Thursday night on ESPN2, draft analyst Mel Kipper Jr. and Todd McShay did a televised mock of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and it consisted of them alternating picks. After the show, an additional two rounds was done and let’s just say that the three picks that were made for the Pittsburgh Steelers probably won’t please a lot of you.
In the first round, McShay gave North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron to the Steelers at No. 15.
McShay’s Analysis:
After Kiper reaches to take Pryor for the Bears, I get to select the 11th-ranked player on my board at No. 15. Ebron will give Ben Roethlisberger a big-time weapon in the passing game.
Former NFL general manager Bill Polian then weighed in on the McShay’s selection of Ebron.
“He’s a Pittsburgh Steeler and he doesn’t block. That doesn’t compute,” Polian said of Ebron. “I don’t think he’s ready to play in the NFL right now. I think he’s too immature. I don’t think his feet are firmly planted on the ground. Yeah, he has ability but that only gets you so far.”
In round two it was Kiper’s turn to pick for the Steelers and with 10 wide receivers already off the board, he decided to select LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry for Pittsburgh with the 46th overall selection.
Kiper’s Analysis:
Roll the tape and you won’t care if Landry runs a 4.3 or a 5.3. I know this looks odd after Todd went with Ebron in Round 1, but I need another wide receiver, and CB (a need) at this slot is a value issue, especially with system fit in mind. I consider a prominent nose tackle option, but pass.
After not getting a cornerback in the first two rounds, McShay finally addressed the position for the Steelers in the third round with the selection of Bashaud Breeland out of Clemson.
McShay’s Analysis:
We have to get younger in the secondary and having taken two pass-catchers in this draft already, we’ll go with our eighth-ranked cornerback in Breeland. His aggressiveness in run support makes him a good fit.
Yikes!
McShay passed up Justin Gilbert, C.J. Mosley and Kyle Fuller in round one and that is where I believe this mock really went off the track for the Steelers.
Eight wide receivers in the first round? Really?
While I think Landry certainly has the tools to be successful at the NFL level, round two certainly is too early for him. It’s a full round or better reach.
As far as the selection of Breeland goes, while I understand the pick, I’m not a fan of it. In fact, I probably would have went with Jaylen Watkins out of Florida right here had things actually played out this way.
