We continue our Pittsburgh Steelers “what they look for” draft series with our first look at the defensive side of the football. The most likely defensive position the Steelers are going to address first is outside linebacker. So that’s where we’ll begin today.
What players from the 2021 draft meet the thresholds the Steelers look for? First, let’s look at all the EDGE rushers drafted by the Steelers in the Mike Tomlin era.
2020: Alex Highsmith
Height: 6031
Weight: 248
Arm Length: 33 1/8″
Hand Size: 9 1/8″
40 Time: 4.70
10 Split: 1.68
Vert: 33″
Broad: 10’5″
Short Shuttle: 4.31
Three-Cone: 7.32
Bench: N/A
2019: Sutton Smith
Height: 6003
Weight: 233
Arm Length: 30 3/4″
Hand Size: 9″
40 Time: 4.69
10 Split: 1.72
Vert: 31.5″
Broad: 9’10”
Short Shuttle: 4.32
Three-Cone: 6.75
Bench: 25
2017: T.J. Watt
Height: 6042
Weight: 252
Arm Length: 33 1/8″
Hand Size: 11″
40 Time: 4.69
Ten Split: 1.59
Vert: 37″
Broad: 10’7″
Short Shuttle: 4.78
Three-Cone: 6.79
Bench: 21
Keion Adams
Height: 6020
Weight: 247
Arm Length: 33 1/4″
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
40 Time: N/A
Ten Split: N/A
Vert: 36″
Broad: 10’4″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 27
2016: Travis Feeney
Height: 6035
Weight: 230
Arm Length: 33 3/8″
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
40 Time: 4.50
Ten Split: 1.58
Vertical: 40″
Broad: 10’1’0″
Short Shuttle: 4.42
Three-Cone: 7.20
Bench: N/A
2015: Bud Dupree
Height: 6040
Weight: 260
Arm Length: 32 5/8″
Hand Size: 9 3/4″
40 Time: 4.56
Ten Split: 1.60
Vertical: 42″
Broad: 11’6″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: N/A
2013: Jarvis Jones
Height: 6023
Weight: 245
Arm Length: 33″
Hand Size: 9 1/8″
40 Time: N/A
Ten Split: N/A
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad: 9’3″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 20
2011: Chris Carter
Height: 6010
Weight: 248
Arm Length: 33″
Hand Size: 9 3/8″
40 Time: 4.67
Ten Split: 1.64
Vertical: 36″
Broad: 9’6″
Short Shuttle: 4.34
Three-Cone: 6.98
Bench: 27
2010: Jason Worilds
Height: 6012
Weight: 254
Arm Length: 32 7/8″
Hand Size: 9 1/4″
40 Time: 4.72
Ten Split: 1.62
Vertical: 38″
Broad: 9’6″
Short Shuttle: 4.29
Three-Cone: 6.95
Bench: 24
Thaddeus Gibson
Height: 6020
Weight: 243
Arm Length: 33″
Hand Size: 8 3/4″
40 Time: 4.79
Ten Split: 1.69
Vertical: 32″
Broad: 9’7″
Short Shuttle: 4.27
Three-Cone: 6.84
Bench: 32
2008: Bruce Davis
Height: 6030
Weight: 245
Arm Length: 34 1/4″
Hand Size: 10 1/8″
40 Time: 4.50
Ten Split: 1.50
Vertical: 33.5″
Broad: 10’3″
Short Shuttle: 4.03
Three-Cone: 6.70
Bench: 19
2007: LaMarr Woodley
Height: 6014
Weight: 266
Arm Length: 32 7/8″
Hand Size: 9 7/8″
40 Time: N/A
Ten Split: N/A
Vertical: 38.5″
Broad: 9’9″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
Bench: 29
Here is our updated criteria.
6’1″+ (11 of 12 drafted)
240 lbs.+ (10 of 12)
Arm Length: 32 1/2″ (11 of 12)
4.70 or better 40 (7 of 9)
1.70 ten-yd. split (9 of 9)
32″+ vert (10 of 12)
9’5″+ broad (12 of 13)
Sub-4.5 short shuttle (7 of 8)
Sub-7.00 three-cone (6 of 8)
Bench: 20+ (7 of 8)
We have one change to it. The 10-yd. split has been changed from 1.65 seconds to a threshold of 1.70 seconds.
From the list of players invited to the Combine and based on Pro Day information, there were two EDGE rushers who checked every single box.
| Name/School | Height | Weight | Arm Length | 40 Time | 10 Split | Vertical | Broad Jump | Short Shuttle | Three Cone | Bench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayson Oweh | 6047 | 257 | 34 1/2 | 4.37 | 1.59 | 39.5 | 11’2″ | 4.20 | 6.90 | 21 |
| Shaka Toney | 6024 | 242 | 33 | 4.53 | 1.58 | 39 | 10’8″ | 4.29 | 7.00 | 24 |
Pair of Penn State kids making the list. Oweh is no surprise. The last EDGE to check every box was Montez Sweat in 2019. Both of those guys were athletic freaks and usually “freaks” make the cut. Toney’s numbers aren’t quite as gaudy but still very good. That three-cone time is right at 7.00, but in 2019, I gave Sweat the pass with his on-the-nose seven-second time. So I’ll allow it here as well.
Nine other players missed in just one category. Most failed to hit the three-cone number. The three-cone figure could change in the future. It came very close to being raised higher this year. That would get more players to check every box.
One Box Away
Carlos Basham Jr./Wake Forest: Three-Cone (7.13)
Patrick Johnson/Tulane: Bench (16)
Joshua Kaindoh/Florida State: Three-Cone (7.21)
Jaelan Phillips/Miami (FL): Three-Cone (7.13)
Hamilcar Rashed Jr./Oregon State: Three-Cone (7.51)
Janarius Robinson/Florida State: Three-Cone (7.31)
Quincy Roche/Miami (FL): Three-Cone (7.20)
Joe Tryon/Washington: Three-Cone (7.18)
Patrick Weaver/Pitt: 40 Time (4.88)
Lot of interesting names on the list. A Pitt kid, two from The U, and two from Florida State. I could see most of these names being on the Steelers’ draft board. Johnson, Rashed Jr., Robinson, and Tryon feel like the most logical fits.
