National Football League

Steelers' draft gets solid grades across the board

Published May. 4, 2015 1:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

The report cards are in and while the Steelers haven't passed with flying colors, they still have earned strong marks across the board. Let's go around the web to see how they fared.

Ross Jones, FOX Sports: B-
GM Kevin Colbert benefitted from Kentucky’s Bud Dupree falling into his lap. A year after selecting an athletic middle linebacker in Ryan Shazier, the Steelers get Dupree, who can set the edge and funnel runners inside. For the first time in the Mike Tomlin Era, the Steelers spent a top-60 pick on a cornerback: Ole Miss’ Senquez Golson (5-7, 176 pounds). One of the more peculiar selections was WR Sammie Coates in the third round. Coates, who is an athletic freak, has questionable ball skills and certainly doesn’t fill a need as they have a capable threat on the outside in Martavis Bryant. GM Kevin Colbert got quite the steal in Day 3, drafting Ohio State’s Doran Grant.

Mel Kiper, ESPN: A-
Senquez Golson is one of my favorite players in the draft, an INT machine at Ole Miss who plays bigger than his size and has the hands I wish more wide receivers had. Elsewhere in the secondary, the Steelers added a steady college performer in Doran Grant out of Ohio State, and then the nation's leader in INTs last year, Gerod Holliman. You think they wanted to find answers in the secondary? Yep, those guys will be green, but at least the depth chart looks better.

Chris Burke, SI.com: B+
Of the Steelers' eight draft selections, seven came pretty close to hitting the mark, on paper. Beyond that, GM Kevin Colbert had to upgrade his pass-rush and restock his secondary. Check and check. OLB Bud Dupree goes down as a slight steal at No. 22. CBs Senquez Golson and Doran Grant could earn starting nods. Golson's a ballhawk, Grant a physical presence.

Rob Rang, CBSSports.com: B
With age creeping up on the Steelers, adding youth and athleticism was Job One for general manager Kevin Colbert, and Bud Dupree adds both. A dynamic athlete with speed, agility and flexibility, he checks off a lot of boxes athletically speaking and has the work ethic and selflessness Pittsburgh values. Athleticism was the focus for Pittsburgh in this draft with the Steelers gambling on undersized (but playmaking) cornerback Senquez Golson, "tool-sy" wideout Sammie Coates and cornerback Doran Grant. Thorpe Award-winning safety Gerold Holliman will get the buzz despite his shoddy tackling landing him in the seventh round, but versatile tough guy Anthony Chickillo is the Day Three pick to watch for the Steelers.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: B
After stealing Dupree in the first round, the Steelers did well in filling their needs in the secondary with Golson and Grant. I thought the second round was a little early for Golson, but Grant was a nice value pick in the fourth round. Coates is an inconsistent wide receiver, but is a physical specimen. Some think James should have gone back to school, but the Steelers can slow play his development. It's not like athletic 6-foot-7 tight ends are readily available.

Walter Football: A-
I did not expect Alvin Dupree to be available. His fall was bizarre to watch. Sure, he's a bit raw, but his athleticism and upside are off the charts. The Steelers managed to obtain a player who could be a monstrous pass rusher in two seasons. Third-rounder Sammie Coates was a steal, as he was once discussed as a potential first-round prospect. Cornerback Doran Grant also provided good value in the fourth frame. The next three choices - Jesse James, Leterrius Walton and Anthony Chickillo - filled needs and addressed holes on the roster, and they all could have gone earlier than where they were selected. The one blemish in the Steelers' class was second-rounder Senquez Golson, whom I had in the fifth frame. Golson doesn't fit the size and athletic prerequisites for Pittsburgh's secondary, so the selection was curious. But outside of that, the Steelers had an excellent draft.