Post Combine Mock

Steelers resign Hampton(resigned), Reed(tagged), Clark, and Eason. Steelers have tendered all of their RFA in Colon, Sepulveda, Spaeth, and Gay.

Steelers receive two 5th round picks and one 7th round pick.

Here is the situation. All of the top OTs are gone: Okung to the Chiefs, Campbell to the Raiders, Bulaga to the Bills, Williams to the 49ers. S Earl Thomas was taken by the Giants. Berry, Haden, and McClain go in the top ten. Therefore, the Steelers trade down with Dallas and get their 1st and 3rd round picks. They then trade down with their 2nd round pick to pick up an extra 4th.They then trade up with their 4th and 5th round picks to move up into the early 4th.

1. CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
McCourty sounds like the perfect mold of a Steelers CB. He is physical at the line, is very good in run support, and is excellent in coverage. McCourty shined at the Senior Bowl and Combine, and he has become one of my favorite CB prospects. McCourty has excellent timed speed, and very good closing speed. His his are very fluid, and he is excellent in changing direction. He is both good in man and zone coverage. He sounds and has played like an excellent CB. He is my new favorite prospect for the Steelers. Also, in the photo above, he limited star Pittsburgh wide-receiver Jonathon Baldwin to one catch for 9 yards in a Big East showdown.

2. S Major Wright, Florida
He can turn, run, and cover with the best. He is very good against the run and is underrated in coverage. He can even hit like Clark. Also possesses very good hands. Excellent athlete and football player who should replace Clark in two years time.

3. DE Alex Carrington, Arkansas State
If Carrington is still available here, which I am starting to doubt, he will be the steal of this draft class. Carrington has all the tools to be a dominant 34 DE. He is an elite run stuffer, he lives in opponents backfield and is an accomplished pass rusher, and has incredible lower body strength. Carrington will command time as a rookie, something that rarely happens with the Steelers.

3. T/G John Jerry, Ole Miss
Believe me. Rooney wants to run the football. Jerry should be one hell of RG and a solid starting RT. He is quick off the line, has great size(6'6" 335lbs), and is extremely powerful. He is the ultimate mauler, while is also surprisingly good in pass protection. His first three seasons he played at guard, and was very impressive. He started this last season at RT, and earned All Second Team SEC honors. He has definitely impressed me enough. He would present excellent value here.

4. NT Linval Joseph, East Carolina
Jospeh is an incredible athlete that could probably play either NT or DE position for the Steelers. He played NT for the Pirates at 6'4" 322lbs. He has room to gain weight and not lose his quickness....he once weighed 385lbs, but because of back problems he dropped the weight. Joseph is great against run, can help collapse the pocket, and is athletic enough to be a 3 down NT. He is also powerful and quick enough to play DE. A friend of mine said that Joseph could be a poor man's version of Haloti Ngata, playing every position across the DL. I believe his future is on the inside.

4. ILB Donald Butler,Washington
Butler has impressed me. He quietly had good weeks at the Senior Bowl and Combine. He is very athletic, has good size at 6'1" 244lbs, and is an excellent run stuffing LB who can play all three downs at the NFL level. He is underrated in coverage, hits like a truck, and attacks runs through the inside-out. He can take on linemen and shed blocks, and gets to the ball carrier with force and quickness. He will add value to special teams while waiting for his chance to compete for the starting job.

5c. WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut
With barely any playing experience, Marcus Easley is a bit of a project. But he's undoubtedly physically gifted; at 6-3, 210, Easley ran a 4.46 and notched a 10-3 broad jump on Sunday. He's a  guy with a lot of upside. His work ethic will get the Steelers to take him, as they need someone to give Sweed a run for his money.

5c. OLB Arthur Moats, James Madison
An athletic freak of nature. His coaches rave how much of a complete player he has become: he terrorizes the QB, he is stout against the run, and he can drop into coverage. Sounds like our late round developmental OLB project to me. The Steelers scouts at the Texas vs. The Nation practices have also raved about his great quickness and speed, calling him the next James Harrison. Despite his hype, we will have to make the transition, which could be hard for the FBS player.

6. CB Walter Thurmond, Oregon
I seem to remember not to long ago the Steelers drafting an Oregon Duck who's collegiate career was cut short due to injury....that player is Dennis Dixon, who looks to have rounded the curve and step up as a reliable backup for Big Ben. Thurmond is a player who has been banged up the past two seasons.....however, that doesn't mean the kid is talented. Thurmond possesses good size at 6' 190lbs. In addition, he has good timed and closing speed, has excellent hands, and has been a beast in coverage. He and Johnson will be the hidden steals of this draft class, mark my words.

7. RB LaMarcus Coker, Hampton
Led the MEAC in rushing with 1,027 yards and six scores. LaMarcus Coker hasn't been in trouble in a long time, and appears to have turned his life around. Still, most teams could be wary. However, if he passes the Steelers test, he could be the next hidden Willie Parker, WITH hands. Could give Mendenhall one hell of a complement, as well as another accomplished return man.

7c. S/LB Kendrick Lewis, Ole Miss
Lewis has a few things going for him: he is a hybrid S/LB, he is very good in coverage, he is a good tackler, and he is very intelligent.  Lebeau loves guys who can play and excel sub packages. And you never know.....Lewis could make one hell of a ILB.......