Steelers 2020 NFL Draft wrapup: Players, bios and analysis
The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell held court from his basement, while teams and players took part while staying at home.
The Pittsburgh Steelers landed 6 players:
• Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
• Alex Highsmith, LB, Charlotte
• Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland
• Kevin Dotson, OG, Louisiana
• Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
• Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska
They did not have a pick in the first round (having trade it last season to the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick), so their first pick was No. 49.
Tribune-Review sports writers Joe Rutter, Chris Adamski and Tim Benz covered all three days of the draft — here is their coverage and analysis.
Notre Dame receiver Chase Claypool (No. 49)
• Steelers select Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool with 2nd-round pick
Adding to their arsenal of young wide receivers, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool with their second-round draft pick Friday night. Claypool was taken No. 49 overall. Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Chase Claypool
Charlotte linebacker Alex Highsmith (No. 102)
• 3rd-round pick Alex Highsmith to fit into Steelers’ depth chart at outside linebacker
“He’s not going to get a redshirt year,” general manager Kevin Colbert said not long after the Steelers took outside linebacker Highsmith with the No. 102 overall pick. “I can’t speak for the coaches… but I know the expectation is this man will contribute — when he’s ready.” Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Alex Highsmith
Maryland running back Anthony McFarland (No. 124)
• Steelers take Maryland RB Anthony McFarland with first 4th-round pick
Anthony McFarland joins a crowded position room with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Maryland running back, who was selected by the Steelers on Saturday in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, will compete for playing time with the likes of James Conner, Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels, Kerrith Whyte and Trey Edmunds. Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Anthony McFarland Jr.
Louisiana guard Kevin Dotson (No. 135)
• Steelers believe all-American guard Kevin Dotson will fit in well on their line
Kevin Dotson probably didn’t need much more to intimidate the defensive linemen he lined up against in the Sun Belt. But Dotson, the guard the Pittsburgh Steelers took in the fourth round Saturday, engaged in some psychological warfare anyway. And his trash-talking was of an unconventional and highly demoralizing fashion. Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Kevin Dotson
• Kevin Dotson provides big-bodied option for Steelers on offensive line
Kevin Dotson provides a big body the Pittsburgh Steelers can put in the interior of their offensive line. The question is when. Read more.
Maryland safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (No. 198)
• Steelers take another Maryland player, safety Antoine Brooks, in 6th round
Antoine Brooks Jr. nearly quit football five years ago when he was injured during his senior season at DuVal High in Lanham, Md. On Saturday, his decision to keep playing was rewarded when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the Maryland safety in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Antoine Brooks
Nebraska defensive tackle Carlos Davis (No. 232)
• Defensive tackle Carlos Davis taken by Steelers in 7th round of NFL Draft
With their final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers found a big body to provide depth on the interior of their defensive line. The Steelers selected Nebraska defensive tackle Carlos Davis with the No. 232 selection. Read more.
• Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Carlos Davis
ANALYSIS
• Mark Madden: Steelers’ 2020 draft class won’t offer immediate help
Meh (adjective): Not impressive, so-so; apathetic, indifferent. Now that you know the word, use it in a sentence: The Steelers had a meh draft. Read more.
• Tim Benz: Steelers front office, coaches send messages to offensive players
The results of the draft aren’t clear yet. What was clear, though, were some of the messages sent to members of the current roster by Tomlin and Colbert. Here’s my interpretation of the messages sent to the offensive players from the front office and coaching staff. Read more.
• Mark Madden says JuJu Smith-Schuster won’t be with Steelers in 2021, ‘no matter what’
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and Tim Benz recap the NFL Draft. They do so from a Steelers standpoint to start. They are of the same opinion that the franchise didn’t have much to play with, and the team didn’t exactly make a lot happen. Read more.
• John Steigerwald: Viewers, Steelers offense winners in NFL Draft
America survived. Remember all of those people who trashed the NFL when it announced the draft would go on as scheduled April 24? Read more.
• Tim Benz: You know who the Steelers got in the draft. Now let’s look at who they didn’t get.
You know what the Pittsburgh Steelers got in the draft. A huge wide receiver from a big school. A Conference USA reserve outside linebacker. A couple of Maryland Terps at running back and safety. And a trash-talking guard who might moonlight as a bouncer at a bar on the South Side after practices. Now let’s focus on what they didn’t get. Read more.
https://triblive.com/sports/tim-benz-you-know-who-the-steelers-got-in-the-draft-now-lets-look-at-who-they-didnt-get/
• Tim Benz: Best wide receiver available? Or best player available? Opinions vary.
A lot of years in the NFL Draft, the Steelers say that they are taking the best player available when they pick. A lot of years I don’t believe that. A lot of years I think they take the best possible player at the position of the highest need. Read more.
• How skill positions in NFL Draft will impact fantasy owners
The fantasy sports podcast examines the first round of the NFL Draft and how some of these incoming rookies will impact your fantasy leagues. With six receivers taken in the first round and a run on running backs expected in the second round, the answer is: significantly! Read more.
• First Call: ESPN’s NFL Draft production was tremendous, with beautifully natural awkwardness
For Friday’s “First Call,” I’ve got to credit the combined forces of the NFL Network, ABC and ESPN. That was quite an undertaking Thursday night for the virtual reality NFL Draft broadcast. It was so much smoother than I thought it was going to be. Read more.
MORE COVERAGE
• Imani Christian grad Kenny Robinson acknowledges mistake, ready for NFL
If you didn’t know the story behind the young man, you would think his was just another name flashed across the bottom of the TV screen during the last day of the NFL Draft. Read more.
• Bills draft Pitt cornerback Dane Jackson in 7th round
Dane Jackson, who started three seasons at cornerback for Pitt, moved to the next level Saturday when he was drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills (No. 239 overall). Read more.
• Cowboys draft former Pine-Richland, Pitt quarterback Ben DiNucci
Quarterback Ben DiNucci’s football journey from Pine-Richland to Pitt to James Madison ended up in Dallas on Saturday when he was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (No. 231 overall). Read more.
• Former Pitt RB Darrin Hall among 3 players waived by Steelers
To clear space on the 90-man roster for the undrafted free agents they signed Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers waived three players Sunday, including former Pitt running back Darrin Hall. Also waived were wide receiver Jamal Custis and safety Tray Matthews. Read more.
• Youth takes backseat to experience in Steelers draft class
The makeup of the Pittsburgh Steelers draft this weekend took on a different feel, and it had nothing to do with restrictions placed on the organization by the coronavirus pandemic. The Steelers went with more experienced players, shunning the underclassmen they typically covet when sifting through college prospects. Read more.
• Steelers add 10 undrafted free agents, 7 on defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed 10 rookie free agents in the hours after the draft ended Saturday evening. Read more.
• Kevin Colbert: Steelers ‘intent is to try to get Bud (Dupree) signed to a long-term deal’
Thursday, an outside linebacker committed to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one year. Friday, the Steelers took an outside linebacker with their second pick of the draft. That doesn’t necessarily mean the organization is assuming the latter is going to replace the former. Read more.
• Jalen Reagor, wideout associated with Steelers, goes to Eagles
If it’s any consolation to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, at least speedy TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor will begin his NFL career in Pennsylvania. It just will take place on the eastern part of the state, not the western. Read more.
Frank Carnevale is the TribLive multimedia editor. He started at the Trib in 2016 and has been part of several news organizations, including the Providence Journal and Orlando Sentinel. He can be reached at fcarnevale@triblive.com.
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