Charles Davis released his latest mock draft a few days ago and the longtime NFL Network analyst has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple with the 25th overall pick just as he did over a month ago in his first offseason prediction of the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Davis writes of his selection of Apple for the Steelers:
The secondary needs help. Apple will provide the speed, and toughness that Pittsburgh values.
Apple is Davis’ third defensive back off the board in his latest mock draft and he has him being selected ahead of Houston’s William Jackson III, who he has going 28th overall. Davis also no longer has Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander being drafted in the first round.
At some point between now and the draft, I hope to compile all of the reported 58 total targets that Apple faced last season at Ohio State. He reportedly allowed 24 receptions last season of which two resulted in touchdowns. Apple was also responsible for 46 yards in penalties last season related to either pass interference or defensive holding.
Apple has been mocked to the Steelers quite a bit over the course of the offseason by several of the major media draft analyst and I doubt that will change much moving into April.
