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First-round CBs can be risky picks

Ray Fittipaldo 7 years ago

The draft is a little more than two weeks away and there is a growing sense the Steelers will select a cornerback in the first round for the first time since 1997. But like any other position in the draft taking a cornerback in round 1 has its risks.

Here is a list of the first-round cornerbacks over the past five years:

2011

Patrick Peterson

Prince Amukamara

Jimmy Smith

2012

Morris Claiborne

Stephen Gilmore

Dre Kirkpatrick

2013

Dee Milliner

DJ Hayden

Desmond Trufant

Xavier Rhodes

2014

Justin Gilbert

Kyle Fuller

Darqueze Dennard

Jason Verrett

Bradley Roby

2015

Trae Waynes

Kevin Johnson

Marcus Peters

Byron Jones

For every Patrick Peterson there are Justin Gilberts, D.J. Haydens and Dee Milliners.

The Steelers actually got lucky in 2014. They would have taken Gilbert if he was there when they selected at No. 17. The Browns took Gilbert with the No. 8 pick and the Steelers got Ryan Shazier instead.

That’s looking like a fortuitous turn of events. Gilbert has been a colossal bust in Cleveland and Shazier, if he can stay healthy, has All-Pro potential at linebacker.

Evaluating corners can be dicey for NFL teams. NFL passing games are more intricate and corners are asked to do more than they do in college. There is a lot of drafting on potential. 

“It can be [difficult] because you look at what corners are asked to today in the NFL,” said Dane Brugler, a draft analyst for nfldraftscout.com. “The NFL wants press corners that can get up in your face and press receivers. You don’t see that a lot in college football. I don’t think the finer points of the position are being taught. Guys make it to the NFL without great understanding of the position. A lot of players have the traits you look for. Gilbert has the traits. There’s just more to it. Just like there is more to it at quarterback or running back. If you don’t have a corner who is fundamentally sound, you’ll be in trouble. There will be CB busts even in this class. It happens every year.”

The trick for the Steelers, if they go that route, is to find the right player for their system.

*Would the Steelers go to the trouble or trying to smokescreen other teams with picks late in the first round by bringing in Robert Nkemdiche for a visit Monday? Or are they seriously interested in the troubled defensive tackle from Mississippi?

Nkemdiche was suspended for the Sugar Bowl after he was arrested for possession of marijuana late last year in an Atlanta hotel room. Then Nkemdiche didn’t do himself any favors at the NFL combine when he attempted to throw Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil under the bus by telling the assembled media that Tunsil was in the hotel room with him. Tunsil is the likely No. 1 pick in the draft.

I doubt the Steelers would invest a first-round pick in a troubled player such as Nkemdiche, but I wouldn’t rule him out later in the draft. The Steelers took a calculated gamble on Martavis Bryant when they selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Bryant helped the offense soar to new heights the past two seasons. But after several failed drug tests he won’t play in 2016 and maybe never again for the Steelers.

It could be that type of gamble with Nkemdiche, who is regarded by many draft analysts as the top player in the draft. I don’t see the Steelers pulling the trigger in rounds 1, but they’ve rolled the dice before on players with off-field issues. Not a lot, but they’ve done it. And Bryant is proof of the good and the bad that can come along with taking such a risk.

*Nkemdiche was one of seven college prospects who visited the Steelers Monday. In case you missed it, three more safeties came in. That’s now 10 safeties who have visited the Steelers during the predraft process.

By contrast, the Steelers have only played host to five cornerbacks at their facility. But remember, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have been visiting with the top corners on the road at their respective pro days. Just because the some of the top corners haven’t been to Pittsburgh doesn’t mean the Steelers aren’t interested in them.