The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine was quite the spectacle as some players impressed (ahem, Vic Beasley) but it’s important not to get too carried away with the numbers and try and remember what you see on tape. Functional strength is often far different than what a guy can bench.
In order to hopefully spur on more discussion and keep things dynamic I’ve again included 10 more players to the Pittsburgh Steelers big board. I’ve added mostly more defensive backs but also thrown in some offensive and defensive linemen. I’m becoming a big Jake Fisher fan.
I will continue to add 10 names a week and we should have a pretty sizeable board by the time the 2015 NFL Draft rolls around.
I’ve shortened up the notes on some players to make this list a little more readable as it grows. If you’re curious to see full notes on players check out the first four versions of this big board.
Steelers 2015 Draft: Top 20 Big Board 1.0
Steelers 2015 Draft: Top 30 Big Board 2.0
Steelers 2015 Draft: Top 40 Big Board 3.0
Steelers 2015 Draft: Top 50 Big Board 4.0
Please remember this is a fluid board that is subject to change as we move further along in the process. If you have some players you think should be on there that aren’t or you see a guy that you think shouldn’t even be in the discussion feel free to tell me but also include why you think that in your comment. Let’s have some more interesting discussions as we get further along in the process.
So without further ado here is the Steelers Depot Big Board 5.0
1) Alvin “Bud” Dupree – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Kentucky – 6’4″ 270 lbs. – Dupree as we’ve pointed out could be very good in the elephant thanks to his size, agility, and ability. However, beyond excelling in a hypothetical elephant role I think he would be a great fit as a 3-4 OLB in the Steelers traditional defensive scheme. I love his ability to drop and the more I watch of him the more I like.
2) Dante Fowler Jr. – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Florida – 6’3″ 265 lbs. – I doubt he makes it to the Steelers but Fowler is built like a Steelers linebacker. I worry about his ability to set the edge in the run game but his pass rushing abilities are intriguing. He has violent hands and some excellent pass rush moves and counters.
3) Maxx Williams – Tight End – Minnesota – 6’4″ 250 lbs. – Maxx is easily the top tight end in this class. He might be off the board before the Steelers pick because of it being such a weak tight end class. He’s a true dual threat tight end. His body control makes him a threat on the sidelines and in the red zone where the Steelers have really struggled.
4) Trae Waynes – Cornerback – Michigan State – 6-1″ 183 lbs. – This is a weak cornerback class but I think Waynes could be a good fit in Pittsburgh. Plays a lot like Kyle Fuller. He’s a versatile corner that can be your #1 corner. He has great awareness and ball skills.
5) Marcus Peters – Cornerback – Washington – 6’0″ 190 lbs. – If I was going off pure natural talent he might be #1. He’s a phenomenal athlete with good size. He can play press man, off man, and in zone. Short area quickness is impressive. He is an absolute head case off the field.
6) Brandon Scherff – Offensive Tackle/Guard – Iowa – 6’5″ 320 lbs. – Iowa has produced some really great NFL offensive line talent over the past few years. He can play tackle, probably even left tackle, but I think he could be a monster at guard. He has the power to get great push. He has the athleticism and lateral agility to pull and get to the second level. Needs to be more tenacious in pass protection. I’m not sure he falls to the Steelers but if he did he could combine with Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro to make a nasty interior of that offensive line.
7) Landon Collins – Strong Safety – Alabama – 6’0″ 220 lbs. – Not sure the Steelers want to draft a strong safety with Shamarko Thomas waiting in the wings but they might not be able to pass on the talent of Collins if he’s there. In the past I’ve focused on what Collins can’t do but man there is so much he is great at. He would be an instant enforcer in the secondary (and he wraps up the ball carrier unlike a current Steelers free safety). Still hard to get past how bad he looks in deep coverage.
8) Quinten Rollins – Cornerback – Miami of Ohio – 5’11” 203 lbs. – Rollins is a former basketball player with only one year of college football experience. He is extremely raw but extremely talented. He’s going to need some serious coaching at the next level. Tremendous upside.
9) Jalen Collins – Cornerback – LSU – 6’2″ 195 lbs. – Collins is an intriguing size/speed prospect. He’s a big corner but he doesn’t defend the run as well as he should for a guy his size
10) Shane Ray – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Missouri – – 6’3” 245 lbs. – Ray is a fantastic athlete with elite athleticism. He’s got crazy speed around the edge. He has a really high motor and he can get great bend but it’s not consistent. He might be best suited within a 4-3 scheme being used in the same way Von Miller is.
11) Vic Beasley – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Clemson – 6’2″ 235 lbs. – Beasley is stupid fast for an outside linebacker prospect. His first step is incredibly explosive. But honestly he reminds me too much of a player already on the Steelers roster: Jarvis Jones. Beasley was moved around a lot in 2014 and some of his production was inflated as a result. He can’t shed blocks.
12) Randy Gregory – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Nebraska – 6’6″ 240 lbs. – Long, rangy athlete plays similar to Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo. Explosive first step when standing up. He can use a bevy of different pass rush moves. He’s able to get off blocks pretty effectively. He was a key member of the Huskers defense that got kicked in the teeth when Melvin Gordon ran roughshod for 408 yards on them. He just cannot set the edge.
13) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu – Cornerback – Oregon – 5-9″ 195 lbs. – He was viewed as one of the top cornerback prospects until his terrible knee injury. He lacks the height you would expect in a top-flight cornerback but he has some absolutely elite athletic skills. I still love Ifo’s ability but his knee injury likely has him falling out of the first two rounds. The more tape I watch of Ifo the more I think he’s going to be a special player.
14) P.J. Williams – Cornerback – Florida State – 6’0″ 195 lbs. – Williams has good size and an impressive resume as the defensive MVP of the 2014 BCS National Championship. Plays a lot of press-man. He has a reckless style of play which is great when he’s making hits but it causes him to overpursue and misdiagnose plays sometimes.
15) Jordan Phillips – Defensive Tackle – Oklahoma – 6’6″ 334 lbs. – He’s a huge guy that plays like a smaller player (in a good way). A guy his size shouldn’t be that explosive. He can line up at nose tackle but he would also cause some serious headaches for offensive lines in sub packages. He can eat space and allow linebackers to flow or he can be a dangerous penetrator.
16) Danny Shelton -Defensive Tackle – Washington – 6’2″ 339 lbs. – Big nose tackle who can take on double teams. He uses his hands well. A rare nose tackle who can likely stay on the field for all 3 downs. He was crazy productive in 2014 but its deceiving. Six of his nine sacks were in two games against Hawaii and Eastern Washington. I wish he pushed the pocket more consistently.
17) Derron Smith – Safety – Fresno State – 5’11” 195 lbs. – He’s an incredible ballhawk that can cover receivers and provide solid run support in the box. He’s got great vision and awareness but he still takes poor angles. Height and weight are a concern when he’s going up against tight ends. Could provide much needed playmaking ability in the secondary.
18) Hau’Oli Kikaha – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Washington – 6’2 1/2″ 246 lbs. – I just did a full write-up on Kikaha (insert link here). I don’t think he has a really high ceiling but I think he can quickly become a contributor. I’m not as concerned with his injury history as some.
19) Alex Carter – Cornerback – Stanford – 6’0″ 202 lbs. – He’s got good size. I like him a lot as a press corner. He also looks comfortable playing zone. He’ll help out in run support. If he doesn’t jam his man well in press he’s not great in man coverage. Not a guy with great deep speed. I need to see more tape on him.
20) Owamagbe Odighizuwa – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – UCLA – 6’3″ 270 lbs. – He wins the hardest name in the Draft to pronounce contest. He’s extremely strong and can be a great run defender from day one. Relentless motor but he’s not very polished as a pass rusher. I’m just not sure he can fit in a 3-4.
21) La’el Collins – Offensive Tackle/Guard – LSU – 6’5″ 321 lbs. – Collins could probably play right tackle but I think he’d be a fringe Pro Bowler at guard. He’s got a nice mean streak to him. I like him as a pass protector but the only problem with him moving to guard is he sometimes struggles with interior pass rushers (especially faster guys). He plays a little high sometimes.
22) Preston Smith – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Mississippi State – 6’6″ 270 lbs. – Our own Alex Kozora did a great write up on Smith. I think he’s a big, versatile guy who can put offensive skill position players in a hurt locker.. Not overly fast, not extremely flexible. I like how he sets the edge and I love his length.
23) Eli Harold – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Virginia – 6’4″ 250 lbs – Harold was a 2 year starter in Charlottesville who contributed greatly to an outstanding Cavaliers defense. He doesn’t show great flexibility when rushing and lets linemen get into his chest too easily.
24) Kevin Johnson – Cornerback – Wake Forest – 6’0″ 175 lbs. – He’s got the length you want in a premier corner but none of the bulk. He has a really slight frame and I’m not sure he really can bulk up.
25) Clive Walford – Tight End – Miami – 6’4″ 258 lbs. – Walford made himself some money at the Senior Bowl. He offers great value because he can line up as an H-back, in the slot and as an in-line blocker. I like him as an in-line blocker best and I think he uses his long arms well. Doesn’t have the best hands. He doesn’t have blazing speed to be a big time deep threat. Definitely needs work in his route running. He’s a very physical guy who could offer some value in the right round.
26) David Johnson – Running Back – Northern Iowa – 6’1″ 229 lbs. – He’s a big boy who can be an asset in the passing game. I love his jump cut ability. Johnson’s not very quick though. He was a guy that really popped at the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl though. Scouts on scene noted that his leadership skills were evident as he was firing up teammates. These are the kind of reports you want to hear.
27) Cameron Erving – Florida State – 6’5” 310 lbs. – Tackle/Guard/Center – Erving is an extremely versatile lineman with a rare combination of size and athleticism. The more tape I watched on him the less impressed I became. I think he goes too high for what his true value is.
28) Tyler Kroft – Tight End – Rutgers – 6’6″ 240 lbs. – I love Kroft’s size and versatility. I think he can play in-line, get split out wide or be an H-back. He’s a crazy good blocker, which could give him instant starting potential. He can be a deep threat too. I worry about his hands and the fact that he doesn’t seem like a natural route runner at times. Intriguing guy.
29) Laken Tomlinson – Offensive Guard – 6’3″ 330 lbs. – I like Tomlinson because of the fact that he’s strong and can push guys around. I don’t like the fact that he doesn’t always use great technique and he lacks the athleticism to pull and to get to the next level. I do see potential for growth, especially under Mike Munchak. Ramon Foster isn’t old but he isn’t irreplaceable either.
30) Jay Ajayi – Running Back – Boise State – 6’0″ 221 lbs. – Tough, downhill runner. He’s got nice size and great feet. Love the yards after contact he gets. Nice, physical back in between the tackles. Doesn’t turn the corner well. His ball security is not good.
31) Nate Orchard – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Utah – 6’3″ 251 lbs. – I’m not as high on Orchard as some but I see the talent there. Good hand placement. He has enough strength at the point of attack to set the edge. He’s got pretty good size. To me he just doesn’t do anything extraordinarily well. Too much finesse for my liking. He doesn’t dip the edge like I’d like to see.
32) Malcolm Brown – Defensive Tackle – Texas – 6’2″ 320 lbs. – Very athletic with quick feet for a big guy. Good football IQ. He’s got a great nose for the football (sniffs out run plays very well). He’s got the ability to disengage from blocks and moves down the offensive line which would make him great at defending against zone schemes the Steelers have been burned by. His motor needs to go a little longer. He needs to hold the point of attack better against man power schemes.
33) Arik Armstead – Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – Oregon – 6’8″ 290 lbs. – He has got crazy length and size. Armstead is an explosive athlete who uses his leverage and size well. Gets off blocks consistently. He’s an athletic freak with tons of ability but not much in terms of production. He doesn’t have any counters when pass rushing and he plays too high.
34) Ronald Darby – Cornerback Florida State – 5’11” 195 lbs. – Very fast corner. Darby is a special teams contributor. He’s a good cover corner who can be physical but also use his speed to eliminate separation. Good recovery speed too. Good at breaking up passes but he’s not a ballhawk. He’s a little bit up and down in his play. Some possible character concerns as he was witness in the Jameis Winston sexual assault allegations.
35) Jaquiski Tartt – Strong Safety – Samford – 6’1″ 218 lbs. – He’s one of the best small school prospects there is in this class. Excellent in run support. He’s got great vision in the secondary. Nasty tackler who will wrap the ball carrier up. Very aggressive. He doesn’t have great long speed or great recovery speed. You can’t really use him as a single high safety. He’s a taller Shamarko Thomas
36) David Cobb – Running Back – Minnesota – 5’11” 220 lbs. – He’s a physical runner who is going to do his best work after first contact. I like his patience in setting up blocks. Not a great receiver out of the backfield though. Not a guy that does great on outside runs. He’s got ball security issues. I like him in a zone running scheme and I think he could be a great compliment back to Le’Veon Bell.
37) Ali Marpet – Center/Guard – Hobart – 6’4″ 310 lbs. – Marpet impressed a lot of people at the Senior Bowl. Extremely consistent. He’s a small school guy with respectable strength, who uses his hands well. He’s got good leverage and uses great technique. Marpet will get knocked hard for playing Division III competition but he dominated as you would hope. I think he could play center or guard in a zone scheme. He would be a great eventual replacement for Ramon Foster.
38) Carl Davis – Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – Iowa – 6’5″ 315 lbs. – He projects as a 5 technique in the 3-4 but I think he’s better suited as a defensive tackle in a 4-3. Good at shedding blocks. Powerful against double teams. Great leverage. Able to quickly diagnose plays. He needs a lot more stamina. Not very explosive for a guy that will likely be a high draft pick. A little too much of a Ziggy Hood type player but I need to watch some more tape on him.
39) Jake Fisher – Offensive Tackle/Guard – Oregon – 6’6″ 306 lbs. – Could be an excellent zone guard. Great change of direction. He can get to the second level quick. Opens himself up to the bull rush too often. Good frame but not enough bulk. Not a roadgrader in the run game.
40) Steven Nelson – Cornerback – Oregon State – 5’11” 194 lbs. – He’s got decent but not great size. He seems like a typical Steelers cornerback (minus the length) because he’s a big tackler and never backs down in the run game. Good closing speed but not great acceleration. He’s a little too quick to take a holding penalty. He’ll punish receivers and give you a lot in a Dick LeBeau style defense but he’ll never be a top cover corner.
41) Eddie Goldman – Defensive Tackle – Florida State – 6’4″ 336 lbs. – Big guy who will hog space in the middle. Great power. Consistently blows up run plays. He can push the pocket. However, he’s not a consistent pass rusher inside and not a great penetrator. I’m not sure he’s a big enough improvement over Steve McLendon and Big Dan McCullers.
42) Markus Golden – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker- Missouri – 6’3″ 260 lbs. -He’s a good tackler with a pretty high motor and excellent football intelligence. He’s a bull rusher with a mediocre pass-rushing repertoire. He lacks great lateral agility. Just doesn’t have great bend or great speed.
43) Lorenzo Mauldin – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Louisville – 6’4″ 252 lbs. – I love the motor on this kid. He’s very physical and I like his vision on the field. However… he doesn’t bend well. He plays too high. He can’t convert speed to power well at all. But he plays the run pretty well. Might not become an All Pro but he’s a solid football player you’d like to have as depth at least.
44) Jesse James – Tight End – Penn State – 6’7″ 254 lbs. – This kid is incredibly tall even for a tight end. He needs a little more meat on the bones. He’s an average run blocker at best. I like his ability to get open in zones and I love his height in the red zone. He’s not a smooth route runner at all though. He’s not as physical as he should be, either, for a guy his size. Hard to say what his true potential is at the next level.
45) T.J. Yeldon – Running Back – Alabama – 6’2″ 221 lbs. -. I like Yeldon more than most people. Some people dislike his upright running style but this was a knock on Bell coming out as well. He’s got a good frame. He has quick feet. I like his jump cuts and his crazy good lateral agility. Now, for the bad news. Yeldon’s not very good in pass protection. I think he could be an excellent backup to Lev Bell.
46) Devin Funchess – Tight End/Wide Receiver – Michigan – 6’5″ 230 lbs. – Nobody knows whether he’s going to be used as a TE or wideout. I like him much better as a tight end. He presents mismatch opportunities. He could stand to add some more weight to his frame. He’s a long strider. Have to watch more game tape to see how his blocking holds up.
47) Max Valles – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Virginia – 6’5″ 251 lbs. – He’s got excellent bend. I like how he dips his shoulder and rips around the corner. He can stand up or put his hand in the dirt. More fiery rushing the passer than defending the run. Not great vision right now. He got a lot of favorable looks due to attention shown to Eli Harold. He’s got to beef up his pass rushing moves and use better technique.
48) Quandre Diggs – Cornerback – Texas – 5’10” 195 lbs. – Diggs is an intriguing cornerback prospect. He’s a four-year starter that played in the slot and outside. I worry that he doesn’t have the size to play on the perimeter (although the same could be said about Olomu) He’s a smooth, fluid athlete with great football IQ. He’s not ultra fast though and I’m not sure he has the short area quickness to deal with some of the smaller, shiftier slot receivers.
49) Jacoby Glenn – Cornerback – UCF – 6’0″ 186 lbs. – He’s got the height but you’d like to see some more meat on his bones. Glenn is a physical corner who uses his hands well. Does a good job mirroring routes. He can play off as well as man. H’s got a bit of a robotic back pedal. His deep speed is lacking.
50) Ben Koyack – Tight End – Notre Dame 6’5″ 254 lbs. – Koyack is next in a long line of excellent Notre Dame tight ends. He’s got the size you want at the position. He’s quick in and out of his breaks. Koyack’s hands are strong and he attacks the ball. Fantastic run blocker who has good leverage. He’s a tough player. Not an explosive athlete. Still pretty raw. He could develop into a starting tight end quickly though.
51) Jeremy Langford – Running Back – Michigan State – 6’0″ 208 lbs. – Gets a lot of love from Steeler Nation since he was a Spartan like Lev Bell. Good burst around the edge. Good in pass pro and as an outlet receiver. He can really help you on 3rd down. He has a tendency to bounce it outside too much. Not the physical runner you’d like to see in between the tackles. Needs to hit the hole with more authority.
52) A.J. Cann – Offensive Guard – South Carolina – 6’4″ 311 lbs. – Best true guard in this weak guard class. Excellent drive blocker. He’s athletic enough to block in space and pull. Smart player. Great at anchoring against the bull rush. He’s a little too slow at times against speed rushers inside. Plays low but loses his balance too often from lunging instead of punching. I’ll be interested to see what kind of length he has.
53) Trey Flowers – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – Arkansas – 6’3″ 270 lbs. – Great technician as an edge rusher but he’s still a little raw. Not an elite athlete. Lacks explosion or a great first step. Not sure where he fits in the Steelers defense. Not big enough to be a 3-4 end not athletic enough to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. You’d like to see more bend too.
54) Kevin White – Cornerback – TCU – 5’9″ 183 lbs. – Reminds me a lot of Antwon Blake. A shorter corner who plays like a top outside corner. Great ball skills. Special teams contributor. Stays in the receivers back pocket. He doesn’t have the size or strength to press. Plenty of effort in run support but can’t get off blocks. Despite his shorter stature he doesn’t do well with underneath and slot receivers.
55) Lynden Trail – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker/Tight End – Norfolk State – 6’7″ 269 lbs. – Large framed pass rusher who has lined up all over the place. Is he a 4-3 end or a 3-4 outside linebacker? Or is he even a tight end? Trail is extremely versatile and athletic. He’s not great at setting the edge and you’d like to see much more power in his game. He could be somewhat of a chess piece in the defense though.
56) Jeff Heureman – Tight End – Ohio State – 6’5″ 255 lbs. – Great pass catcher who can track the ball well. Has soft hands. Great understanding of finding openings in zone coverage. Great leadership traits. Not explosive enough to be a major vertical threat. Not a good pass protector. Mediocre run blocker who gets pushed around too much. Below average production in college.
57) Ladarius Gunter – Safety/Cornerback – Miami – 6’1″ 202 lbs. – Aggressive defensive back who constantly contested catches against ACC opponents. Great tackler in run support. He can play on the perimeter, in the slot, and as a single high safety. He has issues in man coverage. Might not have the ability to be a starter at corner. He gets caught looking in the backfield a lot.
58) Eric Rowe – Cornerback/Safety – Utah – 6’1″ 205 lbs. – Good size and length for either position. He started at free safety for three years and moved to corner after former Utes corner Keith McGill declared for the draft. Very active off the line with violent hands. Not great deep speed. Not good enough recovery speed. Doesn’t have great lateral agility.
59) Byron Jones – Cornerback – Connecticut – 6’1″ 199 lbs. – Jones about broke Twitter when he jumped out of Lucas Oil stadium. Great recovery speed. Team captain for the Huskies. Good tackler. Nice vision. Could play off man. He doesn’t have great balance and feet at times. Still getting over a shoulder injury.
60) Anthony Harris – Strong Safety – Virginia – 6’1″ 183 lbs. – Smart player who excels as a blitzer. Plays the ball well to get interceptions and cause pass breakups. Quick feet and great change of direction. Not very good in coverage. Robotic backpedal. Not enough violent edge in his game. Not a banger.
