2016 NFL Draft: Expert grades for the Steelers selection of CB Artie Burns in Round 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers went against the grain with their 1st round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Not so much by selecting a cornerback, but the cornerback which selected has many fans up in arms regarding the pick. When the announcement was made the University of Miami product was going to be donning the black and gold, the tweets, Facebook posts and emails started to swirl.

Fans were angry.

Their anger is somewhat misplaced by the fact very few knew enough about this player to even form an opinion. What they knew, is Burns wasn't the player they wanted, expected or knew of. Nonetheless, the deed is done and the Steelers have a new, fresh-faced 20-year-old cornerback with speed and ball skills to boot. When you put it that way it doesn't sound all that bad.

However, after every draft pick there are "experts" (I use that term loosely) give out grades for all the first round selections. Here at BTSC, we graded the Burns selection a solid B, but many other sites were far less lenient when grading the selection.

Take a look at some of the grades the Burns selection received from the national media:

SB Nation

25. Pittsburgh Steelers - Artie Burns, CB, Miami
The Steelers haven't drafted a cornerback in the first round since 1997. It really showed last season when they finished 30th in the NFL in pass defense and have no clear No. 1 corner on the roster. Burns is big and athletic but was inconsistent at times last season. The grade gets dinged because I had Burns rated in the 50s. He's a player who runs hot and cold, but if he's coached up, he can be a good player. It's just a matter of how fast that and adapting to more of a zone system can happen.

Grade: C

Pro Football Focus

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns
In a mismatch of skillsets and scheme, the Steelers take Burns with the hope that they can develop his 6-foot plus frame into a dependable player. The problem here, much like the Apple pick to the Giants, is that the Steelers played more zone coverage than any team in the league last year and that's where Burns has his struggles. His +2.8 coverage grade ranked 42nd in the draft class, and though he does show skills as a man coverage cornerback, but his overall game remains raw. If Pittsburgh plans on altering their scheme to play more man coverage, this pick makes more sense, but at this point, it's an example of a cornerback's size and speed moving him up a draft board at the expense of his on-field play.

Grade: D

CBS Sports

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns
He's got a ton of athletic ability and he fills a big-time need. Solid pick.

Grade: B

Yahoo Sports

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Artie Burns
Our least favorite pick to this point of the draft. Yes, Burns is a long-armed press corner with passion and he has overcome a lot in his life to get to this level. But there are teams that have stamped fourth-round grades on Burns, and he might not ever be better than a solid No. 3 corner. There were many better options here - perhaps in the front seven.

Grade: D+