Neel Byrappagari – The Concinnate Writer

Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Review

Pick 49 – Chase Claypool WR, Notre Dame – Grade B-

I understand that the Steelers want depth in the injury-stricken receiving core, but we have a crisis here. Ben Roethlisberger is not Big Ben anymore. He has been injured and probably only has a few more years ahead of him. Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges have got their chances, its time to move on. Jalen Hurts is a boom or bust type of player, and this is the time for Pittsburgh to take a risk. If it doesn’t work, you have a strong QB class next year led by Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. If the Steelers wanted a safer option, I would have gone with J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State. He’s a big, physical guy who could give the Steelers a bruising run game when combined with James Conner.

Pick 102 – Alex Highsmith OLB, Charlotte – Grade A

I was initially confused about this pick, but now it makes sense. The Steelers are going back to the ’70s and playing physical, smashmouth football; the linebacker core will be scary good with Watt, Bush, Williams, and now Highsmith. Combine that with an offense of Juju-Smith-Shuster, Vance McDonald, and James Conner, this could be a Steeler team that really wears you down. I would have maybe looked at Jacob Eason, or one of the D-linemen in the draft.

Pick 124 – Anthony McFarland RB, Maryland – Grade A-

I absolutely love this pick, McFarland is an absolute steal at this point of the draft. He does have some injury concerns, which do worry me, but when I look at the upside, this is an excellent pick. McFarland has the potential to be a Chris Johnson-like player. He will be an excellent complement to James Conner. The other prospect I would have considered is the Nigerian O-lineman from Auburn, Prince Tega Wanogho, who is an outstanding player.

Pick 135 – Kevin Dotson G, Nebraska – Grade C+

This pick might be more necessity than talent, but Dotson has a chance to be a starter very soon. This could be a situation similar to what the Steelers did with Chucks Okorafor. He will be a backup for the first season or two and will presumably see his snaps go way up if Stefen Wisniewski is having a difficult time. However, I think that Prince Tega Wanogho should have gotten a call here.

Pick 198 – Antonie Brooks Jr SS, Maryland – Grade B-

Another pick where I see more necessity than talent, but Jennings is a reliable backup at the safety position. I think he could be a 3rd safety similar to Kameron Kelly last season. He will compete with Marcus Allen for the spot. I think the Steelers should have taken a defensive tackle with this pick.

Pick 232 – Carlos Davis DT – Grade A-

Finally, the Steelers get Javon Hargrave’s replacement. The big fella out of Nebraska is well, big. I don’t think he is very athletic, but he can chew up blockers. He will probably be Chris Wormley’s backup in a 3-4 scheme.

Sleeper Pick: Logan Wilson

With the 2020 NFL draft a day away, it’s time to look at some of the late-round gems in this draft. One of them is Wyoming LB Logan Wilson. Wilson is a linebacker who can make an impact on any team. He’s 6’2″ and 241 pounds, ideal for a big middle linebacker. I doubt Wilson will be a useful pass rush threat as there are some block shedding issues in his game, but he could be a linebacker tantamount to Green Bay’s Blake Martinez. He is fast to plug up gaps in the run game and he would be an excellent spy or Tampa 2 linebacker as he has good instincts and dextrous hands. He finished with 105 tackles and 4 interceptions as a senior last year.

Wilson ran a 4.63 40 yard dash, which is decent for his size. If he slims down and gets a bit quicker, he could maybe even play as a safety in the league. Wilson could be a top tier backup and special teams player right away, and in two to three years, he could be a regular starter for any team. I would be surprised if he doesn’t get selected before the 5th round.

3 ways the NFL could make the virtual draft more enjoyable

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL will be conducting a virtual draft with team officials drafting from their homes. I have three wacky suggestions that would make this draft a much more enjoyable experience.

For the first round only: teams should create a 15-30 second video clip on Twitter welcoming their new player to the organization. This feature would not only give another way to watch the draft, but also give fans something to watch while Mel Kiper Jr. gushes (or rages) about the latest pick.
Instead of Roger Goodell announcing the picks, teams should make all transactions (picks, trades, etc.) in Madden 20. With the new generation (myself included) obsessed with the world of video games, and the success of Quibli and Star Wars’ collaborations with Fortnite, a partnership with EA Sports’s star football simulation game would be extremely beneficial for the league.
Create a VR experience for fans to feel as if they were at a physical NFL Draft. This service should be offered at least for those who bought tickets, or it could be made into a paid service.

Why Albert Okwuegbunam Could Be the Best Tight End in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft class is not tight end favorable, very few teams need a tight end right away. Even top tight end prospects like Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) or Adam Trautman (Dayton) may only hear their name at the end of the first round or early second round. I expect Okwuegbunam to go somewhere in-between the late second to early fifth rounds, but the unassuming Missouri prospect may be the best tight end of the draft class.

The first aspect is his ideal build for a tight end. He is 6’ 5” and weighs 255 pounds. That’s about the same size as Trautman and Kmet. Second, is his sheer athleticism. At the 2020 NFL combine, Okwuegbunam ran a 4.49 40-yard dash time, which was the best of any tight end this year, and the third-best since 2007. Lastly, there is his college production. Okwuebunam was used mainly as a blocker at Missouri, and he could not blossom into the pass-catching menace that he can be. He only averaged 2.88 catches per game, 11.8 yards per catch and six touchdowns last season. These numbers are significantly less than the other prospects, but Okwuegbunam did have an extremely hostile season compared to his fellow tight ends. Kmet was playing at Notre Dame, a top tier university with an excellent football program which makes it much easier to succeed. Trautman played at Dayton, which is in the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is at the lower end of the Divison I conferences with weak colleges such as Stetson and Marist. Okwuegbunam played at Missouri, which is not a major football university but part of the extremely challenging SEC conference. When facing SEC teams such as LSU and Florida, which are some of the top teams in the nation, it is tough for any player to make an impact.

Okwuegbunam is not going to be a superstar instantly. He will need a seasoned quarterback and a knowledgeable coach who can help him learn as he goes. If Okwuegbunam is not granted time to grow or isn’t able to stay healthy, his career could flounder. Nevertheless, if Okwuegbunam is not thrown into the deep end of the pool and is allowed to mature fully, he could be a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end tantamount to George Kittle or Zach Ertz. The future looks promising for the young star, and his NFL career could be a legendary one.