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The third day of the NFL draft brought even more Pittsburgh Steelers for Steeler Nation to cheer for. The list includes a speedy rusher, a mammoth guard, a hybrid S/LB and a shot-putting NT. But with that, it serves up more players to serve as instant rivals to boo. Here’s who each team welcomed to oppose Pittsburgh as new members of the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens seemed to have a pretty solid draft all the way around. They made some kind of deal with Beelsebub, I bet. I hope he comes collecting soon. On day three, they added a genius guard that WangHarb’s brother, KnobHarbs, must have suggested from Ann Arbor. Free talent scout. They also pulled in a prolific receiver, a DT with a cool name and a safety with an even cooler name. Congratulations fellas, but you wear purple now. Therefore, I hereby football-hate you all.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati picked first in all seven rounds of the NFL draft. Unfortunately for them, all of those firsts need to get used to being last. The inept front office dunces loaded up on defensive players to stuff into those tiger-striped atrocities that would make Joe Exotic switch to ferrets. They nabbed a smart DE from Notre Dame and two linebackers with bad knees. Then to start the sixth round, they finally brought in a guard to try and keep their new tiger king upright. That’s neglectful to wait that long, but they are Cincinnati...where dreams relocate to the witness relocation program and are never heard from again.
Cleveland Browns
I’ll have to give the devil his due, the Browns made one of the best selections of Day 3 when they brought in a Mackey Award winner to play tight end. I foresee the Florida Atlantic Owl becoming a Pro Bowl faster than Myles Garrett can assault a quarterback with a hat. They also tabbed a tall, ineffective receiver with the name of a Sumprene Court Justice and a short-armed center that could boost the self confidence of a T-Rex. I feel like, of the four teams from the AFCN, Cleveland landed the least amount of starters. But Harrison Bryant could be talented enough to make Cleveland rock again.
Round 4 Pick 107
Cincinnati Bengals select LB Akeem Davis-Gaither - Appalachian State
6’2”/224 lbs
2019 Stats: 14 games, 104 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 interceptions, 8 pass defenses, 0 forced fumbles
The Bengals add depth to their defense with the Sunbelt Conference defensive player of the year. Davis-Gaither shows up all over the field. He’s undersized for an NFL linebacker, but he’s a hybrid-type player who can do a lot of different things if his knee issues don’t flare up again.
Round 4 Pick 119
Cleveland Browns select TE Harrison Bryant - Florida Atlantic
2019 Stats: 13 games, 65 receptions, 1,004 yards, 15,4 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns
6’5”/243 lbs
Won the Mackey award for best TE in college football and had the most catches in the nation with 65. The All-American can pay in the slot or as an H-back. He has great hands, but is just an average blocker. Bryant is definitely a weapon that will need to be accounted for early and endlessly.
Round 4 Pick 143
Baltimore Ravens select G Ben Bredeson - Michigan
6’5”/316 lbs
Bredeson is a very intelligent player, as he took the ACT in 6th Grade. A captain at Michigan, Ben has short arms that may hinder him on the next level, but the Wolverine didn’t give up a sack his entire senior season.
Round 5 Pick 147
Cincinnati Bengals select DE Khalid Kareem - Notre Dame
6’4”/265 lbs
2019 Stats: 13 games, 46 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Kareem is a smart football player that is able to ably get past defensive linemen. The Bengals get another possible anchor for the defensive line.
Round 5 Pick 160
Cleveland Browns select C Nick Harris - Washington
6’1”/302 lbs
A very quick reactor to penetrating defenders is what Cleveland gets in their new center. Harris may have short arms and struggle with bull rushers, but the Husky can be a future starter In Cleveland.
Round 5 Pick 170 (from Minnesota)
Baltimore Ravens select DT Broderick Washington Jr. - Texas Tech
6’3”/305 lbs
2019 Stats: 12 games, 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 pass defenses, 1 fumble recovery
The strong and stout Washington will try and bull rush opposing offensive lineman. He’s an inside banger that’s really strong at the point of attack.
Round 6 Pick 180 (From Arizona)
Cincinnati Bengals select G Hakeem Adeniji - Kansas
6’5”/300 lbs
The Bengals really needed to add respectable blockers to keep Joe Burrow from dying. Here you go. Adeniji is a tweener that can play both offensive tackle and the guard position. A physical puncher is the Kansas product, but he sometimes is slow to the attack.
Round 6 Pick 187 (From Arizona)
Cleveland Browns select WR Donovan People’s-Jones - Michigan
6’2”/212 lbs
2019 Stats: 11 games, 34 receptions, 438 yards, 12.9 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns
DPJ has nice size and can be very explosive. Not great at getting separation though. Still a good value late on Day 3.
Round 6 Pick 201
Baltimore Ravens select WR James Proche -SMU
2019 Stats: 13 games, 111 receptions, 1,225 yards, 11.0 yards per catch, 15 touchdowns
6’0”/193 lbs
The Ravens get, not only a receiver, but the most prolific in all of college football with 111 catches, 15 touchdowns and only three drops. The slot receiver may not have a lot of speed, but is a very technical route runner with very good hands. Could be a monster.
Round 7 Pick 215
Cincinnati Bengals select ILB Markus Bailey - Purdue
6’1”/240 lbs
2019 Stats: 2 games, 14 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack
Bailey is a football survivor that has recovered from ACL tears to both knees in his career. When healthy, the linebacker plays with keen instincts and is very productive if he can stay on the field. Could be a high reward choice.
Round 7 Pick 219
Baltimore Ravens select S Geno Stone - Iowa
5’10”/210 lbs
2019 Stats: 13 games, 70 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interceptions, 4 pass defenses, 3 forced fumbles
The Ravens add to their secondary with a guy that tracks the football well and can cover receivers in the slot. Not known as great tackler, but the safety with the cool name could be a solid late round selection to end Baltimore's draft.
How many of the above will haunt the dreams of Steeler Nation and who? That question will take a bit to be answered. But to quote Timbuk3 from 1986, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”. But remember, that was a one-hit wonder.