Pittsburgh Steelers: Building Offensive Line to Protect Russell Wilson
Round 1 (20): G Troy Fautanu, Washington
Round 2 (51): C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
Round 3 (84): WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
Round 3 (98): ILB Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
Round 4 (119): G Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
Round 6 (178): DT Logan Lee, Iowa
Round 6 (195): CB Ryan Watts, Texas
After buying Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this offseason, the Steelers used the draft to assist shield their quarterbacks. Three of Pittsburgh’s high 5 draft picks have been offensive linemen – Fautanu, Frazier and McCormick. Pittsburgh had not taken three offensive linemen in any draft since 2012.
General Manager Omar Khan stated the Steelers wished to reap the benefits of the high quality offensive line depth of their yr’s class.
“It was a powerful offensive line group,” Khan stated by way of Dale Lolley of the group’s web site. “We’ve talked loads of occasions about how we really feel about the significance of the offensive line. Even in the fourth spherical once we had an opportunity to get Mason McCormick … we had a pair gamers at the place who’re in the final yr of their contracts and felt it was essential to handle it if he was there, and we did.”
All three rookie offensive linemen will compete for beginning jobs and irrespective of how the competitors shakes out, Pittsburgh can have a brand new search for entrance. The Steelers have made main offensive adjustments, most by buying Wilson, hiring new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and retooling the offensive line. They additionally drafted Wilson in the third spherical, giving Wilson one other weapon to affix high wideout George Pickens and tight finish Pat Freiermuth.
The Steelers ranked twenty eighth in scoring in 2023, which was the lowest of any playoff group. They hope to vary that by rebuilding their offensive line in entrance of a brand new quarterback.
“Any nice group I’ve been round, it is all the time going to start out up entrance,” Smith informed reporters after the draft. “There’s clearly so many essential items, however once you need to play a sure model of soccer, Steelers model of soccer, it actually helps to have the proper guys.”
Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims and Two Defensive Tackles Address Trenches
Round 1 (18): OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Round 2 (49): DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Round 3 (80): WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Round 3 (97): DT Jackson McKinnley, Texas A&M
Round 4 (115): TE Erick All, Iowa
Round 4 (149): CB Josh Newton, TCU
Round 6 (194): TE Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
Round 6 (214): EDGE Cedric Johnson, Mississippi
Round 7 (224): S Diajahn Anthony
Round 7 (237): C Matt Lee, Miami, Fla.
The Bengals drafted Mims to present Joe Burrow one other big offensive sort out, then added two defensive tackles to strengthen themselves in opposition to the run.
Mims (6-foot-8, 340 kilos) is an enormous offensive sort out who solely made eight begins at Georgia, however who has spectacular athletic instruments. The Bengals have ex-Raven Orlando Brown Jr. at left sort out, and Mims can compete with veteran Trent Brown for the beginning proper sort out spot.
Meanwhile, the Bengals ranked final in yards allowed per play (6) in 2023, and addressed that on Day 2 by taking defensive tackles Kris Jenkins of Michigan and McKinnley Jackson of Texas A&M.
“Defensive sort out was some extent of emphasis for us,” Head Coach Zac Taylor stated by way of the group’s web site. “(In) a perfect world, we’ll get two that may contribute, and that was not a positive factor that might occur. Sometimes, runs can go on these guys, and we obtained two that we actually preferred, that we have talked about extensively how they match us — that now we have visions for. They’re going to assist us now, and they’ll assist us in the future.”
Taylor thinks the two defensive tackles will assist them compete in a division the place they have been the solely group that did not make the playoffs final season.
“It’s a bodily division,” Taylor stated. “Big males which have relentless effort and play with loads of physicality matter on this division.”
Cleveland Browns: Michael Hall Has Potential to Help Myles Garrett Bring Pressure
Round 2 (54): DT Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
Round 3 (85): G Zak Zinter, Michigan
Round 5 (156): WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Round 6 (206): ILB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Round 7 (227): CB Myles Harden, South Dakota
Round 7 (243): DT Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati
It was the final yr of the Browns not having a first-round decide as a part of their commerce for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Browns waited till decide No. 54 to pick out Ohio State defensive sort out Michael Hall, who they consider will assist Defensive Player of the yr Myles Garrett make their cross rush much more imposing. Hall is just 20 years previous, solely had six sacks in school, and was by no means a full-time starter at Ohio State. However, he has explosive get-off and spectacular athleticism, and the Browns consider there’s loads of upside.
“Ultimately it got here all the way down to expertise,” Browns Vice President of Player Personnel Glenn Cook stated by way of Kelsey Russo of the Browns’ web site.
“He is a extremely gifted younger man. The means I’d describe him is a shapeshifter. The means he can transfer his physique, the means he can assault the quarterback.”
Hall will be a part of a powerful Cleveland entrance seven that features Garrett and ex-Raven ZaDarius Smith and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Cook would not assure that Hall would begin, however expects him to make a right away impression.
“He has to earn it identical to our different guys,” Cook stated. “We would like it if he did. … Look, you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient guys who can impression the quarterback and impression the passing sport. We hope he does.”
The Browns’ subsequent decide, Zinter, suffered a serious knee harm in November whereas enjoying in opposition to Ohio State and would require time to get well.
