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Draft visitor for Friday. WR Jaelen Strong from Arizona State.
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) April 17, 2015
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted yet another wide receiver on a pre-draft visit prior to the 2015 NFL Draft. Friday's visitation was with Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong. The Steelers have hosted 19 of their possible 30 pre-draft visitors, and 4 of those have been wide receivers.
Strong is not known as the fastest wide receiver (4.4 second 40-yard dash), but is creative and plays the ball extremely well. Some are drawing comparisons between Strong and Anquan Boldin, which is pretty impressive company for an NFL prospect. On top of his ball skills, Strong has the size (6-foot 2-inches and 217 pounds) to be able to muscle defenders for contested passes. Nonetheless, he is still considered as extremely raw entering the pro ranks.
Strong is expected to be a 1st or 2nd round pick, and the Steelers are taking a look at whether he would be a good fit for the organization, as well as the offense. If Strong were somehow to fall to the Steelers at No. 22, and the Steelers entertain the thought of a wide receiver in the first round, he might be their selection. However, with Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant and Darrius Heyward Bey all on the team and under contract, it would be tough sledding for a rookie to break through the depth chart.
The Steelers should look at WR in the upcoming draft, but taking a player like Strong in the early rounds very well could leave the team vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball, which has more glaring deficiencies.