Steelers’ 3 picks Friday likely to include ILB, WR
The Steelers probably are not done addressing the middle of their defense and will do so again when the second and third rounds of the NFL draft are conducted Friday.
The Steelers will have three picks on day two — one in the second round, two in the third — and it’s likely one of the them will be used on an inside linebacker, perhaps in the second round.
The Steelers picked up an extra third-round choice (79th overall) Thursday night when they traded wide receiver Martavis Bryant to Oakland.
“We’re happy to have an extra pick [in the third round] since we don’t have a fourthround pick,” general manager Kevin Colbert said after the Steelers used their No. 1 pick on safety Terrell Edmunds of Virginia Tech, a do-everything defender who played cornerback and linebacker, in addition to safety, in several of the Hokies defenses last season. “That actually makes up for that. Having that extra third in our pocket is very valuable. We’re excited what we can do tomorrow.”
The Steelers did not have a fourth-round pick because they traded it to the San Francisco 49ers when they acquired tight end Vance McDonald last season.
The possibilities at inside linebacker are Darius Leonard of South Carolina State, who played at the same school as nose tackle Javon Hargrave; and Ohio State’s Jerome Baker, who has the sideline-to-sideline capabilities the Steelers are seeking to replace Ryan Shazier.
Both Leonard (6-2, 234) and Baker (6-1, 229) have the same size and speed the Steelers appear to covet for that position. Inside linebacker is a need for the Steelers because they could not adequately replace Shazier after he has a serious spinal cord injury Dec.
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“We want more good players,’” Colbert said. “We have seven picks. There’s plenty of good players left. I’m hopeful we can get more good players. Who knows? I’m never going to commit to a position.”
Bryant’s trade all but guarantees the Steelers will use one of their three picks Friday on a wide receiver. And many should be available because only two wide receivers were selected in the first round.
The Steelers have drafted a wide receiver on the third round or higher in four of the past eight drafts, including last year when they took JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second.
Some of the top receivers still available are James Washington (5-11, 213) of Oklahoma State, the best downfield prospect in the draft; LSU’s D.J. Chark (6-3, 199), who ran a 4.34 at the NFL combine; and Christian Kirk (5-11, 200) of Texas A&M, who had six punt returns and one kick return for touchdown in his career. But, with the 60th overall pick, those three might not be available.
Penn State’s DaeSean Hamilton (6-1, 203), though, could be. And, as a slot receiver, he might be a good replacement for Eli Rogers, an unrestricted free agent coming off ACL surgery.