Pittsburgh Steelers Rookies Forecast

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

Solid Starter

James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State – Round 2
Pittsburgh has been one of the best teams in the NFL for developing wide receiver talent, so even though I was not a big fan of Washington, he landed in an ideal landing spot. The Steelers have a tremendous tandem in Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but could use a third receiver to emerge. Pittsburgh needs a slot receiver and some play-making depth in case Brown or Smith-Schuster is injured.

There is no doubt that Washington is a big-play threat. Mason Rudolph had a lot of success in college throwing the ball up and letting Washington track it down by running under it for long gains. Washington has deep speed to stretch defenses downfield. Once he gets going, he can run by cornerbacks and safeties. Washington is very dangerous at running posts down the middle of the field or go routes along the sideline. His build-up speed is deceptively fast and catches defensive backs by surprise. Downfield, Washington uses his thick build, strong hands, and long arms to haul in passes. For the NFL, Washington could fit well as a X – split end – receiver who works along the sideline and challenges teams vertically, and he also could play in the slot to get vertical down the middle of the field.

For the Steelers, Washington could see a lot of great coverage looks with Brown drawing so much attention as one of the elite wideouts in the NFL. Smith-Schuster also flashed special ability during his rookie season and could also demand some extra safety attention. Washington should benefit with a lot of one-on-on coverage, and with his deep speed, he has the upside to become a solid starter for Pittsburgh.

2017: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
2016: Artie Burns, CB
2015: Sammie Coates, WR
2014: Stephon Tuitt, DE
2013: Markus Wheaton, WR

Most Likely To Bust

Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State – Round 3
This selection of Rudolph reminded me of other Steelers quarterback picks like Landry Jones and Josh Dobbs. I think Rudolph has limitations as a player and could easily be a wasted pick similar to that of Jones. The jury is still out on Dobbs, but if the Steelers were high on him after a year of working with him, they would not have taken Rudolph in the third round. However, I think Rudolph could easily be a disappointing pick like Jones.

Rudolph was a love/hate prospect in the scouting community. A few team sources liked Rudolph, but others were skeptics. I was definitely in the latter group. Rudolph will need a lot of development as a pro.

As a senior, Rudolph struggled to throw into tight windows, and a lot of his best throws in 2017 came from rainbowing the ball downfield rather than driving it to his receiver. Rudolph’s anticipation will have to improve for the pros, or he could be taking a lot of sacks from holding onto the ball too long. Routinely, Rudolph wouldn’t pull the trigger on a throw until his receiver had long since gotten wide open rather anticipating the play to get the ball out faster. The length of time Rudolph holds the ball in the pocket is going to be a problem in the NFL, but in the Big XII, he could get away with it because he had all day to throw. There were plays where he got the ball out quickly with anticipatory throws, but it was inconsistent and he has to quicken the process for the NFL.

Rudolph will have to work on his accuracy and field vision, plus get used to playing under center and calling plays in the huddle. Going through progressions and reading the field can be problems for Rudolph, and he has to improve there as well. He is going to see a big jump in competition as the Big XII defenses posed little challenge to Rudolph and the Cowboys. He had plenty of time to wait in a clean pocket to throw on weak defensive backs who his receivers burned regularly. Rudolph hasn’t seen anything close to the pass rush or defensive back talent that will challenge him in the NFL. I think Rudolph will be just a backup quality quarterback, and as a third-round pick, that would not be good value for Pittsburgh.

2017: James Conner, RB
2016: Sean Davis, CB/S
2015: Senquez Golson, CB
2014: Dri Archer, RB/WR
2013: Le’Veon Bell, RB

Potential Boom Pick

Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech – Round 1
Around the NFL, Edmunds was a projected to be a second-round pick, and he was my favorite second-day value pick from the 2018 NFL Draft. The Steelers thought highly enough of Edmunds that they snatched him in the first round, surprising many in the media who had slept on Edmunds. However, sources at teams across the NFL loved Edmunds, who is an ideal strong safety for the current NFL.

In my opinion, Edmunds is almost an ideal strong safety for the current NFL. He can also play free safety, cornerback and possibly dime linebacker. Edmunds is going to be one of the steals of the 2018 NFL Draft. In the ground game, the 6-foot, 217-pounder is a physical defender. He is fast coming downhill and is a good tackler. Edmunds reads plays quickly and fires down on backs without hesitation. He is an asset in the ground game, possessing the ability to be the eighth man in the box.

In pass coverage, Edmunds is a very talented player. He shows an impressive ability to run with receivers downfield and maintain close coverage. Few defenders with a strong safety’s build can run with receivers like Edmunds can. He can line up against slot receivers and run the route while also running with them downfield. In zone coverage, Edmunds covers a lot of ground and picks up targets coming into his area. He breaks on the ball quickly and tracks the ball well downfield. Edmunds has ball skills to break passes up and intercept the ball.

Edmunds is a real asset in pass coverage while also being a tough run defender. Multiple team sources saw Edmunds as a secure second-rounder, and some believed he would go high in the second round. I had one team’s national scout who helped his team win a Super Bowl in recent years rave about Edmunds as a less athletic Earl Thomas. I completely agree with that. I think Edmunds is going to become one of the top strong safeties in the league and a Pro Bowler. Thus, I think he could be a boom pick for Pittsburgh.

2017: T.J. Watt,LB
2016: Javon Hargrave, DT
2015: Bud Dupree, LB
2014: Ryan Shazier, LB
2013: Jarvis Jones, LB

Future Depth Player

Jaylen Samuels, RB, N.C. State – Round 5
Even if Le’Veon Bell isn’t signed long term, Samuels probably won’t be the long-term starter at running back due to not being an overly fast or physical running back. However, I think Samuels could be a very good backup running back as he is a swiss-army-knife player who can contribute in a variety of ways.

As a receiving back for the NFL, Samuels is phenomenal. He is a quick receiver who runs excellent routes and has soft hands. Samuels is slippery and carves up coverage in the underneath part of the field. As a pro, any quarterback or offensive coordinator is going to love to have Samuels in the passing game. He is going to be a real mismatch weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. Samuels also can take carries and run up the middle, so he presents a lot of problems for defenses when they are spread out defending a passing-driven offense. Samuels also could develop into a good blocker and special teams contributor. I don’t think he will become a starter, but I think he could be a valuable backup for Pittsburgh over the years to come.

2017: Cam Sutton, CB
2016: Tyler Matakevich, LB
2015: Doran Grant, CB
2014: Wesley Johnson, OT
2013: Shamarko Thomas, S

Walt’s 2018 NFL Draft Grades:

28. Terrell Edmunds, LB/S, Virginia Tech Kielbasa-Mode Grade
I didn’t get to use Kielbasa-Mode for the Seahawks’ pick, so here we go! What a wonderful night to have a second Millen grade.

This is a mega reach. Teams expected Edmunds to be available in the second, maybe even third round. He’s not his brother; he’s not nearly the athlete, nor the player. Yet, the Steelers are taking him because they have an immense need at linebacker – I imagine he’ll make the move there, much like Deone Bucannon – and all of the first-round prospects at the position were taken already. Selecting Edmunds over someone like Harold Landry seems insane to me.

60. James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State B+ Grade
The Steelers struck gold with the previous second-round receiver they took in JuJu Smith-Schuster. They needed to find another wideout in the wake of the Martavis Bryant trade. Washington could have been chosen early in the second round, so there’s a big of value here with this selection. I think the Steelers had better options like Justin Reid, but I think this is a good pick.

76. Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State D Grade
Ugh, you’d think the Steelers would’ve learned their lesson from Landry Jones. How many lollipop throwers from the Big XII do they need to draft before they know to stay away from them? I mean, why not just trade for Bryce Petty while they’re at it? Mason Rudolph wasn’t even one of the top two quarterbacks available. I wouldn’t absolutely hate this if the Steelers didn’t trade up, but they did, needlessly.

92. Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan C Grade
Chukwuma Okorafor is one of those “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane” sort of players. He’s an athletic, powerful tackle who should be a much better player than he is, but he’s not motivated. The Steelers might just be able to coach him up, so I don’t hate this pick. However, Okorafor has a high chance of busting.

148. Marcus Allen, S/LB, Penn State A- Grade
The Steelers just obtained the best Penn State safety, though Troy Apke was taken earlier. Marcus Allen is similar to Terrell Edmunds in that he’s a safety who may have to move to linebacker in the pros. Either way, Pittsburgh needed help at both positions, so I like this pick.

165. Jaylen Samuels, TE/RB, N.C. State A Grade
I thought Jaylen Samuels could go in the third round, but it seems like he fell to the fifth frame because he doesn’t have a natural position. However, Samuels is an athletic player who is a Swiss Army Knife type who can contribute in multiple facets. I love this pick for Pittsburgh.

246. Joshua Frazier, NT, Alabama B Grade
Joshua Frazier might be able to stick as a backup nose tackle. He was a backup for Alabama because of the talent there, but it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if he were able to make the 53-man roster.

2018 NFL Draft Team Grade: C- . Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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