Pittsburgh Steelers
2011
NFL Draft Analysis
1st Round (1-5) |
1st Round (6-10) |
1st Round (11-15) |
1st Round (16-20)
1st Round (21-25) |
1st Round (26-32) |
2nd Round |
3rd
Round
4th
Round
| 5th
Round
|
6th
Round
|
7th
Round
|
Top Free Agents
2011 NFL Draft Team Analysis - AFC
EAST
Buffalo |
Miami
| New England
|
NY
Jets
WEST
Denver |
Kansas City | Oakland |
San Diego
NORTH
Baltimore |
Cincinnati
Cleveland |
Pittsburgh
SOUTH
Houston
| Indy |
Jacksonville |
Tennessee
2011 NFL Draft Team Analysis -
NFC
EAST
Dallas |
NY
Giants
| Philadelphia
|
Washington
WEST
Arizona |
San Francisco |
Seattle |
St. Louis
NORTH
Chicago |
Detroit
| Green Bay |
Minnesota
SOUTH
Atlanta
| Carolina |
New Orleans |
Tampa Bay
- 2010
Pittsburgh Draft Breakdown
First Round
DE
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State 6-5, 294
Overall Pick No. 31 CFN Overall Ranking: 26
With Da’Quan Bowers still on the board, the Steelers went with
the more versatile Heyward. Pittsburgh gets the benefit of the
doubt when it comes to finding tremendous defensive lineman, and
Heyward, while not a speed rusher, will be used in a variety of
ways to fill in the gaps, especially in a rotation, both inside
and out. It’s a good pick at the right slot, but there are
plenty of other big-time players on the board, like Bowers,
Martez Wilson, and several offensive tackles, who’d be better
immediate fits.
The son of former NFL star running back Craig “Ironhead”
Heyward, Cameron has the strength and he has the athleticism to
be the ideal 3-4 end. The problem is his lack of consistency. He
should be great all the time, and when the lights were turned on
and he was challenged, he dominated. The Buckeye line was being
maligned two years ago, and he came out and destroyed Wisconsin.
In the 2011 Sugar Bowl against Arkansas, he spent most of the
evening sitting on Ryan Mallett’s head. His size and his
football talent make him almost a sure thing not to bust, but
he’s not a pure pass rusher and he doesn’t get off the ball in a
hurry. While he’ll probably be a rock-solid ten-year starter,
he’s not going to be a Pro Bowl dominator and there’s a hard
ceiling on how good he can be.
CFN Projection: Second Round
Second Round
OT Marcus Gilbert, Florida (OG) 6-6, 329
Overall Pick No. 63 CFN Overall Ranking: 141
He’s a huge tackle who can play at either one of Pittsburgh’s tackle spots, and this will be a benfit of the doubt pick. If anyone but the Steelers took him here, it would be a reach, but they know how to get the most out of their linemen and they’ll work Gilbert into a role. Don’t be shocked, though, it he ends up at guard in the next few years.
CFN Analysis:
Enormous, the guy is a house and impossible to get around with long arms making him even tougher to get the edge on. While he’s probably going to be a guard in time, he has just enough quickness to take a shot at tackle. The problem is that he doesn’t play up to his size and his toughness is questionable to be a killer of a run blocker. Someone will want him because of his size and girth, but he needs a fire to be lit under him to reach his potential.
CFN Projection: Second Round
Third Round
CB Curtis Brown, Texas 6-0, 185
Overall Pick No. 95 CFN Overall Ranking: 109
Yet another good Texas defensive back, he might not be a shut-down defender that the Steelers can stick on the outside, but he’s a good all-around athlete who’s a good, sound veteran. He’s not a No. 1 guy, but he doesn’t have to be. He’s the type of player who makes big plays at the right time in the system, and he’ll be a productive pick.
CFN Analysis:
He’s just not fast enough. He might be smooth as glass and he jumped out of the stadium with a jaw-dropping 39.5” vertical, but the 4.54 at the Combine didn’t get the job done. Quick, tough, and athletic enough to be used as a kick and punt returner if needed, he moves without a problem and he effortlessly flies around the field. He’ll get beaten up by the bigger receivers and he only made two picks in 52 career games, but he broke up 32 passes and he has the experience and skills to be a nice part of a good secondary. While he’ll never be the main man, he’ll be worth a long look as a No. 2 corner but will show his worth as a to special teamer.
CFN Projection: Third Round
Fourth Round
CB Cortez Allen, Citadel 6-1,
197
Overall Pick No. 128 CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked
CFN Analysis:
With excellent size and good enough speed to get by, he has the measurables and looked the part. He's quick as well as fast and is always working and always fighting; he'll always give an honest's day effort. He's not a run stopper and he seems to have problems with the smaller, quicker receivers, and he needs lots of time. He'll be good right away as a nickel back and in a rotation, but he needs to learn the position a bit better to be in the mix for starting time.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
Fifth Round
OLB Chris Carter, Fresno State (DE) 6-1, 248
Overall Pick No. 162 CFN Overall Ranking: 164
CFN Analysis:
Fresno State had no pass rush whatsoever without Carter. Fast off the ball and a force at getting into the backfield, he’s a disruptive force who can be used as a smallish defensive end or as a long, very strong outside linebacker. With a great fire for the game and good character, he’s coachable and will do whatever is needed. He’s not great against the run and he doesn’t have the elite athleticism needed to be a situational pass rusher, so it might be hard to find a regular spot for him. Consider him a poor man’s Von Miller, but with a better motor.
CFN Projection: Third Round
Sixth Round
OG Keith Williams, Nebraska 6-5, 318 (C)
Overall Pick No. 196 CFN Overall Ranking: 222
CFN Analysis:
A good-sized prospect who can slip in at center and handle himself well, he has the body and he’s not afraid to use it to provide a big push for the ground game, but he doesn’t look the part in drills. He doesn’t move well, it take him forever to get out of his stance, and he struggled in off-season workouts.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
Seventh Round
RB Baron Batch, Texas Tech
5-9, 200
Overall Pick No. 232 CFN Overall Ranking: Unranked
CFN Analysis: Very quick and with great hands, he's an ideal third
down receiver who was better than he gets credit for as a runner. Give
him a little bit of space and he can crank out 5-to-7 yards per crack.
Always hurt and not a blazer, he's not the most dependable of prospects,
but he can find his niche as a playmaker who keeps the chains moving on
pure passing downs.
CFN Projection: Free Agent