It'd be unwise to assume pending free agent visitor Lance Moore solves the Steelers' depth issue at the wide receiver position. Moore is a candidate to have a big bounce-back season in 2013, and he may very well return to the 1,000-yard mark he reached in 2012, but the Steelers still need to build the wide receiver pool they had a few seasons ago.
Charlie Campbell of Walter Football sees that as a logical reason to take Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin with the 15th overall pick.
His reasoning:
The Steelers could use some young talent for their defense, but the value really isn't there if the draft plays out like this. I think it would make sense for Pittsburgh to trade down and take a cornerback like Kyle Fuller. However, trading down is easier said than done. The 49ers could make sense as a trading partner. If stuck here, the Steelers could target a big receiver like they've promised Ben Roethlisberger.
Benjamin was a big-time play-maker for the Seminoles in 2013. Even though other receivers saw more targets, the redshirt sophomore produced a lot of long receptions for Jameis Winston. Benjamin had 54 receptions for 1,011 yards with 15 touchdowns for the year. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder is a mismatch nightmare with a ton of upside. He has the speed to stretch a defense vertically as he torched Florida and cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy to the tune of 212 yards on nine catches and three scores.
It'd be great if the Steelers, benefactors of a re-tooled lineup that shed age and salary through free agency so far, were in a position to take on a project with the 15th overall pick and still compete, much like they did in 2007 when they selected another Seminole, linebacker Lawrence Timmons. There just appear to be too many holes on the defensive side of the ball to think taking on the tall but raw receiver is the right direction.
However, there comes a point the Steelers need to start bringing in potential difference-makers, and Benjamin's size and speed could make him exactly that. It wouldn't be in year 1, maybe not even year 2, but his ceiling is high; perhaps high enough the Steelers roll the dice.