Artie Burns (1) is the type of player the Steelers like to draft. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers wanted to make this a defensive draft and they did just that by adding five defensive players and only two offensive players. Their first three picks were defenders, the first time that’s happened since 2003.
General manager Kevin Colbert wanted to sign offensive starters in free agency and plug his defensive holes in the draft because this draft was so heavily weighted toward defenders.
After selecting Miami cornerback Artie Burns in the third round, he added Maryland safety Sean Davis in the second and South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in the third.
“We ended up with seven guys and hopefully we got seven guys that are going to help us be a championship football team,” Colbert said. “That’s what we set out to do and we are happy with the way that it unfolded.”
Burns and Davis in particular are fast players who were added to a secondary that is undergoing a makeover this offseason. Each will challenge veteran players with little starting experience of their own and will have a chance to compete for playing time if they are ready.
“I’m really excited about it,” Tomlin said. “It’s playmaking as well. Speed is just an element of it. I like the production of all the guys. We talked about Burns’ production with the six interceptions in 2015. Sean Davis has been highly productive, not only over the course of 2015, but also just his career at Maryland. Speed is an element of it — something that we covet. But speed without production is less attractive than these guys who have done it.”
–The Steelers continued their trend of selecting underclassmen in the draft. They took three more juniors this year. In previous years, they’ve taken underclassmen such as Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt in 2014. They’re now key members of a rebuilding defense.
“They’re moldable probably a little more than a guy that’s four years into a program,” Colbert said.
“Generally they’re the guys with the highest pedigree,” head coach Mike Tomlin added. “That’s why they’re in the draft.”
A closer look at the Steelers’ picks:
–Round 1/25 — Artie Burns, CB, 6-0, 197, Miami
Burns has the size and speed (4.4) the Steelers coveted in a cornerback. And although they would have selected William Jackson III had Cincinnati not picked him one spot before them, general manager Kevin Colbert said it was an “easy” selection to make and that the Steelers were “fortunate” Burns was still available. Not everyone is in agreement with Colbert. Several draft analysts had second- and third-round grades on Burns, who will turn 21 on Sunday. Coach Mike Tomlin described Burns as a “moldable piece of clay.”
–Round 2/58 — Sean Davis, S, 6-1, 201, Maryland
Versatile defensive back with 40 career starts for the Terrapins — 25 at safety and 15 at cornerback. Will play strong safety for the Steelers to start and compete with veteran Robert Golden for the starting job this summer. Recorded over 300 tackles in college and led NCAA Division I with five forced fumbles last season. He also tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Davis was first among defensive backs at the NFL scouting combine in the bench press (225 pounds for 21 reps) and the broad jump (126 inches). He was second among defensive backs in the three-cone drill and third in the shuttle run. “This guy is an exceptional athlete,” Steelers defensive back Carnell Lake said.
–Round 3/89 — Javon Hargrave, DT, 6-1, 307, South Carolina State
Defensive line coach John Mitchell was not scared off by the level of competition Hargrave faced in Division I-AA. “He didn’t play down to the talent,” Mitchell said. “He played up to his talent. Hargrave dominated the MEAC, recording 37 career sacks, including 13.5 as a senior last fall. Mitchell said Hargrave was exactly the type of player they were looking for — an interior lineman who can play nose on first down but versatile enough to play in nickel packages to spell starting DEs Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.
–Round 4/123 — Jerald Hawkins, OL, 6-6, 305, LSU
Hawkins was told by the NFL advisory board to remain in school, but he decided to come out after his junior season. GM Kevin Colbert acknowledged Hawkins should have remained in school, but believes he has potential. Hawkins is now part of a crowded tackle group. The Steelers have five tackles on the roster, including starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert, left tackles Ryan Harris and Al Villanueva, Mike Adams and now Hawkins.
–Round 6/220 — Travis Feeney, OLB, 6-4, 226, Washington
Outside linebackers coach Joey Porter believes the Steelers added a quality special teams player in Feeney, who has potential to add some pass rushing punch at a position that has some uncertainty beyond the 2016 season. James Harrison is 38 and is likely to retire after the season. And the Steelers have until Monday to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Jarvis Jones.
–Round 7/229 — Demarcus Ayers, WR/PR, 5-11, 190, Houston
Ayers was the Steelers’ highest-rated punt returner and they were happy to add him at this point in the draft. The Steelers tried to relieve All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown of the punt return duties last season, but after Jacoby Jones was ineffective, they had to go back to Brown. If Ayers makes the roster, it’s likely as a specialist.
–Round 7/246 — Tyler Matakevich, ILB, 6-1, 235, Temple
Matakevich was a highly productive player for the Owls with 493 career tackles. He won the Chuck Bednarik Award after last season and could make a push for a roster spot at a position where the Steelers lack depth. Matakevich was the only player in NCAA Division I last season to lead his team in tackles every game.
