Steelers make shocking selection in draft expert's latest mock draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers have to address the corner position in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with three picks inside the top 50, they are well-equipped to do so. Various mock drafts, including my own, have mocked the Steelers a bevy of names at the critical position, including Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks, and DJ Turner […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have to address the corner position in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with three picks inside the top 50, they are well-equipped to do so.
Various mock drafts, including my own, have mocked the Steelers a bevy of names at the critical position, including Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks, and DJ Turner among others.
But following Ryan Wilson's latest mock draft for CBS Sports, the Steelers take a promising corner, they just do it way too high in my opinion.
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Here is Wilson's reasoning for mocking Brents to Pittsburgh at 17:
Brents is 6-foot-3, ran a 4.53 40 at the combine and had among the best 3-cone and short-shuttle times too. He's long, fast, physical and plays with an edge — he sounds like a Steelers corner.
Guess what, I agree wholeheartedly with Wilson.
I think Brents will be a great NFL corner and ideal in the Steelers defense.
But using the 17th overall selection on him is extremely rich, especially given chatter around the league, most of the media's mock drafts, and Brents's 62nd overall ranking on the consensus board.
Now, Brents has some of the best measurables not in only in his class, but in the history of relative athletic testing.
As you can see, the only measurable that isn't considered elite is his 40-yard dash time of 4.53.
I would typically steer clear of any defensive back that doesn't run in the 4.4s or below, but Brents is an exception to the rule in my opinion.
He has absurd length, with over 34' arms and an extended frame at nearly six foot three.
Speed is a trait that the best corners in the league have in common, I understand that. And the Steelers run a fair amount of cover one and cover three, schemes that typically place corners on Islands since there is only one safety in the middle of the field.
But Brents is so long and physical, that receivers will have to spend most of their time just trying to get off the line of scrimmage when matched up against him.
And even if they did somehow escape his grasp to get downfield, Brents has displayed the makeup speed to transition and eliminate throwing lanes.
In fairness to Ryan Wilson, he has been covering the NFL Draft for decades and co-hosts a podcast with former Vikings GM Rick Spielman.
I add that because if anyone is plugged in, it would be those two, and based on everything I have laid out, you can see a scenario where Brents is rising up draft boards.
Regardless, I believe in the Steelers and their draft strategy so if Brents is in fact the pick at 17, then so be it.
