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Why Artie Burns Was The Right Pick At #25

The debate has already began. Was Artie Burns the right guy at #25? Fans are divided, but my opinion is based on more than just an evaluation of Artie Burns. What if the Steelers had not taken Burns? What were their options? It is considering these questions that made it obvious to me that a cornerback in general, and Burns specifically, was the right pick at number 25.

First, was another defensive back the answer? I think not.

Xavier Howard who was drafted with the 7th pick in the 2nd round has questionable long speed and is both weak at defending the run and noticeably poor at shedding blocks. Run defending capability for a Steelers defensive back is mandatory. All other factors aside, his lack of run defense alone nearly disqualifies him from being drafted by the Steelers.

Mackensie Alexander, by all accounts, is a developmental defender right now. Aside from being only 5'10" and considered to be no more than a man cover corner right now, in 23 games at Clemson he managed just 11 passes defended and zero interceptions. The last thing the Steelers need is an undersized, one-dimensional corner that doesn't create turnovers.

Every other corner available in the draft was passed over two or three times by every team in the NFL, so discussing them as a potential option to Artie Burns in the first round would be a waste of time.

Perhaps a safety would have been a better pick? Again, I think not. With Karl Joseph and Keanu Neal already gone before the Steelers picked there was barely safety talent left on the board worthy of even being taken on Day 2 of the draft, much less in the first round.

A linebacker? In all reality, would anybody have not been angry if the Steelers used yet another first round pick on a linebacker? Nevermind that the pick would have most likely been Miles Jack with a questionable health situation or ILB Reggie Ragland who would have just been depth behind Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons. With James Harrison returning for another year, Jarvis Jones still under contract for another year, Bud Dupree in just his second year, Arthur Moats still under contract for two more years and a litany of other linebackers already on the team as developmental/practice squad players, using yet another early pick on a guy who would have been depth instead of addressing cornerback needs would have been downright silly and wasteful.

Perhaps an upgrade to the defensive line was in order? This is probably the closest to a good argument that can be made, but even it has flaws. First, none of the tackles available at number 25 with a first or high second round grade fit the mold of a nose tackle. Likewise, none of the ends available at pick 25 fit as a 3-4 end. The best case scenario here is to take a guy like Robert Nkemdiche as a tackle and move him to end. The problem with that idea is Nkemdiche was hardly a big numbers producer in college as a tackle and moving to end means he has to compete with Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt for snaps. So the question becomes, is a back-up, developmental end a more logical pick than a much needed corner that needs to develop, but can contribute immediately?

On the offensive side of the ball nobody makes sense when considering taking them over Burns. Any quarterback taken is looking at 3-5 years before he gets a chance to start, a running back is no better than third on the depth chart behind Le'Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams, no receiver left on the board when the Steelers picked warranted being taken that high only to have to fight for a roster spot behind AB, Markus Wheaton, the recently re-signed DHB, and Sammie Coates, the tight end position was solidified by the signing of Ladarius Green and the offensive line looks the best it has in years with the return of Maurkice Pouncey and the emergence of Alejandro Villanueva.

So the question of "If not Artie, who?" is easily answered by "No one".

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