The 2016 mock draft season is certainly in full gear with two weeks to go until Super Bowl 50 is played and on Monday, CBS analysts Rob Rang and Dane Brugler both released updated versions of their first round guesses. Unsurprisingly, both have the Steelers selecting a cornerback with the 25th overall pick in the first round.
Rang has the Steelers drafting Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III in the first round and here is his reasoning for the selection.
Pittsburgh’s leaky secondary was a year-long issue with reinforcements almost surely coming in the offseason, whether via the draft, free agency or both. Adding a playmaker like Hargreaves, a rare three-time First Team All-SEC choice with 10 career interceptions, would certainly help.
Hargreaves, whose pre combine measurements are 5106, 199-pounds, registered 4 interceptions and 33 total tackles in 2015. He declared for the draft as an underclassman a short time ago.
As for Brugler, he has the Steelers drafting Ohio state cornerback Eli Apple in the first round and here is his reasoning for the selection.
All 32 teams need cornerback help, but maybe none more than the Steelers. Apple tends to play too hands-on downfield, but for a 20-year-old prospect, he has the size and speed to develop into an impact starter.
Apple, whose pre combine measurements are 6005, 200-pounds, registered just 1 interception in 2015 to go along with 33 total tackles. Like Hargreaves, Apple declared for the draft as an underclassman earlier this month. He will not turn 21 until August.
While I understand the annual rush to mock cornerbacks to the Steelers, I will be surprised if the team drafts one this year in the first round. Regardless, I will be interested to see both of these young cornerbacks take part in the scouting combine next month. In the coming weeks, we will have full breakdowns on both of these players so stay tuned for that.
