The Senior Bowl is going to get underway, and there are plenty of Steelers draft prospects to watch at the game, which is the first real stop on the trip to Indianapolis for these prospects.
With all of that in mind, who are some players that Pittsburgh is likely to watch and maybe even hone in on? While there are plenty, here are just a few that caught my eye as guys the Steelers could like.
Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
First off, a wide receiver that can win at all three levels and can run routes as crisp as anyone in the class. SMU’s Rashee Rice is a fascinating player who fits a mold that Pittsburgh has liked plenty in the past. A 6-foot-2 physically mature receiver, Rice is a productive player with strong hands who can win inside and outside.
With his size, he has the shiftiness and hand usage in his releases to win off the line against press coverage. But he has the vertical speed and quickness to create separation in the slot, though he will have to expand his route tree. Expect Pittsburgh to watch Rice, who could be a top receiver in the class.
O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
In terms of Steelers draft prospects to watch, it is hard to not place Torrence at the top of that list. A powerful guard with a great center of mass, Torrence’s power and strength from his legs to his upper body are impressive. Torrence is a former teammate of Kevin Dotson, and together they formed a fearsome duo that could bulldoze through any defensive line pair at Louisana-Lafeyette.
He is a little bit of an ‘in the phone booth’ athlete and the Steelers have become an increasingly diverse schematic team on the ground. However, his pure prowess in the run-blocking portion of the game is one of the most impressive traits any lineman has in this class.
Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
For a player who set the record for the longest wingspan in Senior Bowl history, Jones set the week off with a bang and instantly becomes someone to watch for the week. That was already true before this, especially because Jones is both long, big, and agile. His lateral athleticism paired with his size is a rare trait that could showcase itself in the mirroring pass protection drills in Mobile.
His hand usage is raw and Jones still is learning the intricacies of pass sets with his footwork, but this a high-upside player that should not last that long on Day 2 of the draft. With Pittsburgh in the tackle market, keep an eye on Jones this week in Mobile.
DeMarvion Overshown, ILB, Texas
Another big need in the Steelers draft process, DeMarvion Overshown is probably not the best linebacker in Mobile with Henry To’oTo’o in the field. However, he is the most intriguing of the group. He has prototypical size with elite burst and sideline-to-sideline range. All in all, the physical traits should pop for Overshown this week, with fluidity as an added bonus for coverage props.
However, Overshown is a guy that has struggled to get off blocks despite great length and can sometimes be out of fit in the run game. It makes him a fascinating study, but teams will get a feel for his process in the interviews and that should really take a long way to determine his stock.
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Brents is the best cornerback at the event in my opinion. He has incredible size at a legitimate 6-foot-3 frame with great length to play outside in man coverage This is the type of lengthy cornerback with enough speed the Steelers are missing and could target in the draft process given Ahkello Witherspoon was supposed to be the answer to that equation.
Brents has plus ball skills and is a willing participant in the run game, too. This is a guy who fits what the Steelers like to do a lot on the back end. It just really depends on what he runs, but that will not be answered until Indianapolis. For now, some of the burners in the field will test Brents’ deep speed in one-on-ones.