Apr 30, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Steelers went on the defensive in the 2016 NFL Draft.

And, if things work out as they hope, it will ease some of the issues the team had on that side of the football in 2015.

Pittsburgh selected seven players in the draft, which concluded Saturday. Five of the of the picks were used on defensive players.

And if the Steelers had more picks – they attempted to acquire a pick in the fifth round, where it did not have a selection – the split might have been 6-2.

“Did we get everybody at every position?” asked general manager Kevin Colbert. “No. Did we get seven good players? Yes.”

Now, with their roster likely to undergo a few minor tweeks, the Steelers will begin preparing for the 2016 season.

After acquiring cornerback Artie Burns of Miami, safety Sean Davis of Maryland and nose tackle Javon Hargrave of South Carolina State in the first three rounds on Thursday and Friday nights, the Steelers were in position to take the best players available, regardless of position, with their final four selections.

Pittsburgh began by taking LSU offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins in the fourth round, then adding linebackers Travis Feeney of Washington and Tyler Matakevich of Temple along with receiver/returner DeMarcus Ayers of Houston in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

Pittsburgh did not have a fifth-round pick, having traded that to Philadelphia last year to acquire cornerback Brandon Boykin.

While Hawkins (6-6, 305 pounds) was a three-year starter at LSU at right and left tackle before leaving school after his junior season, he won’t be counted on to contribute right away.

The other third-day picks, however, could become special teams stars.

Feeney (6-4, 230) was a special teams standout at Washington and a productive starter in his final season with the Huskies.

His father grew up in Brownsville before leaving for the Air Force and settling in California.

“My dad is from Pennsylvania, family lives out there and I know they’re all excited out there,” said Feeney. “I’ll get to see my family while I’m there, and they can watch me play.”

Feeney was a team captain last season, when he had eight sacks and 17 1/2 tackles for loss. He also forced three fumbles.

“He is a smaller guy but he runs really fast,” Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter said of Feeney, who ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at his workout. “He’s an easy runner. He really strikes you when he puts a hit on you.”

The same could be said of Matakevich (6-0, 238), who won the Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski awards in 2015. Each are given to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.

“He’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest, but he’s a heckuva football player,” said Colbert. “I think he had 493 tackles in three-and-a-half years of starting. He gets his hands on passes. He gets his hands on fumbles. He gets (pass breakups). He can be a special teams contributor. He’s a football player.”

Ayers (5-9, 182) also was drafted for his special-teams ability. Though he had 98 receptions at Houston last season, Pittsburgh had him as the No. 1 punt returner in the draft.

“This is a dynamic kid,” said special teams coordinator Danny Smith. “I’m excited about it, very excited about it. He is an excellent punt returner.”

That could mean that wide receiver Antonio Brown, who has returned punts since joining the Steelers in 2010, might have some competition for the job, though head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t going to just hand Ayers the job.

“I’m not concerned about preserving A.B.,” Tomlin said. “He’s up to the challenge.”

Regarding one other offseason question – the status of 37-year-old linebacker James Harrison – the Steelers have not heard if the veteran intends to play next season.

Colbert and Tomlin take that as a good sign.

“As far as I know, unless there have been some Tweets from the desert,” Colbert said when asked if he is proceding as if Harrison will play.

“He’s working out awfully hard for a retired guy, isn’t he?” Tomlin asked.

The Steelers have 82 players on the roster. They can have 90. Colbert said the Steelers could sign more than eight undrafted rookies and release some players already on the roster. … The Steelers plan to bring in at least one, and possibly two, quarterbacks for their rookie orientation next week. They also will have tryouts for rookie players.