Steelers trade with Seahawks for cornerback

[Steel Bingo]

Good size, 40 yd and a big vertical. Any chance that he becomes the "real" Stephen Denmark? Here's to hoping.

[Roeth2Rudolph]

Current projected draft picks for next year:

1st
2nd
3rd
3rd (for losing Dupree)
7th (from the Jets)
7th

Not a lot to work with if we're worried about that whole "maybe we need a new QB" thing.

There's nothing to worry about w/ Rudolph in the fold.

I had heard Lynch felt the same way

Yeah, Ole Lynch and I see eye to eye on a lot of things... He's a damned fine American IMO.

[El Kabong]

There's nothing to worry about w/ Rudolph in the fold.

I had heard Lynch felt the same way

Yeah, Ole Lynch and I see eye to eye on a lot of things... He's a damned fine American IMO.

He used to talk about Switzer a lot, and yet amazingly Switzer is no longer on the roster.

[steelmann58]

I think Haden will sign a team friendly deal. But still worried about this team tackles

[shellwagnerblount]

I think Haden will sign a team friendly deal. But still worried about this team tackles

Agree. Haden, in every interview and quote online I've read, seems like he's a Steeler for life. Loves the team, coach, players and city..I think he dumps his agent..lol

[beerbrother]

Ahkello - Clearly doesn’t pass Rons name test, but is this guy any good? I know nothing about him.

Reviewing my notes

Appears to be first Ahkello on Steelers ever

D-/F on Ron first name test

James however is more likely to get a passing grade.

James Ahkello Elec Witherspoon (born March 21, 1995) is an American football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado.

[franco32]

If we don't lose that other 5th rounder then I can get on board with this pick. He can certainly erase a deep threat. He sometimes struggles on crossers where he has to quickly turn his hips. They aren't as fluid as advertised but still good. He's a big upgrade back there compared to garbage like Layne. Sutton has been worrying me this preseason as well.

All that said...why are we again investing so many resources into the D? Our OL situation is borderline DIRE. Who's confident Banner will be back soon, and even if he, confident he will stay healthy?

That means our OTs are a rookie (although promising), Chuks, and Joe Haeg. What a way to improve a putrid run game and protect your QB.

Why the fck does this team not invest that draft capital into trading for an OT? Chuks is playing so poorly right now that I honestly believe we could have upgraded him with a 5th shipped off to someone.

[RemoAZ]

If we don't lose that other 5th rounder then I can get on board with this pick. He can certainly erase a deep threat. He sometimes struggles on crossers where he has to quickly turn his hips. They aren't as fluid as advertised but still good. He's a big upgrade back there compared to garbage like Layne. Sutton has been worrying me this preseason as well.

All that said...why are we again investing so many resources into the D? Our OL situation is borderline DIRE. Who's confident Banner will be back soon, and even if he, confident he will stay healthy?

That means our OTs are a rookie (although promising), Chuks, and Joe Haeg. What a way to improve a putrid run game and protect your QB.

Why the fck does this team not invest that draft capital into trading for an OT? Chuks is playing so poorly right now that I honestly believe we could have upgraded him with a 5th shipped off to someone.

I agree. Oline decisions are the only consistent criticism I've had with Colbert. He seems willing to run with a lack of talent. Where would we have been if Villy didn't develop into a starting LT? When is the last time they drafted a decent tackle on either side? They got away with it when Ben could move and shed rushers. Those days are gone and it's a year they are trying to re-establish the running game. I don't get it.

[DP39]

If you read the old scouting reports on Witherspoon it goes something like this:

Elite size and length but also has the speed and altheliticism to be a very good press CB. Although for a long CB his short shuttle and 3 cone was very good too and his vertical was 40 inches.

The negatives? Like many CBs these days not what you want in terms of being a tackler against the run. Some even scouted him as being terrible as a tackler, horrible against the run.

In looking at his pass coverage the past 3 years, yeah, I see he gave up 15 TDs, but guess what, Haden and Nelson both gave up 12 TDs the past 3 years.

There was a need for a big CB who also had speed to match up on that vertical threat. We simply didn't have that player on the roster.

Haden is old an slow. Pierre, I love him but he is only a 4.55-4.60 guy at best, he is still capable of being a very good CB. But Witherspoon has that legitimate 4.45 speed to run with those deep threats, and the arm length and vertical leap to attack those deep passes as well.

While I agree with most everything else you state, your past three year comparison of Spoon's pass coverage TD's given up vs. Haden and Nelson (bold/underlined) is way off -- based solely on their snap counts played. Spoon gave up 15 TDs while only playing an average of 50% of the possible snaps available from 2018-2020. Haden and Nelson each gave up only 12 TDs WHILE playing 91% AND 94% of the possible snaps available over the same period. From this metric, Spoon is WAY WORSE -- more than twice as bad, actually.

This is what concerns me the most about him as a prospect, and is probably the biggest reason two teams have already given up on him in just four short years. It's my hope T. Austin can coach this most undesirable trait out of him. If not, he won't see the field much here, just like what happened to him with the 49ers and Seahawks.

Here's hoping he can be taught and is willing to learn from his biggest past mistakes. If so, I think he could be a very good starting CB1.

I'll add, from what I've seen, I do think he's become a more physical tackler -- at least somewhat. And, he still could improve on his tackling angles, but again, he's gotten somewhat better. So, he's at least shown he's coachable and sort of willing to improve. It could also just be an age/experience factor. He only played one year of football (HS) before going to a JUCO college and then only one year at Colorado. I'm guessing the DB coaching he gets here might be the some of the most complete he's ever received. He also states he wants to be a doctor after FB is over, so he's obviously somewhat intelligent.

[steelclan]

Yep thought they'd make a move. Witherspoon in limited snaps last season was very good in coverage. This allows PS to put Sutton back where he is best: slot. Witherspoon has tools and ability his motivation to play to that talent has always been the question.

I live in Bay area and when he was with Niners, he flashed elite skills but then at times seemed to lose focus and it resulted in Niners letting him go to FA. He got hurt and it seemed to impact his play in final season in SF. Not sure why he didn't get more snaps for Seahawks.

[Roeth2Rudolph]

I had heard Lynch felt the same way

Yeah, Ole Lynch and I see eye to eye on a lot of things... He's a damned fine American IMO.

He used to talk about Switzer a lot, and yet amazingly Switzer is no longer on the roster.

Yeah I'm sure ole Lynch was pretty broken up about that. I know he was a real fan.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Just watched a couple interviews on NFL GamePass.

Schobert, Harvin and Witherspoon. All 3 are pretty impressive young guys. They all seem like they are football smart and book smart too

Harvin’s head popped up and I assumed it was an offensive lineman…first I had seen him without helmet and pads. That man is big. Big snack too. Spoke very highly of Berry, and Berry informed him that he won the job officially.

Witherspoon reminded me a lot of Troy with how he talks and thinks. If as some have said above, that he has flashes of elite skill, he might be a great one here in Pittsburgh. If you have seen the interview, his dream is to be a doctor, and he says he will be one after football. Troy, some elite skill, big brain, and in a great medical industry city….sounds like destiny almost.

[Ice]

Wonder if it is James Washington?

That'd be just about the best-case scenario. Better than losing a pick, I think.

I think I'm with KC on keeping Washington for a last ride this year. Injuries happen, and we've had, what, three preseason scares with Claypool already? Picks are starting to look a little thin for you in next year's mock, though