Now that the national media draftniks are back home from covering the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the newest set of mock drafts are starting role in. Earlier today, Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBS Sports both released their post combine mocks of the first-round of the 2014 NFL Draft and now Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated has released his.
In his latest educated guess, Burke has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert with the 15th overall selection.
Burke writes:
Gilbert’s combine showing — a sub-4.4 40, among other things — could force some team’s hand in the top 10 (Detroit?) Or it could force Pittsburgh, Dallas or others to consider trading up for him. Pittsburgh has to get better at the CB spot given Ike Taylor’s descent into mediocrity. Gilbert could be a shutdown guy at the next level.
If the draft board was to ultimately play out the way the way Burke has it going, Gilbert certainly would be enticing for the Steelers, who are sure to covet a cornerback in the early rounds of the May draft.
According to his mock, Burke has wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans being long gone by the time the Steelers turn to pick comes around, and he also has cornerback Darqueze Dennard and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix being gone by the 12th overall selection.
So is Burke off his rocker here? What chances to you give Gilbert dropping to the Steelers at 15?
