First, I wanted to take a different approach on how we look at the draft. Instead of looking at value per pick – did the team actually address its needs successfully? Starting at defensive line – does Benton solve their needs there?
Benton is a unique player. Wisconsin runs some very familiar schemes – the same fronts as the Steelers.
They used him in a lot of zero-tech – I’d like to see more three-tech from him but I think they’ll start him off more at nosetackle first. That makes sense to a degree. The Steelers have three-techs already and they can always rotate him in sub-packages instead of taking him off the field on passing downs.
He has powerful hands – he’s a really good run defender. He’s getting better as a pass rusher and I think he’ll provide more value in that department as his career progresses.
My only concern with Benton is how well he translates to the zero-tech. He doesn’t always take on double-teams well at times – at times he plays too high and can have poor leverage and gets moved off the spot. But against single blockers he’s a terror.
How concerned are you with the inside linebacker corps – were you surprised they didn’t draft an inside linebacker?
I think the inside linebacker group won’t be the strongest group on this defense, for sure. Holcomb is a good athlete and has coverage potential – but I wouldn’t call him a cover linebacker. He has good range and if you keep him clean he can clean up in the run game.
Elandon Roberts made sense. They needed a thumper last year and he can do that. He can rush the passer – he’s a lot like Vince Williams.
The depth – Mark Robinson is far from a finished project but he went out there and tried to hit everything he saw. But he’s a total projection as a coverage linebacker. I’m glad they passed on the inside linebackers in this draft. It was the weakest group of the draft class and there were only two I really liked. The first was Campbell who went really early to the Lions. Dorian Williams was another guy that interested me but he went right before their pick in round three. I wonder if they would have had interest in him if he was still there at their pick.
They have a group of linebackers they can get by with for now.
Slot cornerback – the biggest concern on defense?
That is my biggest area of concern. Maulet is in that Hilton role but the further away from the line of scrimmage he gets the more problematic he becomes. That second Bengals game they moved Higgins in the slot – Boyd too – to match up with Maulet and exposed him. They ended up moving Sutton inside more as the season went on and Maulet saw less playing time.
They brought in Chan Sullivan but he gave up the most yards of any slot corner last year. But that whole Minnesota defense was atrocious so I need to see more tape on him.
Maybe the answer is moving Peterson more into the slot and safety at times. He can cover tight ends and may be on his last legs anyway as a boundary corner. When teams go spread they need an answer inside. More teams are moving their star players in the slot. Maybe after camp they make a trade – if they do that’s the one place I’d target.
How excited are you about Trice?
I had a top 100 grade on him – you just don’t get guys like that in the seventh round. Guys with that size and athleticism. He’s a good tackler and good in press coverage – press man and zone. He knows how to get to his landmarks in zone and knows how to read the threats.
I watched his tape from 2019 after I gave him his grade – I watched clips of him going up against Bateman who the Ravens drafted round one, and he locked him up. It’s rare to get a guy like that in the seventh round.
Can you see he and Porter as bookend corners a year or so from now?
It depends on how much he can clean up his technique – and on his health. Can he stay healthy long-term?
I’ll say though he’s the day three pick I am most excited about. If he and Porter start, you’d have to go back to the Seattle days when they had two big corners with that kind of length. Trice for a guy his size – he has good change of direction. He’s not stiff. Both he and Porter run well and won’t get obliterated by speed guys. It’s just great to see them have two corners they can develop after not having any for a long time.
Are they set at safety?
Bringing in Neal was interesting – he’s a hard-hitting, tone-setting safety. He can play two-deep but he doesn’t excel in coverage. Kazee is a hard hitter as well despite his slight frame. He’s a gambler in coverage – very opportunistic and good at jumping routes. He’s a high-IQ player. Maybe they move Minkah in the slot as a break-the-glass in case of emergencies plan if needed. They did that some last season.
How concerned are you with the outside linebacker depth?
Herrig is interesting. I’m cautiously betting on him. He has 31 inch arms which is short for an outside linebacker and he’s not a big guy – though he did come in at the combine at 240 pounds. He looked like he played at 225 – 230 pounds in college though. He does have an electric first step off of the ball. He’s a very good speed rusher – he has a speed rip, ghost moves – he wins the outside shoulder and understands how to set up offensive tackles with spins and speed moves too.
My concern is again his length. He knows how to play the run – but can he stand up to offensive tackles? Speed rushers who lack length and power – it’s hard to get by just as a speed rusher in the NFL. If an NFL tackle doesn’t see you as a threat to run through their chest they can counter your speed. This isn’t college.
Moving to offense – how comfortable are you with the receiver depth?
I was hesitant on Robinson at first. But I watched his tape and he was beating the press and getting open in the redzone. He’ll be a big help to a young quarterback like Pickett. He understand zones – he knows how to get open. As a fourth receiver after Pickens, Johnson and Freiermuth, he’s a good fourth option.
I think Austin as a fourth receiver will be interesting. He needs to stay healthy – I wouldn’t Sharpie him in as the fourth receiver, but the speed he provides gives them a different element. I can see them using him on jets, screens – getting the ball in his hands with some gimmicky plays. They need to be more explosive even if they lean into being more run-heavy.
I wanted to follow up on that. How concerned are you that they are leaning too heavily into the power-running game with he addition of Washington?
Canada isn’t a big play-action guy. But Washington gives you a chance to dictate how a defense plays you. He’s a terrific in-line blocker and allows Freiermuth to be more of that slot receiver type. Washington can run up the seam too and get linear. He can do things after the catch – throwing to him in the flat – he’s a difficult guy to bring down especially for defensive backs. So he gives you some flexibility.
Are we expecting too much from him though?
It’s always tricky. He’s not a fantasy-football type player. Georgia – the way they used him – they had him do every type of blocking assignment. He pulled, was the point man on screens – he did all of the dirty work. I hope fans won’t be frustrated if by week eight or so he has 10 catches and one touchdown. The way he blocks gives the team incredible value. But the expectations of him as a receiver need to be tempered.
Do you see any big changes outside of left tackle on the offensive line?
I think you’ll have Hebrig as your swing interior lineman. They have the best depth at offensive line since 2019. It’ll be interesting to see how they treat the competition at tackle. Jones should be a fixture at left tackle – but it’ll be interesting to see Moore as a competitor. I view him as a baseline replaceable starter – he won’t kill you as a starter.
Can he challenge at right tackle since Jones is a lock at left?
That’s a lot of guaranteed money they invested in Chuks – do you pay him to sit on the bench? It really depends on how they decide to approach the competition. Is Moore really going to be given a chance to start? If not, he still holds a lot of value as a swing tackle.