do think we double dip CB early. Colvin, Fuller and Roby were just as highly rated before the end of the season as Dennard and Gilbert. And speaking of the top2 CBs...they might not be there with Detroit, Tennessee and St Louis picking ahead of us.... and are they really the best? Both have some pretty big "ifs". I know an injury is a big "if" but not like it use to be. I feel like the Steelers tend to lead toward production, skills and mold-ability more than potential when drafting. Just look at last years draft. Anyways, there is even a few more project CBs out there like McGill or Jean-Baptiste in the 3rd or 4th round.

Basically I think the difference between the top 7-8 CBs isnt that much but the difference in the top 3-4 WRs and the rest is fairly large.The point is I believe Gilbert is the only CB worthy of 1.15...and realistically I dont think he will be there. Id much rather have Roby Verrett or Fuller and a game changing WR than Dennard and another 6'0" possession WR. Its 2 top 50 picks....we must use them wisely. Let me know what you think.

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