For those not on planet Earth, one of the biggest days of the year in the NFL is now just seven days away with the 2015 NFL Draft – taking place in Chicago, IL.
The Steelers have the 22nd pick of the draft, and ESPN NFL Insider Todd McShay, who puts out multiple mock drafts, has given his latest opinion on the player the Steelers should take.
See if you agree.
22) Bud Dupree – Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
COLLEGE: Kentucky
Class: Sr HT: 6-4 WT: 269 POS: OLB
Analysis: Cornerback is a big need for the Steelers, so Kevin Johnson and Marcus Peters are possibilities here. But they are also coming off a season in which they had the fewest number of sacks (33) since 1989, and they don’t have an impact pass-rusher. Dupree is raw, and needs to show more consistency at the point of attack. But he is an excellent athlete who has tremendous range versus the run, upside as a pass-rusher and the ability to drop in coverage when asked.
4 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
Pingback: Who Does Todd McShay Like the Steelers to Take in the 2015 NFL Draft? | Sports Feedr
B.J. Rassam
April 24, 2015 at 5:31 pm
The Steelers have a good track record with their draft picks so I trust that they will make many good selections.
Rick Tilves
April 25, 2015 at 6:44 am
ALL the Mock Drafts I have seen have Dupree long gone by the time the Steelers pick ?
DrGeorge
April 25, 2015 at 2:08 pm
I agree, Rick. Dupree isn’t likely to go unclaimed for long. In today’s Post-Gazette, Ed Bouchette makes the case for taking an OLB with the first pick because there are so few of them (more teams now play the 3-4 and want the next James Harrison). But he opines that Randy Gregory (Nebraska), he of the huge potential and failed marijuana test, and Eli Harold (Virginia), a DE with OLB skills, will be there at #22. Harold is a solid citizen, has a great work ethic, and fits the Steelers tough-guy mold. Whoever the Steelers take at #22, however, they aren’t going to get a finished product. Their choice will largely reflect what type of risk they are willing to accept. However that plays out, I think the Steelers will take an OLB with the first pick, unless a highly rated CB falls to them at #22, which seems unlikely.
There is another distant possibility to consider, too. With all the horse-trading to be expected before the draft and on draft day, the Steelers might get a veteran OLB and extra picks by trading down in Round 1. It isn’t likely to happen, and I am not aware of any team that is anxious to make that trade, but stranger things have happened on draft day. Colbert appears to be keeping his options open, and I think he is wise for doing so.