Steelers could snag a receiver in draft
PITTSBURGH – The Steelers hoped to have heard by now from the NFL regarding the status of suspended wide receiver Martavis Bryant.
Unless they get late word on the reinstatement of Bryant, who missed all of last season for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the Steelers have to prepare for this week’s NFL draft with the assumption they will not have the talented and speedy receiver next season.
Given Bryant’s past with failed drug tests, they might have already been working with that assumption.
“Martavis was a great asset to us when he was available,” said general manager Kevin Colbert. “As a team we were more successful, you could argue, offensively. Maybe we weren’t in certain areas, but as a team we actually progressed further than we did in 2015.”
The Steelers did advance one round deeper into the playoffs last season without Bryant than they did with him, but his absence was certainly felt.
Anontio Brown was solid again last season, surpassing 100 pass receptions for the fourth consecutive season. But the Steelers’ other receivers failed to step up when needed.
Sammie Coates got off to a hot start but tailed off considerably in the second half after suffering two broken fingers on his left hand. Eli Rogers had some very good games working in the slot, but he also disappeared at times.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Cobi Hamilton and rookie Demarcus Ayers also had their moments but not enough of them to make up for the loss of Bryant. The Steelers signed speedy free agent Justin Hunter in free agency, but considering Bryant’s past and the fact he’s another failed drug test away from another lengthy suspension, the Steelers could be looking for added receiver help in the three-day draft, which begins Thursday.
The Steelers have eight picks in the seven-round draft, including the 30th selection in the first round and two choices in the third, giving them plenty of options to add talent at wide receiver. That does not mean, however, the Steelers will be in search of a receiver in the first round, unless one of the three outstanding prospects fall to them.
Clemson’s Mike Williams, Corey Davis of Western Michigan and John Ross of Washington each should be selected in the first 25 picks. Any of the trio would be tempting to the Steelers should the unlikely happen and they are available at the 30th pick.
Williams (6-4, 218) and Davis (6-3, 209) are big, physical downfield threats. Ross (5-11, 188) set the unoffical NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash, running it in 4.22 seconds.
After that threesome, there is a solid group of mid-round prospects who could interest the Steelers, including Penn State’s Chris Godwin, Zay Jones of East Carolina Mack Hollins of North Carolina and Shelton Gibson of West Virginia.
Godwin came out of school a year early and has impressed with his route running and speed. The 6-1, 209-pounder ran 4.42 at the combine and had a 36-inch vertical jump that was not a surprise to those who watched him leap over defenders to come down with passes at Penn State.
“I’m an all-around receiver,” Godwin said. “I’m not afraid to do the dirty work. I’m not afraid to block. I take a lot of pride in blocking, in being at the right place at the right time, making contested catches and things that I’ve proven that I can do in my college career.”
Gibson (5-11, 191) doesn’t have Godwin’s speed but offers the added bonus of being a solid kick returner. The junior averaged 23.5 yards per return in college in addition to catching 80 passes for 1,862 yards the past two seasons.
In later rounds, the Steelers could look to some tall threats in Texas A&M’s Josh Reynolds, Robert Davis of Georgia State and Northern Illinois’ Kenny Golladay.