Within the days main as much as free company, there’s certain to be quite a lot of “ smoke and mirror” video games throughout the league. Some, if not most, is unsubstantiated, however it’s a interval the place groups start to fill within the blanks on their rosters. The Steelers have lengthy been a crew that prefers constructing by way of the draft, nurturing their very own draft picks into star-caliber gamers. With extra cap room than they’ve had in fairly a while, maybe this yr might be an outlier because the crew appears to not undergo a rebuild, however merely reload at a number of spots.
With mock draft season totally upon us, a lot of the mock drafts floating throughout the web are marrying the crew to a quarterback through their first spherical draft alternative at twentieth general. This can be a big want, little doubt, however one might additionally argue anther sore spot is alongside their defensive position. Because of accidents final yr, the crew was pressured to begin rookies in addition to some undrafted gamers, and the end result was a run protection that ranked lifeless final within the league.
Yahoo! Sports activities’ newest mock draft this morning little doubt had this in thoughts, the place they penciled in Georgia defensive deal with Devonte Wyatt to the crew. An AP Second-Staff All American this previous season, Wyatt doesn’t get practically as a lot publicity as his mountainous teammate Jordan Davis, however Wyatt was the primary purpose Davis was pulled from the sector on passing downs. Labeling his recreation as disruptive can be an understatement, as he incessantly explodes off the ball, whereas additionally sustaining good pad stage. He makes use of his fingers very effectively in getting off blocks to supply a move rush, and is equally adept within the run recreation.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 304 kilos, Wyatt has arguably a better ceiling than Davis within the eyes of many scouts and entrance workplace personnel across the league. Though virtually 50 kilos lighter than Davis, Wyatt ran a really spectacular 4.77 40-yard sprint of his personal. Yahoo’s Sam Farmer had the next to say relating to their choice:
“Many individuals see the Steelers taking a quarterback right here, but when Willis and Pickett are gone, it’s time to handle the necessity up entrance.”
With the general age of the defensive position, this choose would appear to make quite a lot of sense. Though latest reviews on Stephon Tuitt’s return appear upbeat, the truth that he’ll flip 29 previous to subsequent season and in addition be the youngest of the starters signifies this might turn out to be an issue space briefly order. It stays to be seen what the crew will do, if something, in free company to shore up the QB spot that hasn’t been a necessity space since 2003. Which may be the pendulum that finally decides what the twentieth choose really turns into. Let me know your ideas on the Wyatt choice within the feedback beneath.
2022 NFL Draft Participant Profiles: Georgia DL Devonte Wyatt
