The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't take an inside linebacker in the NFL draft.
That doesn't mean they didn't want one.
It simply means when it came time to pick DaeSean Hamilton Jersey Broncos , they looked at their internal draft board, they looked at the players available in a position where there 鈥?at least on the surface 鈥?appears to be a serious depth issue and decided they didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.
"We're not going to reach," general manager Kevin Colbert said.
So the perennial AFC power didn't. Whenever the Steelers found themselves on the clock, coach Mike Tomlin would urge Colbert to "respect the board."
Translation: pick the players we think are the best, not necessarily the ones that check off a box just to do it.
The result? Seven selections that focused on versatility not availability.
First-round pick Terrell Edmunds did a little bit of everything in the defensive backfield for Virginia Tech. Tomlin believes wide receiver James Washington 鈥?taken in the second round 鈥?can line up anywhere on the field.
Third-round pick Chukwuma Okorafor is considered a swing tackle who could thrive under Hall of Fame line coach Mike Munchak.
Safety Marcus Allen was a proven sure tackler during his time at Penn State. Fullback Jaylen Samuels could be a tailback, a fullback, a tight end or even a slot receiver depending on what's required. Seventh-round pick Joshua Frazier was part of the defensive line rotation at Alabama who could press for a roster spot.
"We believe these guys can not only help us in the future but they're capable of helping us this year if they earn it," Tomlin said. "These guys will be given an opportunity to carve out roles for themselves this year and if they do and it's significant, great."
HEIR APPARENT? Colbert pointed out the Steelers aren't old at any position other than perhaps quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger turned 36 last month but has been telling teammates he could play several more seasons.
That's fine by the Steelers. It also, however, didn't stop them trading up to make sure they landed Oklahoma State star Mason Rudolph in the third round, just 16 picks after they drafted Washington, his college teammate.
"We valued (Rudolph) as much as the rest of the quarterbacks that were drafted (in the first round)," Colbert said.
A sentiment that could be telling about Pittsburgh's intentions with the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Rudolph Authentic Brandon McCarthy Jersey , the first quarterback drafted before the fourth round by Pittsburgh since the Steelers took Roethlisberger 11th overall 14 years ago.
The five quarterbacks taken in the first round are all projected as future starters. Read between the lines and the Steelers perhaps feel the same about Rudolph.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Washington, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the FBS last season, reminded Tomlin of JuJu Smith-Schuster, whom the Steelers took in the second round last season. All Smith-Schuster did was lead all rookies in touchdown receptions in 2017 with seven while also developing a reputation as a big-time blocker.
"He's probably not the fastest but he's as good a deep receiver that played college football this year," Colbert said of Washington. "We think James can play outside and we think he can play inside and he may even have a chance to work as a return guy."
SAFETY DANCE: The previous time the Steelers took a safety in the first round, they used the 16th overall pick in 2003 to draft Troy Polamalu. It's heady territory for Edmunds, though Pittsburgh didn't hesitate in part because of the many different roles Edmunds filled in for Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster's scheme with the Hokies. Free safety. Strong safety. Linebacker. Edmunds can do a little bit of everything.
Allen wasn't required to do quite as much with the Nittany Lions but both safeties head to the NFL with solid reputations as guys who can wrap up and not let go, a valuable commodity these days.
"To be able to add some guys that not only play the safety position but are physical tacklers ... I think it's been a good weekend for us from that perspective," Tomlin said.
WHAT'S INSIDE: Ryan Shazier created the indelible moment of the draft when he walked to the podium in Texas to announce Pittsburgh's first-round pick, his first public steps since injuring his spine in a game against Cincinnati in December. The Pro Bowler has already been ruled out for the 2018 season. Still, Pittsburgh didn't use the draft to search for Shazier's possible replacement.
Maybe that's because they already like what they have in Jon Bostic, who signed as a free agent in March. Bostic started 14 games for Indianapolis in 2017 and given his productivity and former seventh-round pick Tyler Matakevich's potential, they didn't feel a sense of urgency to find a marquee name.
STILL NEED: Regardless of Colbert's spin, inside linebacker remains a bit of a question mark. The Steelers have bodies but not much proven talent beyond Bostic and Vince Williams. Running back is still a bit of a question mark considering Le'Veon Bell's uncertain future. He could be gone after next season if the team can't sign him to a long-term deal and Stevan Ridley and James Conner are the two options behind him on the depth chart.
Acquiring Alex Smith filled a long-term need at quarterback the Washington Redskins didn't think Kirk Cousins was the right fit for.
After signing Smith to a four-year extension worth $94 million, the Redskins then began looking at the other holes on their roster.
Super Bowl MVP QB-turned senior vice president of football operations Doug Williams said Smith looked at Washington's weapons and offensive line before deciding to essentially complete the trade from Kansas City by agreeing to the extension.
Most things are fine on offense if oft-injured tight end Jordan Reed and the line anchored by left tackle Trent Williams stay healthy and new receiver Paul Richardson provides a speed threat along with high-jumper Josh Doctson and possession guy Jamison Crowder.
Then there's the ground game Curt Schilling Jersey , where only four NFL teams rushed for fewer yards than the Redskins with a combination of Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine and third-down back Chris Thompson.
It's not a great sign that Cousins led the Redskins in rushing touchdowns. So before introducing Smith, Williams glanced at him and said: "I promise you, we'll get the running back situation straight."
The draft gives Williams the opportunity to find that running back, even if it's not in the first round with the 13th pick. The closest running back to making an immediate impact like Leonard Fournette for Jacksonville, Penn State star Saquon Barkley, will be long gone by then.
Georgia's Sony Michel, N.C. State's Jaylen Samuels, Iowa's Akrum Wadley or even Fordham's Chase Edmonds could be later-round targets for Washington, which traded its third-rounder in the Smith deal but has seven more selections after No. 13: Nos. 44 (second), 109 (fourth), 142 and 163 (fifth), 205 (sixth) and 231 and 241 (seventh).
"Everybody wants to upgrade, and we want to upgrade everywhere if we could," Williams said Tuesday while praising Perine and Thompson when healthy. "Running back is a place that we always say we need a little more help."
Going defense in the first round for the second consecutive year is a strong possibility with needs along the defensive line and in the secondary.
Landing Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen at pick 17 a year ago was a coup for the Redskins Giants Cheap Jerseys , but his injury exposed their lack of depth.
"When we lost Jonathan, things really seemed to kind of change, and that's unfortunate," linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. "Jon was as advertised in how he played the run and how he played the pass and how he got after the passer, so his loss was huge."
Defensive tackles Vita Vea from Washington and Da'Ron Payne from Alabama are projected to be mid-first-round picks.
Some other things to consider for the Redskins at the draft:
SECONDARY CONCERNS
Beyond top cornerback Josh Norman and safety D.J. Swearinger, Washington has question marks all over its secondary and is counting on young and/or injury-prone players to take a lot of snaps. Second-year cornerback Fabian Moreau and safety Montae Nicholson, converted receiver Quinton Dunbar and recently signed Orlando Scandrick are in the mix, but the Redskins could use some help there.
If a defensive back such as Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ohio State's Denzel Ward or Florida State's Derwin James are available at 13, the Redskins could make an immediate upgrade in an important spot.
ONE BIG HOLE
Left guard is the only position on the roster that doesn't have a likely starter already unless Washington's front office experiences a change of heart and brings back Shawn Lauvao. Getting Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson would be a dream at 13, though it's more likely the Redskins find a fit later in the draft after doing the same with center Chase Roullier last year.
Williams allowed for the possibility that Arie Kouandjio could start at left guard.
"We're not going in saying, 'We got to get a guard,'" he said. "That's not where we are at this point because we got enough guys around here that if we have to play the game, if everybody was healthy today with what we have, we would have no problem lining up playing the game."
TIGHT END INSURANCE
While Reed is an elite talent and a matchup nightmare Eagles Paul Worrilow Jersey , injuries limited him to six games last season and 12 in 2016, second tight end Vernon Davis is 34, 2017 pick Jeremy Sprinkle is unproven and Niles Paul is gone. All that makes tight end an intriguing position for the Redskins if they can find someone there who can catch passes and serve as a blocker.
LINEBACKER DEPTH
Washington's starting linebacking group is set with Zach Brown and Mason Foster inside and Kerrigan and Preston Smith outside. Beyond that, depth is lacking, making soon-to-be 20-year-old Tremaine Edmunds out of Virginia Tech is a possibility in the first round. A hybrid linebacker/safety would also help the Redskins replace 2016 third-rounder Su'a Cravens, who left the team while contemplating retirement last season and was traded to Denver.
HITS, MISSES AND BARGAINS
Right guard Brandon Scherff has been a no-doubter making the Pro Bowl twice since going fifth overall in 2015.
Thompson was the Redskins' offensive MVP last season after being a fifth-round pick in 2013, and 2016 fifth-rounder Matt Ioannidis could be a fixture on the defensive line for years.
Misses are far more frequent for Washington in recent years, including most of the 2014 class. WR Josh Doctson, a first-rounder in 2016, is still a question mark.
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