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Even with the controversial pick of running back Dri Archer in the third round, the grades coming in from analysts regarding the Steelers' 2014 Draft through three rounds has been positive.
SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn wrote:
Pittsburgh Steelers
15. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
46. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
97. Dri Archer, RB, Kent StateGrade: B
The Steelers have added some needed depth to their front seven and then added more juice to their offense by drafting Dri Archer. This is a nice start to the weekend for Pittsburgh.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco wasn't entirely sold on Tuitt, considering he was more productive in 2012 than he was in 2013.
Steelers select: Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame Tuitt was a really good player in 2012, but not so good in 2013. So I will grade it like that.
NFL.com approached it a bit more patronizingly, marking them as a team with a "General Manager Gets a Sticker." Perhaps I'm old, but I'm used to the traditional grading method, not one that gives out novelty prizes. At least the write-up is full of cliches and incorrect statements.
The skinny: A good effort from the Steelers as they rebuild their defense. Shazier coming off the edge behind Tuitt, an ideal fit for what the team does on defense, will not be fun to deal with in a few years. Archer is the fastest player in the draft and defines the term electric
We're waiting for the moment the national media realize the only reason Shazier is being listed as an outside linebacker is because the general feeling was he'd be a weakside OLB in a 4-3 defense. Write this one down, he's not going to be an outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.