Report: Steelers expected to host Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr. on pre-draft visit

While there are still several notable school who have yet to host their pro day events this offseason, reports of players the Pittsburgh Steelers intend hosting on pre-draft vists over the coming weeks are already starting to emerge.

As per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr. is the latest prospect the Steelers are rumored to be meeting with this year, a former cornerback with impressive speed who appears on the rise with the mock draft experts as of late.

Projecting as more of a traditional free safety rather than someone who would play closer to the line scrimmage, perhaps the biggest criticism of Savage from the scouting reports is his inconsistent tackling. However, his speed on tape is clear for all to see and his 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine merely confirmed what many already knew.

As a former corner, his coverage skills are considered to be a notch above many of the other players available at his position in the draft this year, and his production at Maryland would seem to suggest he might be more of a playmaker than many of the other options Pittsburgh currently has on the roster.

At just 5-foot-10 and 198-pounds, some will consider him slight undersized for safety in the NFL, but career stats of 182 tackles, 8 interceptions and 13 pass defended in four years at Maryland are hard to overlook.

With his pro day due to be held on Wednesday March 27, it will be interesting to note who attends on behalf of the Steelers to get a closer look at him.

Expected to be a Day 2 selection who could slip into Round 4, Savage could be an interesting selection for Pittsburgh if he was still available to them towards the end of the third-round.

In our efforts to keep track of all the Steelers pre-draft interests, it would appear we missed a reported encounter between the team and Akron linebacker Ulysees Gilbert at his pro day last Thursday.

As per Zach Hicks of our sister publication Stampede Blue who spoke with the player last week, the young prospect met with a Pittsburgh scout after his pro day event.

According to Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst, Gilbert put up some impressive numbers in front of the scouts and has him projected as late round draft selection.

“Ulysees “Don’t call me Grant” Gilbert, graded as a street free agent entering the season, put on an athletic display during testing.”

“Measuring 6002 and 224 pounds, Grant completed 20 reps on the bench press and touched 39.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10-foot-6 in the broad jump.”

“His ran super fast in the 40, as both of his times were clocked under 4.5 seconds on most watches, including a best of 4.46 seconds. His three-cone came in at 6.94 seconds.”

“Grant, who stood out during three days of Shrine Game practice, looked fast in position drills and spent time with the Baltimore Ravens during the day.”

“I stamped him as a potential seventh-round pick last June during my preview of Akron, and I think that’s where Grant ends up in the draft.”

The pro day schedule for Monday should see the Steelers with representative at Iowa, North Carolina and Texas Tech among others.