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2014 NFL Draft Handicapping Tips: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers got off to a dreadful start last season, looking very old in the process. In the second half something clicked as they went 6-2 but they are still lacking in a lot of key areas – they could probably go best available the whole draft and it wouldn’t be a bad strategy.

8-8, T2nd – AFC North
Draft picks (by round)

  • Round 1 – 15
  • Round 2 – 14
  • Round 3 – 33
  • Round 4 – 18
  • Round 5 – 17
  • Round 5 – 33
  • Round 6 – 16
  • Round 6 – 39
  • Round 7 – 15

Team Needs

I think their biggest needs are up front on defense.

It is almost unheard for a Steelers team to finish 21st in rushing yards allowed but that is what they did last year. I would also like to see them add something to their offense.

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I liked what I saw from rookie Le’Veon Bell but the receiving corps is light, especially at TE.

Top Pick Target

DT – Ra’Shede Hageman out of Minnesota is an enormous DT prospect. They have a couple of space eaters on the roster already but Hageman would give them someone who can also get after the passer.
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His length is rare in a player that can stick his helmet into the middle of the line. I can see him batting down a lot of Andy Dalton’s passes already.

Ravens 2014 nfl draft predictions

CB Darqueze Dennard – He has good size and good speed but more than anything he knows how to cover. The Steelers are a team that does not work exclusively on projection and this corner showed that he is up to the task at Michigan State the last 4 years, helping make the Spartan defense one of the best in the country.

He can do the same at the next level.

WR Kelvin Benjamin – I like Antonio Brown a lot but it is probably not ideal any more to have your go to receiver be his size.

Benjamin showed for Florida State last season how his ability to use his big body and jumping ability to make catches can be very valuable and even though his speed and discipline are questionable he is worth risking a second day draft pick on.

TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins – Experts are not enamoured with the TE options in this draft but I think they might be being a little harsh. Sefarian-Jenkins was a monster recruit for Washington that never really turned in the kind of production you would expect given their high powered offense.

The Steelers need a little more excitement with this position and he could give it to them. He seems like the kind of prospect that coach Mike Tomlin could get through to.

QB Keith Price – Not a bad idea to get a prospect going to back up Big Ben. I am not sold on Landry Jones but maybe Price, out of Washington also, might become Russell Wilson light.

Also he might help bring along a prospect like Sefarian-Jenkins above.

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By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.