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2023 Pittsburgh Steelers. Banged up team loses to Buffalo. Looking ahead to 2024 now (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Godsbrother
- Start date
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Mike Clay@MikeClayNFL
Lowest Yards Per Target among WRs with 120+ targets over the last 2 seasons:
Lowest Yards Per Target among WRs with 120+ targets over the last 2 seasons:
- JuJu Smith-Schuster: 6.15
- Robby Anderson: 6.57
- Diontae Johnson: 6.64
Blick
Footballguy
I think this was a function of a few things:
- Atrocious o-line
- Immobile, aging QB
- Great Defense
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
It was a function of everything but...
Ben changed from an immobile QB who hung in the pocket to extend plays in order to connect on deep routes. Years of taking those hits took a toll as he morphed into an 'aging' QB who got rid of the ball super-quick.
Super-quick release didn't allow deep WR routes and kept him from getting hit.
steelers1080
Footballguy
Chad Reuter just posted that the "perfect" first 2 picks for the Steelers would be Ridder and Skyy Moore. That's just nuts. Maybe his justification is perfect based on who he predicts will be there at 20 and 52, but by no stretch are those the best players that could potentially fall to those picks.
H8fulHuck
Footballguy
If Ridder is the first pick, wouldn’t it make sense to go after Alec Pierce next? Give him a familiar target. They already have chemistry
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
Apparently Matt Corral is friends with Bret Michaels of Poison. A lot of yinzer girls will love this move if he is drafted.
https://steelersdepot.com/2022/04/a-rock-star-is-trying-to-influence-the-steelers-quarterback-decision/
https://steelersdepot.com/2022/04/a-rock-star-is-trying-to-influence-the-steelers-quarterback-decision/
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I'm still not interested in drafting a QB in the first round.
steelers1080
Footballguy
It feels almost 50/50 at this point. The reporters closest to the Steelers seem to be saying it won't happen, but it still feels like a toss-up.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I see the latest CBS 3-round mock has the Steelers taking a WR first (they have Burks but Olave also on the board) , Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker in the second and EDGE Drake Jackson in the third.
The interesting thing is they have Ridder still on the board. I don't see him falling that far but if it happened I would take Ridder over JAckson.
The interesting thing is they have Ridder still on the board. I don't see him falling that far but if it happened I would take Ridder over JAckson.
steelers1080
Footballguy
I'd be fine with any of these QBs in the 3rd if they think they can become a solid backup. That would mean that next year we could have a backup for ~$1 million, instead of $5-7+ million for Rudolph.
None of the top 5 QB's are going to be there at 52 let alone the 3rd round. There are a lot of ridiculous people doing mock drafts.
That would an amazing outcome. Moore is unrealistic to be there at 52. I am very worried Ridder won't be there at 20.
steelers1080
Footballguy
I'd also be fine with Carson Strong as a backup and he could be there at our 3rd round pick.
Stingley is going top 5. If there go CB it will have to be Booth or Elam. Hamilton is going top 10. Willis is likely top 10. Dean or Davis would be a poor choice for a 1st rounder based on positional value. I obviously want Ridder. I wouldn't hate the Williams pick, but I would be very hesitant to ever pick a player off an ACL tear. The risk for future tears is way too high.steelers1080 said:
They are dead set on getting a mobile guy. He is the least mobile guy imaginable.
steelers1080
Footballguy
If you're sure of that you should bet a ton on it, he's currently projected to go outside the top 10 by all sportsbooks.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Kenny Pickett vs. Malik Willis Highlights - 2022 NFL Draft
Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis are both projected as the top QB prospects selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. But who is better? Underdog Fantasy's Josh Norris and Hayden Winks look at the highlights from Pittsburgh and Liberty with a scouting reporting including pros, cons and how they might fit in 2022 fantasy football.
Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis are both projected as the top QB prospects selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. But who is better? Underdog Fantasy's Josh Norris and Hayden Winks look at the highlights from Pittsburgh and Liberty with a scouting reporting including pros, cons and how they might fit in 2022 fantasy football.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
There ARE a ton of ridiculous people doing mock drafts.....but I'd be less surprised that one of the top 5 QBs (whoever those actually are this year. Doesn't seem to be a consensus at all) lasts until 52 than I would be if they all went inside it.
Drafts never go completely how pundits/experts/fans expect. All it really takes is one of those QBs bonering up interviews/white board sessions/whatever, and he's a mid-late 2nd even if no one thinks they should be. A lot of perceived "QB needy teams" should work in their favor, for sure, but there is no guarantee that <Insert QB Here> doesn't last until 52.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Not gonna lie....I wouldn't hate it if they took Burks at 20 depending on who was available. They absolutely need more quality at WR.
FWIW, he would probably fit in quite well with Canada's offense (which I think is junk, but they're clearly rolling with it for a year or two). He does a couple of things well that the other guys they currently have don't that could be key with their current OC/QB: He is fantastic at taking short swings/dumps/bubbles at, or behind, the LOS and turning them into positive gains (good on jet sweeps too), and he is an excellent "garbage ball" receiver. His numbers on off target throws and jump balls are pretty good. Really sells out to make those kinds of catches. With Trubisky at QB, the chances of him getting a bunch of opportunities to have the balls be of the "trashier" variety are pretty high, IMO.
Would remind me of the situation with Orton/Tebow and Brandon Lloyd in Denver a bit. Orton/Tebow's accuracy sucked(esp. Tebow), but Lloyd was such a good garbage man he was quite productive anyway. Just had a knack for being able to adjust/fight/win on contested and off target throws.
Canada's offense is gonna be fugly again, IMO. If a guy could take those -3 yard bubble screens and turn them into a gain consistently instead that would be pretty nice. Then when they finally get a real QB again in a few years, you'd still have a pretty young, talented WR on the roster with one of Claypool/DJ(since I doubt they pay both).
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pghrob
Footballguy
Great comp on Burks to Lloyd. I hadn’t read or heard of that until I read your post.
I have read Burks comps that he is a YAC like Deebo Samuels.
If he is combination of Brandon Lloyd acrobatic sure handed receiver and Samuels as an elusive YAC runner, that's one helluva weapon I would love to see the Steelers draft at pick 20.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Yeah, Deebo is the typical comp I've been seeing too because of the YAC/run after catch stuff. It's a legit comp. Burks pretty much turns into a RB after he secures the catch.
The only real reason I thought of Lloyd was after watching a bunch of Burks clips during a mock draft I'm participating in on another site. Was surprised how many showed him bailing out the QB on off target stuff and being able to go above the rim on jump balls. I was like "Where have I seen that before?" and recalled watching Lloyd back in '10 with Neckbeard/Football Jesus. He was on my top money fantasy team that year and wound up bailing out my WR core, due in no small part to be so good at "taking out the trash" for those horrid QBs.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Found this posted about Burks too. "Hunts hogs with knives" Wtffffff???
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-draft-arkansas-treylon-burks-has-giant-hands-hunts-hogs-with-knives-could-be-wr-1-170223012.html
Excerpts:
"But if you're not yet convinced Burks is that guy, ask yourself this: How many other receivers do all these things and also can go out and kill a hog?
Yes, like an actual feral hog. Oh, and Burks hunted them with knives growing up. Someone alert Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell that his WR1 has entered the building."
"You have to go out there with dogs, and the dogs find them and we come up behind them and tackle them and take them out," said Burks, talking like a man surprised that other kids didn't grow up this way.
"It depends on how you attack [the hog]," Burks said. "You have to game plan before you even go out there. Know exactly where they’re going to be. You have to put vests on the dogs to make sure they don’t get hurt."
Okay, I'm sold. That's who I want at 20 now no matter what.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-draft-arkansas-treylon-burks-has-giant-hands-hunts-hogs-with-knives-could-be-wr-1-170223012.html
Excerpts:
"But if you're not yet convinced Burks is that guy, ask yourself this: How many other receivers do all these things and also can go out and kill a hog?
Yes, like an actual feral hog. Oh, and Burks hunted them with knives growing up. Someone alert Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell that his WR1 has entered the building."
"You have to go out there with dogs, and the dogs find them and we come up behind them and tackle them and take them out," said Burks, talking like a man surprised that other kids didn't grow up this way.
"It depends on how you attack [the hog]," Burks said. "You have to game plan before you even go out there. Know exactly where they’re going to be. You have to put vests on the dogs to make sure they don’t get hurt."
Okay, I'm sold. That's who I want at 20 now no matter what.
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pghrob
Footballguy
That's just a solid contribution here on your part. Thanks for sharing your great thought content.Yeah, Deebo is the typical comp I've been seeing too because of the YAC/run after catch stuff. It's a legit comp. Burks pretty much turns into a RB after he secures the catch.
The only real reason I thought of Lloyd was after watching a bunch of Burks clips during a mock draft I'm participating in on another site. Was surprised how many showed him bailing out the QB on off target stuff and being able to go above the rim on jump balls. I was like "Where have I seen that before?" and recalled watching Lloyd back in '10 with Neckbeard/Football Jesus. He was on my top money fantasy team that year and wound up bailing out my WR core, due in no small part to be so good at "taking out the trash" for those horrid QBs.
steelers1080
Footballguy
One thing that doesn't seem to have been taken to account when projecting Steelers early picks has been age. They typically will draft players as young as possible to extend their possible playing time for the team and give them additional time to develop. Also, since these players are coming into the draft younger, it's likely they broke out at a younger age. How that could affect positional drafting:
- Bernhard Raimann - He has been mocked to the Steelers but at almost 25 years old, I think there's 0 chance that happens unless he falls far.
- Pickett is over a year older than Willis, Corrall, and Ridder, I'm not sure how much that will play into their potential value though since Pickett is viewed as a much more NFL-ready prospect, for whatever that's worth. So, if Pickett is ready to go this year, but Willis/Corrall/Ridder need a year to develop, they'll be starting at the same age. I'm still against QB in the 1st or 2nd. Howell is still 21, a year or 3 younger than the other prospects. Wouldn't be shocked if he was the pick in the 2nd.
- Wyatt vs Davis - Both could be gone by the time we pick, but if they're both available I think it's 100% going to be Davis. Wyatt is 24 years old, which would be the oldest 1st round pick by Colbert. Hampton is currently the oldest at 23.5 years old. Perrion Winfrey is a year younger than Davis, he could be the pick in the 2nd if DT is skipped in the 1st.
- Christian Watson is 23, 2 years older than many of the other top WR prospects, and he has bad hands. I doubt he's the Steelers pick.
- Some of the youngest players at positions of need are Derek Stingley Jr, Drake London, Jameson Williams, George Karlaftis (depending on Highsmith extension possibility), Daxton Hill, Nakobe Dean, Kaiir Elam, George Pickens. David Bell could be a late round pick, he didn't test well but his play on the field was solid and with 2 WRs currently, we'll potentially need 2 rookie contributors.
I think age is a huge factor for some positions. For QB and OT, I don't think it has much effect on playing career length given how long people are playing in those positions. However it does really matter when a guy breaks out. It is why I don’t like Pickett. It took until he has going against much younger guys for him to stand out. He is about to lose that advantage in the NFL.steelers1080 said:
The Steelers ridiculously ignored this last year though.
apalmer
Footballguy
Pickett didn't have any more "age advantage" than any typical redshirt senior qb, like Joe Burrow.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
I think his point was neither was Joe Burrow. He went from 16 TDs to, like, 60 and nearly doubled his passing yardage his fifth year.Drunken Cowboy said:
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steelers1080
Footballguy
10 days left to see how wrong we all are lol
H8fulHuck
Footballguy
I’ll be first in line for being wrong. My official guess is Pittsburgh will target Ridder or Howell. Not likely, but if those 2 are gone, take another skill player in the order below. List is purely based off the non-QB pro day visits by Colbert.
- Hamilton
- Hutchinson
- Ekwonu
- Neal
- Jordan Davis
- Jameson Williams
- Sauce Gardner
- Stingley Jr
- Nakobe Dean
- Wyatt
- Lewis Cine
- Travon Walker
- Ojabo
- Daxton Hill
- Booth Jr
steelers1080
Footballguy
Ravens cut Miles Boykin, and the Steelers should sign him. It's a low risk proposition and the Steelers have cobwebs and broken dreams behind Johnson and Claypool. He's athletic and could fight for a roster spot on a vet min contract. Liked him coming out of school but something didn't click with the Ravens (who seem to have issues developing WRs recently).
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
If they stay at #20 I feel like it is Ridder or one of the Georgia D-line guys.
steelers1080
Footballguy
All of the beat reporters close to the Steelers seem to be saying D-line recently in the 1st round, if they're right, I think the pick is Davis in the 1st and Pickens or Howell in the 2nd.
Pickens might be gone by 52, but this class is deep at WR so that could push them down the board unless there's a run.
If the Chiefs are looking to trade up in the 1st for a WR (which, I think they probably stand pat and take BWA), then their 29 and 30 are right in line value-wise with our 20 and 52, we could possibly also get another late round pick. If we did that trade I think we still take a WR and possibly target Nakobe Dean. I know we signed Myles Jack, and Dean is a smaller LB like Bush, but his tape was incredible and he did go out to dinner with Colbert and Tomlin which is often a sign.
I do think that if Hamilton falls (probably still a top 8 pick) then there's a decent chance the Steelers trade up to grab him and pair him with Minkah for the next 5 years. He would probably have to fall to pick 13 for us to have a chance, I don't think the Ravens would take him but they probably wouldn't trade with us. I think the Eagles would take him.
steelers1080
Footballguy
JoeSteeler
Footballguy
FWIW Here is Waldman’s RSP write up from 2019
Miles Boykin, Notre Dame (6-4, 220)
Depth of Talent Score: 91.85 = Franchise Starter: Immediate production and leadership anchor.
D.K. Metcalf’s NFL Combine performance earned crazy buzz. It’s impressive to see a 6-3, 228-pound man who can run a 4.3-second, 40-Yard Dash, lift the bar 27 times on the Bench Press, and leap 40.5-inches vertically.
Those metrics reflect the athleticism Metcalf draws on when running deep routes, elevating for the ball, and fighting through contact. However, his 4.5-second, 20 Shuttle, and 7.38-second, 3-Cone are subpar times for an NFL player—not just among starting receivers, among all NFL players.
If you’re seeking a receiver who can work the deep perimeter but also run routes inside and find multiple solutions for yardage as an underneath receiver, that’s acceptable. However, you’re placing a higher priority on a prospect whose game is less predictable—even if that predictability is difficult to stop.
Boykin is that guy. And if the 40-Yard Dash wasn’t an event with sponsors sporting deep pockets— rewarding the fastest time with substantial money—we might see more time spent on why that is. Unfortunately, the prospect of a more nuanced discussion of metrics that wouldn’t be unintentionally misleading isn’t on the immediate horizon.
Compare Boykin and Metcalf’s metrics and it’s clear that Boykin’s athleticism includes fewer limitations than Metcalf’s and has similar high-end upside where Metcalf excelled. Boykin ran a 4.42-second, 40-Yard Dash; a sizzling 4.07-second, 20-Shuttle; a slot receiver-like 6.77-second, 3-Cone; and outleaped Metcalf by 3 inches when he earned 43.5 inches in the Vertical.
All of that acceleration, quickness, explosion, and leg strength comes in a 6-4, 220-pound frame that is required to run fast, stop fast, and change direction fast before and after catching the football. It makes Boykin a tremendous asset—and a more compelling all-around athlete than Metcalf. If advertising and ratings didn’t have sway big media analysis—especially in sports, which is often more about entertainment than hard-hitting news—Boykin’s NFL Combine would have completely overshadowed Metcalf’s in the public arena.
This is the nature of our world. It has always been the case and it won’t change. Instead of lamenting it, be thankful that you recognize it, value it, and can do something actionable with it.
Like [Hakeem] Butler, Boykin saw time on either side of the formation and in the slot. He’s quick with his hands and feet and has enough releases to earn separation in the NFL as he continues developing his game at the line of scrimmage.
He can reduce his shoulder, chop, double-swipe, or use an arm-over in conjunction with a rocker step or foot-fire releases of two-, three-, and four-steps. Boykin will also deliver a quick punch and then use the arm-over to clear his opponent. When he earns separation, Boykin often has the presence of mind to stack his opponent early in the route.
He understands how to manipulate the coverage with the shape of his stems so he’s pressuring the seams between defenders. He’ll often bait his coverage with a head fake at the top of his stems.
At this point in his development, Boykin’s speed breaks are better than his hard breaks, but he can perform both forms of turns at the top of a route. He gets his head around fast to find the ball. When he runs vertical routes, Boykin has an excellent stick that lands outside the shoulders of coverage and usually forces the defender to react in the wrong direction. He’s good at setting up crossover moves that create breaks across the defender’s face into open space.
If nothing about his game improves between this evaluation and the beginning of the NFL season, Boykin will have more success on routes that break downfield because of his physical skills, ability to defeat press coverage, and his acumen at the catch point.
Routes breaking back to the quarterback will have some inconsistencies because he has occasional lapses with the flatness of breaks on speed turns and he needs multiple steps to drop his weight into hard breaks.
Boykin can drop his weight, but he needs to trust his feet and legs to make a faster drop. This is a common phase of development young receivers have to go through.
Another occasional lapse is his stem length on timing routes where he’ll break too soon and not earn the proper depth on the route. None of these issues are significant enough to derail Boykin’s production potential.
More likely, he’ll experience isolated mistakes with route depth, break flatness, and not earning enough separation with hard breaks on curls, comebacks, and dig routes. Despite these minor issues, Boykin runs a good comeback route and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sees targets with this route early in his career.
Boykin has excellent hands. He’s consistent with fingertip technique at the catch point, extends his arms to attack the ball at an early window of arrival, and he can adjust high, low, or away from his frame with a wide radius.
Good hand-eye coordination and fluid movements help Boykin successfully make difficult adjustments to the ball, including difficult one-handed stabs at full speed on targets that require awkward and late turns from tight coverage.
He also executes demanding moves in fluid sequence when transitioning from receiver to runner. He can make an underhand catch with a significant extension of his arms while running away from the quarterback and then drop his pads under the contact of an oncoming defender.
Boykin also shields defenders effectively and drags his feet with good technique at the boundary. Like most receivers, Boykin will have the occasional focus drop when tight coverage extends an arm across his frame. Otherwise, his hands are reliable and dynamic.
Boykin shines after the catch. He has the elite stop-start quickness to turn inside or outside a defender playing over the top of him. Although not the professional wrestling monster Metcalf is, Boykin is a strong runner with low pad level and he extends through direct contact for extra yards.
He’ll break through wraps, bounce off occasional hits, and he’ll break some ankles with full-speed slalom cuts. Boykin uses the correct arm to protect the ball from pursuit, but he must keep his elbow tighter in the open field.
Boykin has upside as a blocker. He earns a square position on a consistent basis and can deliver a good punch with force. He has dropped an outside linebacker with this technique and he’ll routinely earn pushes on weakside linebackers with his position and punch.
Like Hakeem Butler, Boykin uses a jab as his strike and must learn to uppercut and latch onto the defender after the punch. This will give him greater control, which is needed if he’s used to block at the line of scrimmage or sustain stalk blocks.
Boykin should earn a significant role in an offense as a rookie. If he’s paired with an accurate and aggressive vertical thrower, he could generate a lot more excitement than college football fans saw from him at Notre Dame.
If not, he’s capable of earning strong volume as a possession-plus threat who will supplement his production with deep plays or forays through a defense for longer gains on shorter targets. If Boykin was in last year’s class, he would have been the top receiver on the board and earned the highest grade the RSP has given since it began using Depth of Talent Scoring.
Miles Boykin, Notre Dame (6-4, 220)
Depth of Talent Score: 91.85 = Franchise Starter: Immediate production and leadership anchor.
D.K. Metcalf’s NFL Combine performance earned crazy buzz. It’s impressive to see a 6-3, 228-pound man who can run a 4.3-second, 40-Yard Dash, lift the bar 27 times on the Bench Press, and leap 40.5-inches vertically.
Those metrics reflect the athleticism Metcalf draws on when running deep routes, elevating for the ball, and fighting through contact. However, his 4.5-second, 20 Shuttle, and 7.38-second, 3-Cone are subpar times for an NFL player—not just among starting receivers, among all NFL players.
If you’re seeking a receiver who can work the deep perimeter but also run routes inside and find multiple solutions for yardage as an underneath receiver, that’s acceptable. However, you’re placing a higher priority on a prospect whose game is less predictable—even if that predictability is difficult to stop.
Boykin is that guy. And if the 40-Yard Dash wasn’t an event with sponsors sporting deep pockets— rewarding the fastest time with substantial money—we might see more time spent on why that is. Unfortunately, the prospect of a more nuanced discussion of metrics that wouldn’t be unintentionally misleading isn’t on the immediate horizon.
Compare Boykin and Metcalf’s metrics and it’s clear that Boykin’s athleticism includes fewer limitations than Metcalf’s and has similar high-end upside where Metcalf excelled. Boykin ran a 4.42-second, 40-Yard Dash; a sizzling 4.07-second, 20-Shuttle; a slot receiver-like 6.77-second, 3-Cone; and outleaped Metcalf by 3 inches when he earned 43.5 inches in the Vertical.
All of that acceleration, quickness, explosion, and leg strength comes in a 6-4, 220-pound frame that is required to run fast, stop fast, and change direction fast before and after catching the football. It makes Boykin a tremendous asset—and a more compelling all-around athlete than Metcalf. If advertising and ratings didn’t have sway big media analysis—especially in sports, which is often more about entertainment than hard-hitting news—Boykin’s NFL Combine would have completely overshadowed Metcalf’s in the public arena.
This is the nature of our world. It has always been the case and it won’t change. Instead of lamenting it, be thankful that you recognize it, value it, and can do something actionable with it.
Like [Hakeem] Butler, Boykin saw time on either side of the formation and in the slot. He’s quick with his hands and feet and has enough releases to earn separation in the NFL as he continues developing his game at the line of scrimmage.
He can reduce his shoulder, chop, double-swipe, or use an arm-over in conjunction with a rocker step or foot-fire releases of two-, three-, and four-steps. Boykin will also deliver a quick punch and then use the arm-over to clear his opponent. When he earns separation, Boykin often has the presence of mind to stack his opponent early in the route.
He understands how to manipulate the coverage with the shape of his stems so he’s pressuring the seams between defenders. He’ll often bait his coverage with a head fake at the top of his stems.
At this point in his development, Boykin’s speed breaks are better than his hard breaks, but he can perform both forms of turns at the top of a route. He gets his head around fast to find the ball. When he runs vertical routes, Boykin has an excellent stick that lands outside the shoulders of coverage and usually forces the defender to react in the wrong direction. He’s good at setting up crossover moves that create breaks across the defender’s face into open space.
If nothing about his game improves between this evaluation and the beginning of the NFL season, Boykin will have more success on routes that break downfield because of his physical skills, ability to defeat press coverage, and his acumen at the catch point.
Routes breaking back to the quarterback will have some inconsistencies because he has occasional lapses with the flatness of breaks on speed turns and he needs multiple steps to drop his weight into hard breaks.
Boykin can drop his weight, but he needs to trust his feet and legs to make a faster drop. This is a common phase of development young receivers have to go through.
Another occasional lapse is his stem length on timing routes where he’ll break too soon and not earn the proper depth on the route. None of these issues are significant enough to derail Boykin’s production potential.
More likely, he’ll experience isolated mistakes with route depth, break flatness, and not earning enough separation with hard breaks on curls, comebacks, and dig routes. Despite these minor issues, Boykin runs a good comeback route and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sees targets with this route early in his career.
Boykin has excellent hands. He’s consistent with fingertip technique at the catch point, extends his arms to attack the ball at an early window of arrival, and he can adjust high, low, or away from his frame with a wide radius.
Good hand-eye coordination and fluid movements help Boykin successfully make difficult adjustments to the ball, including difficult one-handed stabs at full speed on targets that require awkward and late turns from tight coverage.
He also executes demanding moves in fluid sequence when transitioning from receiver to runner. He can make an underhand catch with a significant extension of his arms while running away from the quarterback and then drop his pads under the contact of an oncoming defender.
Boykin also shields defenders effectively and drags his feet with good technique at the boundary. Like most receivers, Boykin will have the occasional focus drop when tight coverage extends an arm across his frame. Otherwise, his hands are reliable and dynamic.
Boykin shines after the catch. He has the elite stop-start quickness to turn inside or outside a defender playing over the top of him. Although not the professional wrestling monster Metcalf is, Boykin is a strong runner with low pad level and he extends through direct contact for extra yards.
He’ll break through wraps, bounce off occasional hits, and he’ll break some ankles with full-speed slalom cuts. Boykin uses the correct arm to protect the ball from pursuit, but he must keep his elbow tighter in the open field.
Boykin has upside as a blocker. He earns a square position on a consistent basis and can deliver a good punch with force. He has dropped an outside linebacker with this technique and he’ll routinely earn pushes on weakside linebackers with his position and punch.
Like Hakeem Butler, Boykin uses a jab as his strike and must learn to uppercut and latch onto the defender after the punch. This will give him greater control, which is needed if he’s used to block at the line of scrimmage or sustain stalk blocks.
Boykin should earn a significant role in an offense as a rookie. If he’s paired with an accurate and aggressive vertical thrower, he could generate a lot more excitement than college football fans saw from him at Notre Dame.
If not, he’s capable of earning strong volume as a possession-plus threat who will supplement his production with deep plays or forays through a defense for longer gains on shorter targets. If Boykin was in last year’s class, he would have been the top receiver on the board and earned the highest grade the RSP has given since it began using Depth of Talent Scoring.
steelers1080
Footballguy
Apparently Devonte Wyatt had some red flags off the field. It sounds like he got upset and kicked the door of the building his girlfriend went to after an argument. It's been reported by a few people that some teams have removed him from their draft boards. Based on his age and potential off field issues, I don't think the Steelers take him.
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/details-surrounding-arrest-of-georgia-dl-devonte-wyatt-emerge/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/details-surrounding-arrest-of-georgia-dl-devonte-wyatt-emerge/
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
Ben might come out of retirement now that the Steelers have two WRs at 6’4”.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Buying or Selling Latest 2022 NFL Draft Rumors, Buzz
Steelers and Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder Make a Match
Buying
...Ridder fits exactly what the Steelers need as a mature quarterback prospect capable of immediately competing for the starting spot while adding the type of athleticism Tomlin craves.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Agreed. The Steelers don't usually draft a guy knowing he has off the field issues.
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
I don't know. Two or three years ago, he got in an argument with his girlfriend, who locked him out of the dorm/apartment and he kicked the door. Not sure that is a real red flag.
pghrob
Footballguy
I like Ridder as a prospect. The Steelers already have two mature QB prospects in Trubitzburgh and Rudolph. Wouldn't it be a better team improvement for them to draft higher rated prospects in first round at either offensive and defensive lines or WR and wait on addressing QB later in draft or perhaps next year if Mitch fails to show he is capable enough to give reasons to view him as next franchise QB? They need a third QB. How about Kaleb Eleby later in this draft or if Carson Strong slides beyond 3rd round taking him later?
Rudolph is in no way a prospect.
Until you have a QB, you need to do all uou can to find one.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
steelers1080
Footballguy
I'm sure the Steelers would have investigated it, but there's definitely levels to "kicked the door". They were at his place, then she left and went to her place and he followed her. When he was locked out he kicked the door enough to damage the door so that it was partially ajar and out of alignment. It might be a shoddy door, but entry doors to dorm buildings are typically sturdy construction and would take a decent amount of violence to damage significantly.
The situation was enough to warrant the police issuing a warrant for arrest. There's knocking on a door, and Jack Nicholson knocking on a door, there's different levels.
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
Pro Day Attendance Recap:
https://steelersdepot.com/2022/04/pittsburgh-steelers-2022-pro-days-recap/
I think they have Georgia on their mind (and QBs).
https://steelersdepot.com/2022/04/pittsburgh-steelers-2022-pro-days-recap/
I think they have Georgia on their mind (and QBs).
steelers1080
Footballguy
I heard one Steelers reporter put it pretty well (if they aren't actually going to take a QB in the 1st or 2nd), he basically said, the Steelers don't think any of these QBs are franchise QBs based on the 2021 tape, but you'd be an idiot not to look closely when QB is such a need and multiple QBs are expected to be there at 20. If you just write them off and you haven't done your due diligence, and one of them explodes, then you didn't do your job.
Just because they're taking a close look doesn't necessarily mean they're dead set on QB, they might just be confirming their previous analysis. Tomlin did look smitten with Willis, but he also gave A-a-ron looks.
The recent names I keep hearing are Safeties, but I'm not sure if that's just because we didn't sign Edmunds or Honey Badger, or if people are hearing something. It's usually Cine or Hill, who are expected to go a bit later than 20, but we might not have any trade back options.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I think the Trubisky signing doesn't make sense if you were planning on using the #20 pick on a QB.
At the time the Steelers already had Rudolph and Haskins who could have filled the bridge role if the intention was to draft your next starting QB this year, let him season on the bench in 2022, and start him in 2023. I don't see where Trubisky is worth $10 million in this scenario.
My impression is the Steelers brought in Trubisky to see if he can be a legitimate starter. If they are right then that QB drafted at #1 in 2022 was kind of a waste unless your goal is to dump Rudolph as backup but they could have done that at any point regardless.
I am hoping the Steelers plan all along has been to use the draft to fill as many holes on offense and defense as possible and let the season play out with Trubisky and Rudolph. If they struggle then you take your lumps in 2022, get a more favorable draft pick in 2023, and get your QB then.
Now does the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins change that? I don't think it should. Of course they'll need a 3rd string QB and a 4th arm in camp. They can accomplish that by using a lower pick (3rd or 4th) to draft a QB that can potentially be a backup and sign an undrafted FA as the 4th arm.
The Steelers are obviously smitten with Willis. If they truly believe he is a franchise QB then they should do all they can to get him now. I am just not convinced they are willing to pay the price to move up and get him. I hope not.
At the time the Steelers already had Rudolph and Haskins who could have filled the bridge role if the intention was to draft your next starting QB this year, let him season on the bench in 2022, and start him in 2023. I don't see where Trubisky is worth $10 million in this scenario.
My impression is the Steelers brought in Trubisky to see if he can be a legitimate starter. If they are right then that QB drafted at #1 in 2022 was kind of a waste unless your goal is to dump Rudolph as backup but they could have done that at any point regardless.
I am hoping the Steelers plan all along has been to use the draft to fill as many holes on offense and defense as possible and let the season play out with Trubisky and Rudolph. If they struggle then you take your lumps in 2022, get a more favorable draft pick in 2023, and get your QB then.
Now does the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins change that? I don't think it should. Of course they'll need a 3rd string QB and a 4th arm in camp. They can accomplish that by using a lower pick (3rd or 4th) to draft a QB that can potentially be a backup and sign an undrafted FA as the 4th arm.
The Steelers are obviously smitten with Willis. If they truly believe he is a franchise QB then they should do all they can to get him now. I am just not convinced they are willing to pay the price to move up and get him. I hope not.
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