NFL Tickets
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected a linebacker in the first round of three straight drafts, and this is the year that the trend of taking the best available player must end. They’ve created a young nucleus of talent in the front seven, and it’s time to bolster their secondary.
The Steelers’ offense is a dominant unit that can carry the team past weaker competition, but in the NFL, a formidable defense is essential to contend for a championship. The defensive unit as a whole has ranked in the bottom half of the league (18th in 2014, 21st in 2015) each of the last two years.
Cortez Allen was given a five-year, $26 million extension prior to the 2014 season and responded with two disastrous seasons. The Steelers cut Allen this week. The only corner on the roster who has demonstrated any consistency is 10-year veteran William Gay. He has 11 career interceptions, five of which have been over the past two seasons.
There are a few options in the first round, though it’s difficult to project who will still be around when the Steelers step up at No. 25. Florida‘s Vernon Hargreaves is projected to go in the top 15 of Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft which likely removes him from the conversation. The next three on the board may all be viable options. Houston‘s William Jackson III, Ohio State‘s Eli Apple and Clemson‘s Mackensie Alexander are all projected to go between the middle of the first and early second round.
Apple plays a position of need for the Steelers, but he may also be the best available at that point in the draft. He’s been talked about as a potential top-15 pick, though his stock has fluctuated a lot leading up to the draft. He’s a physical player and presents as much upside as anyone at the position. He’ll be the top option once Hargreaves is off the board.
Whether it’s Apple, Jackson or Alexander, Pittsburgh needs to fill this need in the opening round. They’ve already drafted a few guys in later rounds to possibly add depth, but they need to find premier talent to complement Gay. It’s also important they find safety help in the offseason, but since there’s less depth at that position in the draft, cornerback is unmistakably the way to go.
Share 
