Should Vic Beasley Be At The Top Of The Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Board?

 

Every year at The NFL Scouting Combine there is always one player who impresses in certain areas, like the forty yard dash and how many times they bench press 225 pounds.  This year, that man was OLB/DE Vic Beasley. Beasley currently is ranked as the number 21 propect according to ESPN’s top 32 draft board. With a desperate need at linebacker, Beasley offers the kind of skill Pittsburgh values, which is why he should be at the top of the Steelers’ draft board.

Last season the Steelers’ best pass rusher was Jason Worilds, who recorded 7.5 sacks and is currently a free agent. Pittsburgh has decided to allow Worilds to test the market instead of placing the franchise tag on him.  Worilds has yet to record double-digit sacks on his career, which puts the Steelers in the hunt for his likely replacement.

Beasley impresses coaches and scouts in several unique ways. Beasley repeatedly showed in college his explosive first step that caught offensive tackles offguard.  His array of pass rush moves kept him from being doubled frequently as tight ends and running backs simply could not get a sound block on him. Beasley’s long arms will serve him well at the next level whether it be in drop coverage, knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage, or keep offensive tackles at bay while diagnosing plays such as screens, end-arounds and sweeps.

Because of his versatility, it would be possible for Pittsburgh to put Beasley, James Harrison and Jason Worilds (provided the two veteran re-sign with the Steelers) on the field at the same time.

Jarvis Jones has disappointed thus far, and the only way to make Jones better is to bring in competition.  Beasley clearly has the potential to play very early – at least as a third-down pass rusher.  Unlike Jones, coming out of college Beasley has a prototypical NFL linebacker/d-line body.  With him gaining experience in college dealing with 300-plus pound offensive linemen, it translates well if Beasley can get one-on-one matchups with tight ends and running backs. Beasley will need work in drop and open coverage, but has the physical skills and intelligence to quickly learn how to cover certain areas of the field.

Several years ago, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Aldon Smith to strictly be a pass rusher his first year. He elevated that defense into a top ten contender. Beasley should be viewed the same way from a developmental standpoint because he has the potential to do similar things very quickly.  The Steelers could very easily move Beasley to the top of their draft board in order to maximize a potential game-changer for them on a defense with little depth.