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The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in desperate need of secondary help in the recent seasons, but up until now, they have taken the best available player in the first round rather than drafting based on pure need. This needs to be the year the team looks to correct their biggest weakness.
I predicted in a pre-combine mock draft that the Steelers would select Eli Apple with the No. 25 overall pick, and I’m gonna stick to it. If Pittsburgh can find a solid complement to William Gay, there’s no reason why they won’t be the favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LI.
The Steelers’ secondary as a whole needs work, which means they’ll need to find a solution at safety as well, though they might have a legitimate target in free agency. Head coach Mike Tomlin has always been a fan of Eric Weddle and all indications point to him not returning to the San Diego Chargers.
Apple was extremely impressive at the combine, running a flat 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, running each agility drill smoothly and even making a one-handed grab. The negative news for the Steelers is that Apple may have improved his draft stock, with some projections having him going as early as the middle of the first round.
The Steelers might have the best offense in the league and it’s certainly good enough to single-handedly win football games, but it can’t single-handedly win them a championship. Pittsburgh has a young, talented defense, but if they can’t defend the pass, they won’t be able to take the next step. Apple would be a great fit for the team, and if they’re lucky enough to have him fall into their lap at No. 25, they should take him off the board without hesitation.
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