The Steelers headed into this offseason with nine roster spots needing addressed:
DL: 2 needed: Keisel, Hood, and Woods all left. Arnfelt can step in for Woods. But 2 more were needed
WR: 2 needed: Sanders and Cotchery needed replaced
S: 1 needed: Clark departed
CB: 1 needed: Dearth of talent here – especially for those that can create turnovers
RB: 1 needed: Dwyer gone – a veteran, proven back is needed behind Bell
OLB: 1 needed: Depth needed with Woodley gone and no one to step in for 2 starters
ILB: 1 needed: Foote gone and the talent is thin here
What has been resolved to date?:
4 spots so far – with a 5th seemingly imminent
S: Mitchell’s signing locks down the safety concerns
DL: the signing of DL Cam Thomas replaces Hood’s rotation work. A starter-caliber player still is needed
WR Lance Moore replaces Cotchery as the # 3/slot WR. Wheaton will be given the chance to start but they need a more potent weapon here
LB: The signing of Moats takes the immediate pressure off of the LB spot. He can play inside and out
RB: A signing here seems imminent from all reports. Blount or another back seems to be a foregone conclusion
From here:
So, let’s assume a RB is signed before the draft. That leaves 4 roster spots needing addressed, if you consider they still need another LB.
Wild card: Sean Spence. Can he fill that LB spot – is he healthy enough to do so. For now, let’s do as the Steelers FO does, which is to assume no until proven otherwise.
Draft:
Elite WR depth goes deep into round 2. Elite CB depth is round 1 only.
So, with this in mind:
Round 1: CB Justin Gilbert, Kyle Fuller, Darqueze Dennard
Round 2: WR Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham, Devante Adams or Donte Moncrief
Round 3: DT Brent Urban, DeAndre Coleman or DaQuan Jones
Round 4: LB Max Bullough, Khairi Fortt or Jordan Zumwalt
Round 5: RB James Wilder, Isiah Crowell, Antonio Andrews
Post Draft:
What this leaves is an issue on the DL and at OLB. I can see the Steelers signing a cheaper DL (Keisel?) and backup OLB (Harrison?) after June 1 cut days.
Thoughts?