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Steelers draft capsule

The following is the seventh of seven position-by-position analyses for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2016 NFL draft, which will begin on Thursday:

CORNERBACKS

Currently on the roster: William Gay, Ross Cockrell, Senquez Golson, Doran Grant, Isaiah Frey, Montell Garner, Al-Hajj Shabazz

Last five drafts: The Steelers haven’t had much success drafting cornerbacks. The list includes Shaquille Richardson (2014, fifth round), Terry Hawthorne (2013, fifth round), Terrence Frederick (2012, seventh round) and Curtis Brown (2011, third round). Cortez Allen (2011, fourth round) was supposed to be a Steelers starter for years but underachieved and is now gone. Golson (2015, second round) missed all of last season with a shoulder injury and will get a chance to be a starter this year. Grant (2015, fourth round) is still in the Steelers’ plans and could be ticketed to play some safety.

Top cornerbacks available: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State; Vernon Hargreaves, Florida; Mackensie Alexander, Clemson; Eli Apple, Ohio State; Artie Burns, Miami; William Jackson, Houston

The Steelers might select: Alexander; Apple; Burns; Jackson; Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech; Cyrus Jones, Alabama; Jonathan Jones, Auburn; Ken Crawley, Colorado; Anthony Brown, Purdue; Tavon Young, Temple

Analysis: Could this finally be the season the Steelers select a cornerback in the first round? The position has annually been near the top of the Steelers’ priorities, and year after year, they went elsewhere in the first round. But their philosophy of selecting corners in later rounds hasn’t worked out too well – see above. That, and the fact that several corners this year are projected to be first-rounders, is why most NFL draft experts believe the Steelers will finally break with tradition and select a first-round corner. Ramsey and Hargreaves are not expected to be around when the Steelers go to pick at No. 25, but one would figure between Alexander, Apple, Burns and Jackson, at least one of those will be available to the Steelers. The Steelers seem to be enamored with Jackson because of his size and speed, but the other three are in the same category. The Steelers might not quit taking corners after the first round – Fuller, Cyrus Jones, Jonathan Jones, Crawley, Brown and Young are all speedsters who are slotted to be taken anywhere from the second to seventh rounds.

SAFETIES

Currently on the roster: Mike Mitchell, Shamarko Thomas, Robert Golden, Ross Ventrone, Jordan Dangerfield, Jacob Hagen, Ray Vinopal

Last five drafts: Thomas (2013, fourth round) has been given opportunities to be Troy Polamalu’s successor but hasn’t taken advantage of them. Gerod Holliman (2015, seventh round) was cut last season and is trying to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster this year.

Top safeties available: Vonn Bell, Ohio State; Sean Davis, Maryland; TJ Green, Clemson; Jeremy Cash, Duke; Karl Joseph, West Virginia

The Steelers might select: Bell; Davis; Green; Cash; Joseph; Justin Simmons, Boston College; Keanu Neal, Florida; Darian Thompson, Boise State; Deon Bush, Miami; Trae Elston, Mississippi

Analysis: The Steelers are going to select a safety – they brought more than 10 of them in for pre-draft visits, including the top five listed above. They didn’t invest that much time into the position to bypass it in the draft. They also have a need with Will Allen not re-signed and Thomas not satisfying the Steelers. The deal with this year’s crop of safeties, though, is that only Bell, possibly, could be considered a first-rounder. The Steelers might be able to get one of the top five safeties with a third- or fourth-round pick. If not then, the Steelers could wait until the sixth round for guys like Simmons, Neal or Thompson, or in the seventh round for Bush or Elston. The Steelers visited with all of them as well.

– Buck Frank

Steelers draft capsule

The following is the fifth of seven position-by-position analyses for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2016 NFL draft, which will begin on Thursday:

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Currently on the roster: Jarvis Jones, Bud Dupree, Arthur Moats, James Harrison, Anthony Chickillo, Jordan Zumwalt

Last five drafts: The Steelers tried to address their need for outside pass rushers by taking Jones (2013, first round) and Dupree (2015, first round) in two of the last three years. Chickillo (2015, sixth round) and oft-injured Zumwalt (2014, sixth round) will be fighting for roster spots this summer. Chris Carter (2011, fifth round) has bounced around the NFL and will be trying to stick with the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Top outside linebackers available: Darron Lee, Ohio State; Leonard Floyd, Georgia; Shaq Lawson, Clemson; Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky

The Steelers might select: Charles Tapper, Oklahoma; Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State; Jordan Jenkins, Georgia; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin; Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland

Analysis: Outside linebacker is always a big key to the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. They’ve brought in Jones and Dupree as No. 1 picks recently to help keep the pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The problem is it usually takes a few years in the Steelers’ system for OLBs to get comfortable – this is a critical season for Jones. Veterans Moats and Harrison are still around to help with the transition, but the Steelers might go with the philosophy of “the more the merrier.” They won’t take another OLB with their first pick, but expect them to be looking closely at guys like Tapper, Jenkins and Ngakoue as the draft moves into the second and third days.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Currently on the roster: Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, Steven Johnson, L.J. Fort

Last five drafts: If healthy, Shazier (2014, first round) has shown he can be an explosive player. Williams (2013, sixth round) has been an unsung but steady player for the Steelers. Sean Spence (2012, third round) was a great story for the Steelers in how he came back from a gruesome knee injury, but he is now with the Tennessee Titans.

Top inside linebackers available: Myles Jack, UCLA; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Kentrell Brothers, Missouri

The Steelers might select: Ragland

Analysis: Inside linebacker doesn’t appear to be a weak area for the Steelers, especially with the offseason signing of Johnson to overcome the loss of Spence. However, Timmons is in the final year of his contract, and Shazier is injury prone. Although the Steelers most likely won’t select an inside linebacker, if someone with Ragland’s potential drops to them at No. 25 in the first round (like David DeCastro did in 2012), the Steelers might go with the best available player and pick Ragland. But that’s probably unlikely.

Coming Tuesday: Defensive linemen

– Buck Frank

Steelers draft capsule

The following is the fourth of seven position-by-position analyses for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2016 NFL draft, which will begin on Thursday:

WIDE RECEIVERS

Currently on the roster: Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, Levi Norwood, Issac Blakeney, Eli Rogers, Tobais Palmer, Shakim Phillips. Martavis Bryant (suspended)

Last five drafts: The Steelers have had success selecting receivers in the middle rounds, and Wheaton (2013, third round) is no exception. Bryant (2014, fourth round) has been successful on the field but has been a disaster off of it. Coates (2015, third round) will most likely get a chance this year to show if he is the next in line. Later-round picks Justin Brown (2013, sixth round) and Toney Clemons (2012, seventh round) didn’t overcome their draft status.

Top wide receivers available: Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi; Josh Doctson, TCU; Corey Coleman, Baylor; Will Fuller, Notre Dame

The Steelers might select: Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma; Braxton Miller, Ohio State; Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina; Chris Moore, Cincinnati

Analysis: The wide receiver position has been a strength for the Steelers for a number of years, but it has a few question marks now. Brown is on a very short list of the top receivers in the game – that’s the good news. The bad news is that Wheaton will be a free agent after this season, Bryant’s future with the team after sitting out this coming year is questionable at best, and Coates didn’t show much last year as a rookie. With all of that in mind, the Steelers will more than likely try and get another top receiver in the second or third round this year. The guess here is they’ll be looking for someone to play in the slot, and Shepard and Miller are two projected to be second- or third-rounders.

TIGHT ENDS

Currently on the roster: Ladarius Green, Matt Spaeth, Jesse James, Xavier Grimble

Last five drafts: James (2015, fifth round) showed promise as a rookie last season. Rob Blanchflower (2014, seventh round) and David Paulson (2012, seventh round) never quite showed NFL starting ability.

Top tight ends available: Hunter Henry, Arkansas; Nick Vannett, Ohio State; Austin Hooper, Stanford

The Steelers might select: Probably no tight ends

Analysis: With Heath Miller retiring, the Steelers signed Green, who caught 77 passes for San Diego the last four years, to replace him. With career-backup Spaeth and sophomore James also on the roster, it doesn’t appear likely the Steelers will use one of their picks on a tight end. The position isn’t too deep, either, in this year’s draft.

Coming Monday: Linebackers

Steelers draft capsule

The following is the second of seven position-by-position analyses for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2016 NFL draft, which will begin on Thursday, April 28:

RUNNING BACKS

Currently on the roster: Le’Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Rajion Neal, Daryl Richardson, Abou Toure

Last five drafts: Bell (2013, second round) was one of the Steelers’ best high picks recently, although he has trouble staying healthy. Chris Rainey (2012, fifth round) and Baron Batch (2011, seventh round) were forgettable picks. Dri Archer (2014, third round) could be considered a bust.

Top running backs available: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State; Derrick Henry, Alabama; Devontae Booker, Utah

The Steelers might select: Josh Ferguson, Illinois; Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech; DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech; Tyler Ervin, San Jose State; Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia

Analysis: If Bell and Williams stay healthy, the Steelers will be fine in the backfield. Bell can do it all, and Williams brings a nice veteran presence. Toussaint hasn’t been bad either (except for the fumble against Denver). The Steelers might want a small, quick back who can catch out of the backfield – something Archer was supposed to be for them but failed. They could use their sixth-round pick or one of their two seventh-rounders on one of the players listed above.

FULLBACKS

Currently on the roster: Roosevelt Nix

Last five drafts: Not many true fullbacks are selected in the NFL draft these days.

Top fullbacks available: Derek Watt, Wisconsin; Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas State

The Steelers might select: No fullbacks

Analysis: Nix appeared to perform the role of fullback in the Steelers’ system adequately last season. The Steelers will most likely sign a free-agent fullback after the draft to push Nix in the summer.

Coming Saturday: Offensive linemen

Steelers draft capsule

The following is the first of seven position-by-position analyses for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2016 NFL draft, which will begin on Thursday, April 28:

QUARTERBACKS

Currently on the roster: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Dustin Vaughan

Last five drafts: Jones (2013, fourth round) is the only quarterback the Steelers have selected recently and is destined to be no more than a backup in the NFL.

Top quarterbacks available: Carson Wentz, North Dakota State; Jared Goff, California; Paxton Lynch, Memphis; Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

The Steelers might select: Probably no quarterbacks

Analysis: The Steelers need someone to battle Jones for Roethlisberger’s backup job this year. They’ll more than likely sign a veteran free agent rather than draft someone. The Steelers don’t have enough picks in rounds 3-5 to justify taking a quarterback, and sixth- and seventh-round quarterbacks usually aren’t worth selecting – unless someone drops that far. But the way NFL teams covet QBs, that rarely happens.

SPECIALISTS

Currently on the roster: Chris Boswell (K), Shaun Suisham (K), Ty Long (K), Jordan Berry (P), Greg Warren (LS), Matt Dooley (LS)

Last five drafts: The Steelers have shied away from selecting specialists.

Top specialists available: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State (K); Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA (K); Will Monday, Duke (P); Jimmy Landes, Baylor (LS)

The Steelers might select: No specialists

Analysis: The Steelers haven’t picked a kicker or punter since the ill-fated Daniel Sepulveda fourth-round pick in 2007. They have no need to go after a kicker with Boswell and Suisham both coming into camp, and the punting and long snapping duties are way down on the Steelers’ list of priorities.

Coming Friday: Running backs

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