First, how do you think the social distancing issues are going to affect teams and the draft this year?
I’m not real dialed-in to the technology teams are using, but communication has to be a big issue. Draft meetings happen a lot this time of year traditionally and they are more effective with everyone in the same room going over their position boards – battling over players – those battles are important and can’t work as well battling over Skype or whatever people are using.
On draft night, it should work out ok as long as the internet doesn’t go down or there aren’t problems with whatever software they are using. There was an idea that teams should all get one timeout on draft day so they can call Goodeell in case somethings goes wrong – I actually think that’s a good idea.
I think the communication between teams could be an issue. You’ll need to have a lot of your plans prepared well in advance of draft day – like Colbert did when he talked to Elway before they moved up with Denver on draft day. You better have it down early. I can see it being more of a problem later in the draft – in the later rounds when you want to move up, say, in the fifth round to get your guy. Those are harder trades to plan in advance – they may be harder to do now- you may see these go down a lot less than they used to.
How does the inability to talk to players up close affect teams – and are the Steelers better or worse positioned than other teams?
That may be the biggest pro for the Steelers. Long time scouts that have been going to the same schools for years and teams with stable front offices – they’ll be able to get good background information on players. I remember when I was a new scout – I was still figuring out where to go and who to talk to. So stable teams with those relationships will have a huge advantage.
Interviews at the combine – they are just 15 minutes and a lot of that is shaking hands and introducing yourselves. So not having those at-facility meetings with players – all day meetings where you sit down and have lunch with guys – and where doctors get their hands on guys – I think not having those is a big deal. I think you’ll see a lot of guys with character and medical concerns fall in the draft because of that.
It wouldn’t shock me that in three years from now, people will be asking how teams like the Steelers got a Pro Bowl player to fall to them in round three. We’ll be looking back on this draft and asking what happened.
I know Kevin Colbert came up with an idea to add rounds to the draft, What do you think of that idea and how is that better than letting guys at the end of the draft become UDFAs so they can ick their best options?
That’s a hard situation, working with undrafted free agents to sign them. I did that in Cleveland and was responsible for getting Josh Cribbs to the Browns. It’s a lot of phone calls for a lot of players all at once – I remember having to hand the phone to the wide receivers coach and others to talk to Cribbs. It’s a hectic time.
I also can’t see the NFL Players Association checking off on the idea of extra rounds. Like you said, players at the end of the draft would rather choose teams that are better fits for them. I think Kevin recommended that idea in part because the Steelers are likely better prepared to get good players at the end of the draft. I just don’t think anyone will agree to it.
Like what the Steelers did in free agency?
I think that’s one of the biggest strengths of Kevin Colbert. Before draft day Kevin has his team situated so that it doesn’t need to draft someone to be competitive – they can compete right now with anyone with these players. They don’t need to draft a guy to survive. He uses free agency well this way.
Tight end and interior offensive line are arguably the weakest positions in the draft. So signing those two guys (Ebron and Wisniewski) at, in my opinion, very good prices were great moves. They did well in the offseason – much better than I anticipated considering their cap situation going into the offseason.
Heading into the draft – what are the team’s biggest needs, from your perspective?
I think they need a third safety, a third outside linebacker and inside linebacker – maybe a nosetackle though I think Alualu will likely be asked to fill that role.
Running back and wide receiver – those aren’t a must but it’s such a good wide receiver class. The team could use a playmaker on offense so they might not be able to pass one of those receivers up.
I think at pick 49 it’ll likely be either receiver or running back. I like Pittman – he’s a Steelers type of guy and they could use someone like him at receiver. There are five running backs I can see at pick 49 too – and if Winfield drops there they may not be able to say no – he’s a great one.
Where is the draft class deepest – and can you see the team move up at all?
Offensive tackle and wide receiver are both extremely good. It’s a brilliantly good receiver class – they’ll be good players that would be third round guys likely falling to late in the fourth round.
The defense is so-so in this class – it’s a deep cornerback class but those go fast.
As for moving up – they have comp picks coming up next year so they have some decent draft capital. I could see them moving up day two or three with a future draft pick.
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