Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 NFL Draft Grades

Morgan Epstein grades the Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 NFL Draft. Does Pittsburgh have a bright future after drafting Artie Burns with the twenty fifth pick in the 2016 NFL Draft?

25. Artie Burns, CB, Miami FL C Grade

Artie Burns will be a nickel cornerback to William Gay and Ross Cockrell. He's challenging Senquez Golson for the nickel job this season and I have a feeling Burns will end up starting at nickel.

58. Sean Davis, FS, Maryland C Grade

Sean Davis has the versatility to play anywhere on the secondary at cornerback, strong safety, or free safety. Davis is a good backup free safety on the Steelers depth chart.

89. Javon Hargrave, NT, South Carolina St. C Grade

Pittsburgh drafted a backup nose tackle with this pick in the third round when they selected South Carolina State nose tackle Javon Hargrave. Once again, Pittsburgh goes for depth rather than finding an immediate starter.

123. Jerald Hawkins, RT, LSU C- Grade

Jerald Hawkins is gonna b ea backup right tackle for depth behind Marcus Gilbert. Pittsburgh really needed a future starter at left tackle and they missed here.

220. Travis Feeney, 3-4 LOLB, Washington F Grade

The Steelers used their compensation pick in the sixth round on a fourth string 3-4 left outside linebacker. They basically wasted this pick on a player they may cut in training camp thus getting an F grade with this pick.

229. DeMarcus Ayers, WR, Houston F Grade

DeMarcus Ayers should be the #5 receiver on this depth chart behind Antonio Brown, Marcus Wheaton, Sammie Coats, and Darius Heyward-Bey at the very worst. He's the #9 receiver on Pittsburgh's depth chart and is a third string slot receiver holding onto dear life right now as Ayers is barely maintaining a roster spot heading into training camp.

246. Tyler Matakevich, 3-4 MLB, Temple F Grade

Tyler Matakevich is a third string 3-4 middle linebacker. This is a terrible pick by Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers Team Grade: D- Grade

Pittsburgh addressed their biggest need on secondary early in the draft, but they got backups at that position at best. The Steelers avoid an F grade for drafting for need early, but end up with a D- grade after failing to land one starter with any of their seven draft picks. Kevin Colbert is one of the most respected GM's in the NFL. His job should not be called for. At the same time he's drafted poorly the last two years so winning in January is the only thing keeping him employed right now.