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[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Parish’s Steelers Mock Draft 2.0: Embracing the Safety Buzz

Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Mock drafts are a tool to examine scenarios. Let’s examine a Nick Emmanwori selection.

We’re exactly two weeks away from the NFL Draft. Up until now, I have been pretty reserved when it comes to putting out mock drafts. I put out my first mock draft in December, primarily to serve as a time capsule marking what the draft market looked like at the end of the college football season. Since then, I’ve been holding back. After all, you can find dozens of mock drafts posted online, and it’s easier than ever to run your own. With such a saturated market, I want to make sure there’s a purpose behind any mock draft I put out.

I believe mock drafts are a useful tool, but often the mocks you find from NFL writers are slanted at predicting the first round in totality. That’s interesting, but I’m not sure how useful it is as a thought exercise. Certainly not for a team sitting at Pick 21 like the Steelers.

I want to take a more focused approach. That’s why this mock, and any others I cook up before draft night, will have a set of rules in place. These will be scenarios I will play out to see what it could look like if the Steelers were to go that route.

Yesterday in Read & React, Ryland Bickley and I wondered if the Steelers were as set on drafting a defensive lineman in the first as the fan base seems to think. Since the pro day circuit began, I’ve noted a few times that the Steelers seem to be diligently doing their homework on many of the draft’s top safety prospects. For this mock, I want to see what the Steelers might do if they chose to go with safety Nick Emmanwori in the first round.

The rules for this mock are simple: I must select Emmanwori at pick 21 and I will not be doing any trades. Before draft night, I’ll do another mock that examines a trade back scenario, but for now, I want to see how it could play out if the Steelers stayed put and took Emmanwori. I’ll also be drafting my version of “Best Player Available.” The Steelers have depth needs just about everywhere, so the only position groups I’ll be downplaying are linebacker and edge.

That’s enough preamble; let’s get to the picks. As always, I’ll be using PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator.

Round 1, Pick 21: Safety Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina​

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

I spelled this out up top, but this is the pick we’re basing this whole thought exercise around. The Steelers had defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander work out Emmanwori at South Carolina’s pro day, and he’s one of the 30 pre-draft visits the Steelers have scheduled.

The Steelers have a history of valuing the safety position more than the rest of the NFL. Pittsburgh famously traded up 11 spots to take Troy Polamalu in 2003. They shocked most everyone in 2018 when they Terrell Edmunds in the first. Most recently, they traded their top pick in 2020 for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Emmanwori doesn’t have the improvisational genius of Polamalu or the Nick Saban-endorsed field vision of Fitzpatrick at this stage in his career, but he does have a freaky athletic profile that doesn’t come around often.

At 6’3 and 220 pounds with 32.5” arms, Emmanwori plays like a modern-day linebacker. That might be because he played when in high school. During his senior year, he was credited with an absurd 232 tackles, and strong tackling has remained a key part of his game. He’s shown growing comfort in zone and recorded 6 interceptions over the past seasons.

In 2025, he would likely compete with Juan Thornhill for the third safety role in dime packages. The two possess wildly different skill sets, however, so it might be more situation dependent. But with DeShon Elliott likely departing in 2026, the Steelers would have their replacement in wait.

Round 3, Pick 83: Defensive Tackle Joshua Farmer, Florida State​

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

With the Emmanwori pick out of the way, I was now free to play the rest of this mock out by feel. I initially thought I would go offense in this round — it is the side of the ball where the Steelers are the weakest after all — but as I looked at the list of players available, I saw a path where I could still land some offensive weapons I liked over the next few rounds. Meanwhile, this deep defensive line class was starting to dwindle.

With that in mind, I elected to draft Joshua Farmer, a player on the Steelers pre-draft visit list. The Steelers might feel like they can wait on a defensive tackle, but they’ve shown plenty of interest in players expected to be drafted in this range. In addition to Farmer, the Steelers have brought in J.J. Pegues, Yahya Black, Elijah Roberts and Jamaree Caldwell.

Farmer is an interesting prospect to watch on film. The highs are really high as he has certain traits you can’t teach. His 35” arms are his most intriguing weapon, and he has shown a knack for timing the snap. He’s got impressive power in his upper body, and when he’s at his best, he is an intimidating penetrator.

Farmer’s consistency will be his biggest question in the pros. He can play too high at times, and with his top-heavy build it can cause him to lose balance. If his first move as a pass rusher doesn’t work, he currently doesn’t have a deep bag of counters. He relies on his length and play strength to win, but he will need to develop some more pass rush moves in the NFL.

Round 4, Pick 123: Wide Receiver Tory Horton, Colorado State​

Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images

The Steelers could still use some firepower on offense. We finally turn our attention in that direction on Day 3. In recent years the Steelers have shown a willingness to bet on players who have fallen due to injury. That’s the case here with Horton who was one of the players highlighted my Draft Gems series this year.

Horton would likely have been drafted much higher had he declared for the 2024 draft, but he surprised many when he decided to come back to school for one more season. Horton said it was because he liked the direction the Colorado State program was heading and he wanted one more year to develop his skills before turning professional. Unfortunately, a knee injury in September and an unsuccessful attempt to return resulted in him shutting down his season in October. He finished his college career with 3,615 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

By all accounts, Horton was at full health in time to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash and jumped a 37.5” vertical, displaying his explosive potential. Measured at just under 6’3 and weighing 196 pounds, Horton has similar physical traits to George Pickens and could be an eventual replacement if the Steelers and Pickens don’t agree to an extension.

Horton profiles best as a Z-receiver but has experience in both the slot and at X-receiver, giving the Steelers flexibility moving forward.

Round 5, Pick 156: Running Back Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech ​

Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images

More than any other position, the Steelers have been kicking the tires on running backs with their pre-draft visits. Among those backs is Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten.

Tuten is lightning in a bottle in a dense frame. At 5’9 and 206 pounds, Tuten is a more powerful of a runner than you’d expect. Over the final two years of college, he forced 131 missed tackles, many which came from broken tackles. Tuten has ridiculous speed (4.32 40-time), but more linear of a runner than twitchy. He would thrive best in a wide zone system, which fits Arthur Smith’s preferences. He’ll need to work on his ball security after 9 fumbles combined the past two years.

Tuten also has Steelers ties, as he is the cousin of former Steeler Isaac Redman.

Round 6, Pick 185: Kyle McCord, Syracuse​

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kyle McCord has been my Day 3 qb of choice this year. The Steelers have been doing homework on this quarterback class and it was announced earlier today that McCord will be having a pre-draft visit with Pittsburgh. The team might draft a quarterback earlier than this, but regardless of how you feel about the value, the Steelers are forecasting they plan to draft one at some point this year.

McCord has shown he is capable of reading a defense and hitting backside progressions. When drafting a Day 3 quarterback, that’s already half the battle. McCord doesn’t possess the biggest arm or the most eye-popping athleticism, but he can throw the ball with touch to every level and section of the field. Whether or not the Steelers end up bringing in Aaron Rodgers or sticking with Mason Rudolph, McCord will provide a cheap depth piece for the next several years. He wouldn’t be as flashy as drafting the uber-athletic Jalen Milroe higher in the draft, but he’s light-years ahead as a passer at this point. I’ll take that happily from a sixth-round pick.

Round 7, Pick 229: Nickel Corner Jordan Hancock, Ohio State​

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

I considered going a few different ways with this final pick. The Steelers could use a tackle or guard, or maybe even a fourth edge rusher. However, I felt like the secondary was an area that could still use some boosting.

Nickel corner feels like a position that is far from settled. Ohio State’s Jordan Hancock played mostly at safety in 2024, but he spent most of the previous year playing nickel. We know how much Tomlin and the Steelers value players with positional flexibility, and Hancock provides that. He’s better in coverage than last year’s hybrid pick Ryan Watts, and he was credited with 8 pass breakups while functioning as a defensive chess piece for the national champion Buckeyes.

Hancock has average size at 6’0 and 195 pounds. He tested well at Ohio State’s pro day, registering a 41.5” vertical jump, 10’6” broad jump, and running a 4.42 second 40-yard dash. He doesn’t provide much pop as a tackler, but his 9.1% missed tackle rate would play well at the NFL level if he can replicate it.

Final Results​

I’ve received feedback previously asking to include a final list of all the picks. I’ll do you one better and show a picture.

Feel free to ignore the PFF grades — or roast me in the comments, I can take it — because they are reflective of how much my selection differs from their big board. If PFF grades a player lower than where I took them, the result is a bad grade. That’s why even though Emmanwori has been projected to go in the first two rounds, PFF gives the selection an F because they have him 70th. I love using PFF’s Mock Draft tool, but I don’t always agree with how they rate players. So do with that what you will.

If you’re a fan of the trenches, you’re probably feeling a little underwhelmed. Farmer is a fun prospect, but there are more pro-ready defensive tackles in this draft. Offensive line was not addressed in this draft, which means the Steelers could be looking for depth from the UDFA pool or an aging veteran to add before camp this summer.

Overall, I’m content with this draft, though I’m not sure it would be my favorite result. We have a safety replacement for 2026, when the Steelers likely won’t have the luxury to take one with a high pick. Joshua Farmer is a traits guy upfront for the defensive. We added some firepower to the running back and wide receiver rooms with two players I like and believe can provide some explosive playmaking to the offense. Kyle McCord provides solid depth and could develop into more if the Steelers get lucky. And lastly, the Steelers find another versatile piece to add to the secondary, an area where they’ve had injury concerns the past few seasons.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-draft-predictions-first-round-nick-emmanwori

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers cornerback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Thursday, April 10, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/11/24406009/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Friday Night Happy Hour: Future Hall of Famers edition

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Welcome back to BTSC’s Friday night open thread:

1. T.J. Watt drama is the newest bit of speculation ahead of the draft. What are the odds that the Steelers actually move on from Watt? And if so, what should the asking price be in a trade?
2. What about George Pickens? What are the odds the Steelers move on from Pickens this year, and what should Pittsburgh want in return?
3. Switching gears to the draft, I was looking at this article earlier this week and discovered that nearly every NFL Draft has had several Hall of Famers. If you had to predict three players in the 2025 draft class making it to Canton, who are the best bets?
4. Of the pre-2000s classes, 1992 and 1943 don't have any Hall of Famers — any names that should’ve made it? If no one comes to mind, give us the best name you found in that 1943 class. There are some great ones.
5. There’s also the Steelers-specific Hall of Honor. There are a lot of well-deserving names already enshrined, but there are plenty more to go. If you were to choose the 2025 Hall of Honor class, who would get in next?
6. This one is half question, half announcement: After chatting with some members of BTSC, we’ve decided that next week’s Friday Night thread (April 18) will also host a community first-round mock draft, where each commenter picks a team and we run through the first 32 picks in a mock draft simulator, likely PFN. The current idea is that the draft room will open sometime after the open thread publishes at 6 p.m. ET, and the actual drafting will begin at 7. Save the date and time! And feel free to coordinate and/or leave suggestions in the comments on this article.

BONUS: My music rec for the night: One of my favorite bands making rock music today.

So, settle down for the weekend, share your food and drink of choice, and let’s talk some football.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...y-hour-future-hall-of-famers-edition-steelers

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, April 11, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/12/24406766/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Saturday Night Open Thread Offseason Week 9: Better to give than Receiver

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrates with linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) after a sack against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Come and join this merry band of Steelers’ faithful for some lively debate about our Steelers, good food, music, and the merits of the odd cold beverage.

Live from Delaware, it’s Saturday Night! I, NAS204PSU, am here to bring you this Saturday Night Open Thread (aka SNOT).

This 6 pack of questions is here to get the conversation going is below, also let us know what you’re eating/drinking!

1. The Steelers used to be thought of as great at drafting/developing WR. Looking at draft classes (including UDFA) since 2017, do you think we’re still “great” at drafting/developing WR?

JuJu Smith-Schuster
James Washington
Diontae Johnson
Chase Claypool
Rico Bussey
Isaiah McKoy
George Pickens
Calvin Austin III
Jordan Byrd
Roman Wilson

2. Much has been made of TJ Watts “peace out” social media post. If TJ doesn’t play for the Steelers in 2025, what’s your confidence level in Alex Highsmith and the other edge rushers/OLBs?

3. The NFL is going to implement the Sony “Hawkeye” line-to-gain measurement system, replacing the traditional chain-gang. Is this a good move? Why/why not?

4.The UFL spring football league is happening. About 40 former Steelers players in this league, including Anthony MacFarland jr., Taco Chalrton, Eli Rodgers, and Brad Wing. Do you watch the UFL?

5. It’s cherry blossom season. Have you ever made a trip to see these trees in full bloom? Is it worth the crowds?

6. Lots of crazy stories in the US news. Have you ever tried to manipulate a deal to your advantage, only to get locked into a heated negotiation? How did it work for you?

BONUS: Mock Draft announcement:

Next week’s Friday Night thread (April 18) will also host a community first-round mock draft, where each commenter picks a team and we run through the first 32 picks in a mock draft simulator, likely PFN. The current idea is that the draft room will open sometime after the open thread publishes at 6 p.m. ET, and the actual drafting will begin at 7. Save the date and time! And feel free to coordinate and/or leave suggestions in the comments on this article.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...offseason-week-9-better-to-give-than-receiver

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, April 12, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/13/24407337/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

T.J. Watt trade proposal lands Steelers NFC QB

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Would the Steelers send T.J. Watt to the 49ers?

T.J. Watt has had Pittsburgh Steelers fans talking over the last handful of days when he posted a cryptic photo of himself flashing the peace sign on his Instagram story. This led to many predicting where he could be traded, with many labeling the Green Bay Packers as his top potential landing spot due to his Wisconsin roots. However, Chris Canty of ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike says the San Francisco 49ers should be the team to acquire Watt and send Brock Purdy to Pittsburgh in exchange.

“[Use] T.J. Watt as a way to be able to pry Brock Purdy from San Francisco,” Canty said. “The 49ers gutted [their] defense, being able to add some help for Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.”

The Steelers need a long-term answer at quarterback, but is Purdy that? We’ve seen what happens when quarterbacks leave Kyle Shanahan and join a less-than-stellar offensive staff. Jimmy Garoppolo went from a productive starter to backing up Aidan O’Connell before his lone season in Las Vegas was even complete.

While the Steelers need a franchise quarterback, getting a mid-tier quarterback in exchange for Watt doesn’t make sense. If they are going to move Watt (which they likely won’t), getting draft picks in return to use as ammunition to trade up for a quarterback in 2026 would be the better move.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...roposal-lands-steelers-nfc-qb-brock-purdy-nfl

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers guard in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Sunday, April 13, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/14/24407969/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers defensive tackle in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Monday, April 14, 2025
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/15/24408767/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Sunday UFL/Golf Open Thread

Photo by Logan Riely/UFL/Getty Images

Hangover Recovery Edition

San Antonio @ Michigan; 9:00 AM ET

D.C, @ St. Louis; Noon ET

Probably be getting some chores done, but checking in frequently.

Let us know who you’re watching and why?

Let’s sit back and enjoy some early games and conversation with fellow Steelers fans.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/13/24407165/week-1-sunday-ufl-open-thread

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Parish’s 2025 NFL Draft Gems: Safeties

Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Steelers have shown interest in the top safeties, but there are potential starters in this class deep into the draft.

During the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Parish debuted his list of “Bargain” NFL prospects the Steelers could target at positions of need. Now, Ryan’s series is back to once again highlight some of the lesser-known players in this year’s class. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather to highlight players Ryan thinks would fit with the team and should be available in Rounds 2-7. For this series, Ryan will avoid highlighting players frequently listed in the top 50-75 range on big boards. Looking for more? Check out Ryan’s picks this year at wide receiver, running back and cornerback.

Heading into this draft season, one of the major talking points was that this was a “down year.” It was an easy notion to latch on to, just look at state of the usual suspects for top picks:

• QB — This class was always going to have a tough act to follow after the 2024 group. The consensus seems to believe Cam Ward would still not crack QB3 of the 2024 class even after his star turn at Miami. The presumed second best QB, Shedeur Sanders, could go anywhere from second to the second round.
• EDGE — Abdul Carter, the top guy in the class, has generated a lot of excitement, but also comes with a foot injury and just one year of experience in that role. After that it’s a mix of guys with unclean resumes. Some are facing potential legal accusations, some are freak athletes who haven’t turned that into production, some are guys who need a fit well in some systems but not others. Overall, I think it’s a talented group, but there are few obvious slam dunks in a group that carries a lot of baggage this year.
• OT — When the presumed top prospect, as well as a handful of other potential first rounders, are having questions asked about whether they’re better off as guards, you get an idea of how intensely scrutinized this class has been.
• CB — Travis Hunter aside — who has his own baggage with his CB/WR potential that will take a smart staff to manage — I can sum up with a question. Who is the CB1 if we consider Hunter his own position? Your answer will probably be determined on how squeamish about injury histories you are, or what type of defense you run. This year’s class has a lot of prospects with specific scheme needs.
• WR — Another class with a tough group to follow. Tetairoa McMillan is the presumed top prospect — again, after Hunter — but he doesn’t have the usual traits that make a receiver a top-10 pick. Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden are probably second-round talents in most drafts. Luther Burden III wildly disappointed in 2024 and could fall out of the first entirely.

If there’s an easy theme to latch onto with this class, it’s “baggage.” I’ve heard a few different draft analysts with sources say the number of players with “true” first round grades is somewhere in the teens.

With all that in mind, it’s easy to understand why this class has gotten a bit of a bad rap. But as I’ve made my way through this gem series, I’ve come away with a different take. It’s not that this is a bad class. There are a few positions that are pretty weak, sure, but there several positions where I think the depth of talent is being undersold. The class might not have a ton of blue chip talent, but there lot’s of solid, starting caliber players available.

Safety is one of the groups that I think might be deeper than people are giving it credit for. So with that in mind, let’s drive on the ball and break into my list.

Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State​

Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Age: Turns 22 in December

Height/weight: 6’1 1/2, 215 pounds

Arm Length: 32 1/2”

RAS: N/A

The Steelers interest this cycle in safety prospects has been interesting. With both starters set for 2025 and veteran Juan Thornhill brought in to fill the third safety role in sub packages, the Steelers don’t appear to have an immediate need. Judging by the prospects they’ve visited with and the contract and the fact that DeShon Elliott is entering his final year under contract, I’m assuming that the Steelers will have a strong interest in box safeties.

The lack of immediate need also affords the team time to be patient with a rookie. That could be perfect for a prospect like Kevin Winston Jr. After an impressive sophomore campaign, Winston only played in two games in 2024 before a partial ACL tear ended his season. The former Nittany Lion wasn’t able to participate in the NFL Combine, but he ran a 4.50 40-time at Penn State’s pro day. He was reportedly running in the 4.3s prior to the injury, so there may still be some speed returning to his game as he gets healthier.

When healthy, Winston is an enforcer. He plays best when he can keep the action in front of him and then trigger down to make a play. Winston’s play speed lends itself to this style of play, but can fade when he’s asked to cover a lot of space on the back end or matched up in man coverage .

New for @The33rdTeamFB: It's time to stop ignoring Kevin Winston Jr. https://t.co/JHZ94izCTX pic.twitter.com/Z0fgxCb5mp

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 2, 2025​

Winston checks off a lot of other boxes you like to see in a prospect. A four star recruit in high school, Winston drew interest from other programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He played in 12 games as a freshman before taking over starting duties in 2023. He did not miss a tackle during his first year as a starter and finishes his career with a 2.2% missed tackle rate. And for those who put stock in bloodline, his father played college ball at James Madison University.

A player whose best football might still be in front of him, Winston is projected to be a third round draft pick.

Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma​

Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Age: 22

Height/weight: 5’10, 192 pounds

Arm Length: 28 1/2”

RAS: 7.53

Changing things up, our next prospect doesn’t possess tantalizing size, but it widely regarded as one of the higher character prospects in the draft.

When Ryland and I did our offseason blueprints, I picked Bowman in the fourth round to serve as a nickel/safety hybrid. That role will likely be necessitated at the pro level because of his diminutive frame. Bowman in many ways is comparable to Brian Branch, who saw a similar frame and average athletic testing drop him out of the first round.

Meet Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr.

This year's annual day two safety prospect that God carved entirely out of smelling salts and angst. pic.twitter.com/9g6Pp7fAvA

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) February 18, 2025​

Like Branch, Bowman’s strength is his coverage ability and versatility. He wins with a mix of vision and anticipation, and has been described by several draft analysts have described him as having a disposition that doesn’t fail at the NFL level.

The downside? In addition to his small frame, Bowman remains a work in progress as a tackler. Bowman is a willing tackler, but his form and pursuit angles need improving. His career 25.1% missed tackle rate would be disastrous at the NFL level.

There’s a lot to like about Bowman and he’s easy to root for, even if he has to clean up his tackling considerably. He’s projected as a third round pick, but could fall farther.

Jonas Sanker, Virginia​

Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Age: Turns 23 in November

Height/weight: 6’0, 206 pounds

Arm Length: 32 1/4”

RAS: 9.54

Returning to another box safety, Virginia’s Jonas Sanker will be a favorite of those who enjoy a certain level of physicality from their safeties. Sanker played in nine games as a freshman before become a three-year starter for the Cavaliers. Unlike Bowman, tackling is not an area of concern for Sanker.

Jonas Sanker (Virginia) is one of my favorite box safeties in this class. Good speed + closing burst, almost always wins at the catch point, plays with the mentality of a linebacker.

Leads FBS defensive backs with 173 solo tackles since 2023. pic.twitter.com/lpbMMpjMQD

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 17, 2025​

Sanker plays hard and fast, and his anticipation shines on tape. Like most young safeties, he could stand to improve on his pursuit angle consistency. He’s another player that is best off when he can play and react to action in front of him, and can struggle when asked to cover large areas on the back end.

Sanker also projects as an immediate contributor on special teams. While the Steelers might not need him to start on defense right away, he can step in as a gunner on Day 1 for special teams, and even had a blocked kick in 2024.

Caleb Ransaw, Tulane​

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Age: Turns 23 in December

Height/weight: 5’11, 197 pounds

Arm Length: 30 3/4”

RAS: 9.96

Putting Caleb Ransaw at safety is a bit of a projection. In college, he thrived playing a big nickel role and that could end up being his best position in the NFL. Questions about his processing speed and footwork in man coverage could eventually see him shift to a safety role, according to some experts, but that isn’t a universally held belief.

While Ransaw’s man coverage ability is up for debate, what isn’t is the physicality he plays with and his eye popping speed when he hits full gear. Ransaw ran a 4.30 40-time and had a 40” vertical at the combine. As a tackler, he sports just a 5.4% career missed tackle rate.

Tulane DB Caleb Ransaw is an explosive primary slot with proven Dime snaps (5.4% missed tackle rate - strong).

Allowed a combined 269 yards in man & zone coverage in 20+ starts (2023-2024)

Cousin of former 1st Round CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama/Bengals) https://t.co/P0gGNVpp4n pic.twitter.com/TV5px1ioqZ

— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) February 28, 2025​

Whether it’s as a safety or a nickel, Ransaw’s athletic profile and ability to play against the run should intrigue the Steelers. He’s currently projected as a fourth round pick.

R.J. Mickens, Clemson​

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Age: Turns 24 in July

Height/weight: 6’0, 199 pounds

Arm Length: 32 1/4”

RAS: 8.59

R.J. Mickens is another intriguing box safety prospect in this class, and one he comes from NFL lineage. His father, Ray Mickens, had a 10-year career in the NFL as a cornerback, including one season in Cleveland in 2005.

A fifth-year senior at Clemson, R.J. Mickens has logged over 1,200 coverage snaps and nearly 2,200 defensive snaps in his career. Mickens is another player who plays faster reacting to what is in front of him than he is asked to play man coverage or defend the post in Cover 1 and Cover 3 situations. However, as a former high school wideout, Mickens has flashed good hands when he’s able to get his mitts on the ball.

NFL Draft Countdown Day 13

RJ Mickens - S

8.59 RAS
4.49 40
41.5 Inch vert

89.8 Coverage grade
24.1% Forced incompletion rate

Plays well in the slot and at both Safety positions

More info below @TWSN___

pic.twitter.com/7yqNUkqdqd

— Logan Fulmer (@Fvlmer) April 5, 2025​

Mickens has ideal length that aids him well in the run game. His pedigree and experience help counteract some of his physical limitations by getting him in the right place ahead of the offense.

He’s a little on the older side, but he possess a lot of qualities the Steelers have liked in the past. At a projected fifth-round cost, he could be a developmental safety that could start in a pinch as a rookie.

Craig Woodson, California​

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Age: 24

Height/weight: 6’0, 200 pounds

Arm Length: 30 1/2”

RAS: 8.96

Woodson is another example of how deep this safety class could be. A three-year starter at Cal, Woodson had a knack for finding the football, with 5 career interceptions, 12 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles. Woodson has a high motor and excellent vision with instincts to match.

Craig Woodson is the most underrated safety in the 2025 Draft.

Do-it-all player with range, positional versatility, sound tackling, ball skills, and the ability to HIT

4th round grade. Reminds me a bit of Jalen Thompson pic.twitter.com/MbqjYovzVq

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 14, 2025​

Woodson is a fluid mover and has better horizontal change of direction skills than most of his peers on this list. However, he can struggle with getting out-physicaled by tight ends and is more comfortable in zone than in man. Like others on this list, he’s best when he can play closer to the line of scrimmage or when he only has to cover half the field.

Woodson is a solid enough tackler, and his 8.6% missed tackle rate in 2024 was the best in his college career. He takes good pursuit angles a majority of the time, but can struggle to disengage from blockers if he gets lost in traffic.

Woodson has a reputation as being highly coachable and willing to do whatever coaches ask of him. He’s currently projected to go in the fifth round.

Jordan Hancock, Ohio State​

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Age: Turns 22 in August

Height/weight: 6’0, 195 pounds

Arm Length: 30 3/4”

RAS: 9.82

Our final player on this list, Jordan Hancock almost made it on my cornerbacks list. After playing mostly as a nickel in 2023, he played a lot more safety for the 2024 season’s national champion Buckeyes.

A versatile defender, Hancock has flashed at multiple positions. While he still has room to grow his instincts in coverage, he provides competitive reps in pass coverage, and has shown the ability to play the run or get after the passers on a blitz.

WATCH: @OhioStateFB DB Jordan Hancock (@jordanhancock_) hit a max speed of 20.6 mph on this 93-yard pick six. #ReelSpeed #Buckeyes @markpantoni

: @CBSSportsCFB

https://t.co/orrD059ykP pic.twitter.com/VPktpLgfIT

— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 7, 2023​

Hancock did not participate in the NFL Combine as it came shortly after an extended playoff run, but he put up some intriguing numbers at Ohio State’s pro day, including a 4.42 40-time and a 41.5” vertical jump that would have led all corners and finished second among safeties at this year’s combine.

Hancock improved his missed tackle rate into the single digits (9.1%) this year, but could stand to add more power to his striking. For a player with his size and explosive athleticism, his lack of pop on hits could leave you wanting.

Still, a versatile defender who has improved each season to be a Day 3 steal. Hancock is currently expected to be selected in the sixth round.

Full List of Players

• Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
• Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
• Jonas Sanker, Virginia
• Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
• R.J. Mickens, Clemson
• Craig Woodson, California
• Jordan Hancock, Ohio State

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/15/24408708/parishs-2025-nfl-draft-gems-safeties

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Can you guess this Steelers linebacker in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Monday, April 14, 2025
Sunday, April 13, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2025/4/16/24409603/sb-nation-steelers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Steelers Read & React: What if Pittsburgh drafts a QB?

The Steelers appear to be keeping all of their options open for the first night of the draft. This week R&R answers: if it has to be a QB, which one are you most comfortable with?

The 2025 NFL Draft is inching closer, and suddenly, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is on Pittsburgh’s radar. Could the once-projected top-10 pick really fall to No. 21, or is that discussion another victim of tired draft talking points?

In this week’s Read & React, Ryan and Ryland take a look at the Steelers’ best options at quarterback if the team does indeed select that position in the first round. Plus, a look at Keeanu Benton’s 2024:

If the Steelers have to take a quarterback at pick 21, and you had your pick, would you select Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, or Jalen Milroe?​

Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

RP: While I don’t think either Ryland or I would prefer to use pick 21 on this particular crop of quarterbacks, the Steelers have been doing their homework on quarterbacks. That included bringing in Dart and Sanders for pre-draft visits and taking Jalen Milroe and a few of his Alabama teammates out to dinner around the time of Alabama’s pro day.

Maybe this is all an elaborate smoke screen to obscure who they really want, or perhaps it’s an act meant to entice other teams to trade up. Pittsburgh would benefit from a trade back and several of the prospects they’ve brought in are projected as fringe first round prospects, meaning they could be available early on Day 2 if a team like the Giants decides it wants to trade back into the first.

But, it could also be genuine smoke. We all know the Steelers are desperately in need of their next franchise guy. While fans may view drafting Kenny Pickett in 2022 as a cautionary tale, would any of us be surprised if the team took a different lesson from that experience?

If pushed to pick one of these three quarterbacks, my decision would come down to how the Aaron Rodgers situation plays out. While I don’t think Rodgers signing should prevent the Steelers from drafting a quarterback if they truly believe in them — having Rodgers around changes who I would take.

I’ll start by eliminating Jaxson Dart from the equation. I’m out. I could be swayed into Dart if the cost was lower, but at 21 I just can’t do it. A first round quarterback needs to be a high level processor or a freak athlete, and Dart is neither.

Mississippi’s offense doesn’t ask much of the quarterback compared to others. In Lane Kiffin’s offense, the quarterback is responsible for making a pre-snap read to determine who has the best matchup. If that look changes after the snap or fails to get open, Dart was given the green light to take off or improvise. It just isn’t an offense that translates well to the next level and we’ve seen it crash and burn before. Right or wrong, Dart’s pre-draft cycle is giving me Zach Wilson flashbacks, and I don’t think Arthur Smith’s offense will be the best fit for him.

That leaves Sanders or Milroe.

To me, Sanders is the play if Rodgers pulls the rug out from under the Steelers. Sanders has the higher floor, but his athletic traits also limit his ceiling. Sanders has put on tape the ability to read a defense and progress through his route progressions in a timely manner, but his arm strength is average, as is his mobility. Neither should be prohibitive to NFL success, but they’re also hard to get too excited about.

What makes him a difficult evaluation were his surroundings.

Did he take a lot of sacks because his offensive line was bad or because he played too much hero ball? Did he play too much hero ball because of bad decision making or because his coaching staff didn’t provide him many answers when the first read wasn’t there? Did Colorado run a lot of plays near the line of scrimmage because that’s all Sanders could handle or because that’s all the offensive line could give him time for? Is it weird that he’s really only played for his Hall of Fame father?

These are all valid questions. I tend to think Sanders is the most pro ready of our three options, but I still view him as a second-round talent. If Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh high and dry, Sanders should be able to compete with Mason Rudolph for the starting spot. If Sanders is the pick, the Steelers should be incentivized to see what they have as soon as possible. If it works out, we’re happy. If not, move on and try again in 2026.

However, if Rodgers does sign, Jalen Milroe would be the pick for me. I can already hear the angry typing in the comment section, but hear me out.

I’ve been around this site long enough and talked with enough Steelers fans to know there is a decent amount of fans who lament the Steelers passing on Lamar Jackson in 2018. While I don’t want to imply that Milroe is the same player as Jackson, they do have some similar qualities. Jackson was more advanced as a passer coming out than Milroe is currently, but Jackson’s accuracy and processing were heavily debated in NFL circles. And while Milroe isn’t as elusive of a runner as Jackson, his unofficial 4.37 40-time would make him one of the league’s fastest. A year ago, I questioned if Jayden Daniels’ running style would play at the NFL level, and how did that turn out? Again, Daniels was lightyears ahead of Milroe as a passer, but you can see the vision.

Milroe at 21 would be hard to stomach, but I’d rather bet on special traits in the first round if forced to pick a quarterback. Milroe has that with his mobility. I don’t believe Sanders or Dart have any comparable traits in their toolbag.

If Milroe was allowed to sit a year and was utilized in some short yardage situations like the Steelers had Justin Fields run towards the end of the season, I’d feel a lot better about it. Get him in the building and see if you can develop his accuracy. He already throws one of the better deep balls in this class, why not see if you can develop his touch in the short to intermediate areas? It’s not likely, but I’d rather go down betting on special traits than higher floors, and for what it’s worth Milroe is regarded as a smart player. He won the “academic Heisman” with a 3.52 GPA and his Alabama coaches have spoken highly of his character and leadership during this cycle. That doesn’t guarantee success, of course, but it’s still good to hear.

If the Steelers do end up picking a quarterback, my hope is that they are honest with themselves moving forward. Picking out of desperation is not a recipe for success. Neither is sticking with a quarterback who doesn’t have the goods just because you picked him high. If I’m the Steelers, I’d be open to drafting a quarterback again in 2026 and beyond until they’re certain they’ve found their guy.

RB: I’m more or less in agreement with Ryan on all points here. In terms of physical traits, I’d rank the three quarterbacks Milroe, Dart, and Sanders from first to last; then reverse those rankings when it comes to the finer details of quarterbacking and NFL-readiness.

Still, after watching all three passers more in-depth ahead of this article, I came away confident in my evaluation that none of the three have first-round grades.

But I can’t answer “none” here, can I?

If that’s the case, I’d agree with Ryan that I have a very hard time drafting Dart in the first round. He’s bigger and more athletic than Sanders with a better arm, but he still lacks any true standout traits and played in an offensive system that will make his NFL transition difficult. A clear Day 2 talent, in my opinion.

I was pretty sure heading into this question that I’d answer Sanders, but I’ve been working on my draft profile of him and have become a bit disillusioned with his upside. It’s true that he’s accurate and efficient in the short and intermediate passing game, but his arm talent and mobility are far from what you like to see in the first round. Plus, some painful pocket habits limit the stuff he’s good at already.

A lot of NFL analysts who I respect see Sanders’ realistic ceiling as a good-not-great NFL starter, and I have the same takeaway. You can win games with that, but the NFL is a league driven by star quarterbacks. I think a first-round pick at that position needs to have some elite abilities.

Milroe has the latter in spades. High-level arm strength. Special athlete. Still not that great at quarterback. Armchair GM Ryland, through gritted teeth, says this is the pick if it has to be one of those three quarterbacks in the first round. Might as well bet on sky-high potential, even if the bust potential is beyond high.

But if I’m actually a GM here, I’m probably going with Sanders. I don’t want to get fired, and Sanders has the best chance at actually turning into a solid starter of the three — and we’ve seen good rosters take quarterbacks in that category to big games.

Sanders would not be a horrible pick at No. 21, and at the end of the day, you can’t fault a team that doesn’t have a long-term solution at quarterback for trying to find one. Maybe he cleans up his pocket habits, hones his processing, and becomes a lethal distributor of the football in the NFL. But that can be said of quarterbacks in every draft class.

Also, Sanders is a questionable fit in Pittsburgh’s offense, which ostensibly wants vertical shots downfield, outside the numbers; Sanders is at his best picking defenses apart with short passes in the middle of the field.

Frankly, I like Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough’s tape more than Dart, Sanders, or Milroe’s, but with his age, injury history, and lack of production, I’m staunchly against a first round pick for the soon-to-be 26-year-old, either.

For the time being, Sanders remains my QB2. But I don’t think the Steelers should start thinking about a dice roll at the position until Day 2 or later.

Steelers in review: DT Keeanu Benton​

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Welcome to R&R’s newest segment: Steelers in Review. The need to keep an accurate view of last season can get lost in the news cycle of free agency and the draft. As a result, we’ll be looking at one Steeler’s 2024 season in each segment, noting where they succeeded, where they struggled, and what they’ll bring to the roster in 2025. This week, we’ll be looking at defensive lineman Keeanu Benton.

RB: When Benton was drafted in the second round in 2023, he was a draft darling for many, including myself. Following a modest rookie year, the hope was Benton would take a big step forward in 2024 with Cam Heyward continuing to get older and Larry Ogunjobi clearly not a long-term piece.

However, while Benton didn’t suffer a clear sophomore slump in 2024, he certainly didn’t show major improvement, putting up stats identical to his rookie season with 16 solo tackles, 20 assists, and one sack. Entering 2025, Heyward is one year older despite still playing at a high level, and Ogunjobi is off the roster. Defensive line is the most popular draft need among Steelers fans.

Often described as a defensive end miscast as a nose tackle in the Steelers scheme, Benton is seen as a player who still has a good bit of upside if given the chance to succeed. However, while he did play 202 snaps at nose tackle in 2024 per PFF, his other 460 were elsewhere on the D-line — he could be used better, but he wasn’t exactly a fish out of water in 2024.

As usual, Ryan and I will be splitting up the analysis. I’ll start off by looking at Benton’s work as a pass rusher.

The first game of his I watched was Week 5 versus Dallas, where his first snap showed off a wicked club move to speed by the Cowboys’ center. Benton’s hand usage and placement are still a work in progress, but there’s no doubting his powerful upper half.

Keeanu Benton: VIOLENT hands pic.twitter.com/YLiHEaiLRD

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

Benton won quickly with that move once or twice a game, but the rest of his pass-rushing snaps were significantly less exciting. He simply doesn’t have a great arsenal of moves, and was stalled on a disappointing number of one-on-ones in the games I watched.

He's gotta get better in one-on-ones as a rusher, though. Far too many plays like these in 2024: pic.twitter.com/5WOGFWblAN

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

That’ll be something that Benton needs to continue to hone; the good news is he’s only 23 years old and I’m willing to be his best and most complete football is still down the road.

Benton’s play strength is far from a concern, as I’m sure Ryan will touch on in the run defense section below. However, he doesn’t win with power much and doesn’t push the pocket consistently as a rusher. Often, he just gets moved laterally and doesn’t apply any pressure on the quarterback. Some of it has to do with how his first step off the line could be consistently quicker, which would better convert speed to power.

However, there are some reps scattered throughout the season that show off a bull rush with some upside.

Bull rush isn't featured in his arsenal, but it's there pic.twitter.com/628xDgdvSP

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

Still, he gets controlled by offensive linemen far too often and has a difficult time overall shedding blocks.

Benton just isn’t a great penetrating defensive lineman at this point in his career, but he is very mobile for his size and was often used to contain quarterbacks in the pocket, sometimes operating in a sort of “spy” role. For the most part, he was successful in that aspect of his game, moving laterally to cut off escape routes, even if Patrick Mahomes still found ways to succeed with last-second passes in Week 17:

Persistent rusher pic.twitter.com/PH9XYyVoZF

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

That athleticism also makes him a capable contributor on stunts.

One part of Benton’s game that clearly shows the influence of Cam Heyward is his production batting down passes. Benton recorded an impressive six passes defensed in 2024, and in just about every pass-rush rep where he doesn’t get home, you can see him put his hands up in the air.

Gets his hands up to bat down passes pic.twitter.com/nfxfyh8ert

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

The last thing I’ll point out is Benton’s persistence; motor is not an issue and he consistently worked to chase down screens and continue to rush late in plays:

Persistent rusher pic.twitter.com/PH9XYyVoZF

— Ryland Bickley (@_Ryland_B) April 16, 2025​

Benton is still growing into his role as a pass rusher, but he has all the physical tools to continue to trend in the right direction. He’s a solid starter right now but not a difference-maker up front.

Ryan, what did you see from Benton against the run? And how does his trajectory affect the Steelers’ roster need at D-line?

RP: There are some common themes in both phases for Benton. I’m reminded of our review of Troy Fautanu in that there are very few plays where I think Benton is getting bullied or losing badly. For this review, I first used NFL Pro to filter plays where he was on the field for a Steelers run stuff. That gave me an idea of his role in run defense when they were working their best. I then went and watched the run defense snaps of his worst graded game for run defense, the first game against Cleveland.

When he’s playing at his best, Benton is able to take on doubles to clear up his teammates and plug gaps. He wasn’t always a true 0-tech nose tackle, there are times the Steelers would have him line up in 1-tech or 2i.

The job of an IDL isn't always going to get you noticed in the box score. Maintaining your gap control and freeing up the teammates is hard to quantify. While I wouldn't say Benton is elite in this regard, it is an area where I think we're seeing some growth in his game pic.twitter.com/4IFNhGRkWm

— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) April 16, 2025​

Still, even in some of these successful reps, you can see some of Benton’s current limitations as a nose tackle. Benton’s got a powerful upper half, but he doesn’t have a strong anchor with his base. If he doesn’t pay attention to his pad level on a given rep, it can get him shuffling his feet. He was most susceptible to this when facing double teams.

There are times he struggles anchoring against a double team pic.twitter.com/v3VCC22YKM

— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) April 16, 2025​

Ryland had some critiques for Benton as a penetrator in the pass rush, but funnily enough, I think his ability to penetrate against the run is a strength of his. While I found myself critiquing his ability to take on double teams, put him one-on-one with the greenlight to get into the backfield, and that’s where Benton shines as a disruptor. On some of these reps he needs to improve ability to finish, but you can see the potential in his game.

I think Benton was at his best when he was given the greenlight to get in the backfield and disrupt the play. Leave him 1-on-1 at your own peril pic.twitter.com/kRkSKMJsex

— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) April 16, 2025​

At his best, Benton is able to use his powerful upper half to stack and shed defenders to make the play pic.twitter.com/H8bkzgWeIh

— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) April 16, 2025​

All in all, I think Benton’s “sophomore slump” is a bit overblown. I still think he’s been miscast as a nose and would rather see him slide into Larry Ogunjobi’s old role, but he isn’t a detriment at nose tackle. If the Steelers keep him there, they need to work on his anchoring as he is a player that still seems more comfortable moving laterally and shedding than he is taking on double teams.

Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. What quarterback is the Steelers’ best option in Round 1? Is Keeanu Benton a defensive building block? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...r-sanders-jalen-milroe-jaxson-dart-read-react

 

[Pittsburgh Steelers]

Aaron Rodgers names his price for Steelers, other potential suitors

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The four-time MVP named his asking price

The Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Rodgers saga continues on.

When it was announced that the four-time MVP would be appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, many thought this month-long wait may come to an end one way or the other. That didn’t happen.

Among other things, Rodgers talked about his final meeting with the New York Jets, which featured an awkward back-and-forth with head coach Aaron Glenn, a talk with New york Giants Brian Daboll, and several conversations he’s had with the Steelers and Mike Tomlin.

One thing Rodgers wanted to set the record straight on was the amount of money he was willing to play for, taking offense to reports saying he wanted $40 million.

“I told every single one of the teams it ain’t about the money,” Rodgers said. “I said I’ll play for 10 M’s.”

$10 million for Rodgers is obviously a much more appealing deal than spending $40 million, but there is still no decision made one week before the NFL Draft.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...s-other-potential-suitors-pat-mcafee-show-nfl