With the 176th Pick in the 2024 SteelerFury Board Mock Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select...
Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
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1.31 OT Kingsley Suamataia - BYU
2.51 DL Michael Hall - Ohio State
2.63 WR Ricky Pearsall - Florida
3.70 CB Ennis Rakestraw - Missouri
3.94 TE Ben Sinnott - Kansas State
5.145 (via DEN) EDGE Mohamed Kamara - Colorado State
5.176 (Comp) RB Ray Davis - Kentucky
It seems like every year in this exercise I keep trying to add talent to the middle of the field defense for this team, and every year they either don't address it or, as was the case last year, didn't have enough guys because of injury attrition. I look at the signing of Patrick Queen and I see a LB with some great skills. Since he's still young, it's even possible his skills will improve, especially in pass coverage-- remember that it took Ryan Shazier a while to improve that aspect of his game.
But if you dig down in the roster after Queen, there isn't much in the way of what I would call + coverage LB types. Even Cole Holcomb––should he return 100% someday-- though a huge upgrade from what the Steelers have had recently––is probably more suited to playing alongside a coverage backer. Queen right now is the same-- could really use a coverage type.
We think this prospect is not only terrific in coverage vs athletic TEs, he's also a good run defender who makes plays in the backfield with quick play reads and on the perimeter with speed. He's also no afraid to hit, laying some memorable licks on QBs that might make reconsider scrambling.
So, physical, great in coverage, maybe not textbook on all fronts but his effort and find-a-way will do nicely in round 6.
With the 178th pick in the 2024 SteelerFury Board Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select:
Big Blue Draft:
1.6 Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
2.47 Braylon Trice, EDGE, Washington
4.107 Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
4.124 Calen Bullock, S, USC
4.132 Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
5.166 Josh Newton, CB, TCU
6.183 Marcus Harris, DT, Auburn
"Jack Lambert is mean and relentless wherever he goes, on and off the field! I do remember many times he would chase me in practice, but no way would I let him catch me" - Franco Harris
We've had some, um, outlier picks in this draft exercise over the years. Some of them (like a certain D3 RB Perch picked (didn't get a shot in the NFL) whose name escapes me) or an Olympic Discus/Professional Rugby convert who had never played NFL football (did actually play in the NFL... a little). The picks that are beyond "small-school" or sleepers and into the realm of wackiness. God bless us, everyone.
Hell, I should dig through the history and my memory and come up with an all-time greatest wild-ass picks in this draft. If we include the Draft-A-Team that could be a tough competition. But I digress.
Hey, we're thoroughly into round 6 and I'm of the option there's not much you can do wrong here. Pick for depth, take a player whose personality you like/build you like etc. But my favorite thing to do is to take a HR swing. Well, this is not only a HR swing worthy of Babe Ruth, it's actually not as wild as it might sound at first blush.
Most of you won't know this players name or story. But what a story it is.
He was once the #1 recruit in the nation. Not at his position-- his position at that point was gamewrecker DL--I mean the number 1 OVERALL recruit. He played in the All-American Bowl with basically all the top names in the draft and was, according to 247 Sports, "unblockable". A start of stars.
He was recruited by Nick Saban to Alabama (of course), the crown jewel of a class with Landon Dickerson, Evan Neal, Justin Eboigbe, Christian Harris, Byron Young, John Metchie et al.
Everything was going according to plan. He was a stud in practice and looked set to start and be the centerpiece of the best defense on the best team in the nation. And then...
He disappeared from the team. He stopped going to class. No one could figure out what was going on. Eventually, he transferred mid-season to Colorado. Nick Saban very reluctantly was forced to admit his prize recruit was no longer with the Tide. "He basically quit", said Saban in disbelief.
A month after he arrived in Colorado, the HC that had recruited him to Georgia and then accepted him as a transfer abruptly left to go to another school. His position coach also left. But neither of those was the biggest development of his time there.
Upon the medical check on intake, it was discovered that Alfano had epilepsy. He'd known there was something that caused problems with his health and made it difficult for him at Alabama but this was the first indication of what the problem actually was. Making matters worse, Colorado kept denying his medical clear him for football. He spent a year trying to fight it, but eventually he had no more options. He left school the next year.
In the middle of that, COVID happened. He wanted to apply to a Juco school but they weren't playing.
The next year he applied to Independence CC at the Juco level, but they flip[-flopped and also would not clear him to play because of his condition. Another year lost.
Then something great happened. His doctors found a medication/treatment that would not only make his condition manageable, but would his life. He enrolled at Lacakawanna CC Juco in Scranton, PA and FINALLY got on a football field.
He was in better shape mentally and physically and of course as a 6050 285lb athletic freak he dominated some decent competition. He received offers from multiple power 5 programs to transfer for 2024 but he decided to enter the draft.
At his pro day, he put up--and I'm not exaggerating--perhaps the greatest workout performance of all-time.
***EDIT: There are reports today that these numbers are not from a pro day... official numbers to be released on April 12th. However, I will note that the 40 and VJ numbers from his verified high school testing are not so far off that the above numbers would be impossible. Either way, he's a big-time athlete, but take the numbers and what follows with a grain of salt. Or three)
Among other things, that's (by a tiny fraction) the 2nd most explosion achieved behind only Jordan Davis), it;'s the fastest 40 by someone his size, it's the fastest SS of anyone near that size... it's absurd. The only tow workouts I know of since 2004 that even come close are JJ Watt & Travon Walker-- and Alfano's number top those two in every respect-- with in some cases a huge gap.
Here's how I feel: if you have that kind of physical freakish gifts AND you play the game well enough to play for Nick Saban... you are overkill for a 6th round pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an interesting history with epileptic players. They have had probably the most famous one, Alan Faneca. And they have one on their roster right now... Justin Fields.
If he's physically and medically cleared, we are going to get us an amazing value here. Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.
With the 189th pick of the 2024 SteelerFury Board Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select:
Antonio Alfano, DL/EDGE, Alabama, Colorado, Independence CC, Lackawanna CC
I drafted this guy in my mind the instant I saw him flatten Christian Jones, a large and powerful RT from Texas, at the Senior Bowl. Really plays with an edge.
At 6’6’’ 274lbs and sporting 35.75’’ arms, his upside is immense. Very quick off the snap. Lots of fun to watch.
I can't shake the feeling that Mike Tomlin's risk aversion is going to push for more and more running the ball, see-it-open Play Action throws, and RB screens/wheels. It seems like the longer his career goes on the more he embraces the late Earl Bruce ("When you throw the ball, three things can happen, and two of them are bad."
If that's going to be the case, then it feels like we're missing some pieces in the room to help make this offense more than just 3 yards and a cloud of dust. We need some more slash/speed/excitement.
This player has a nose for TDs, parking it in the end zone once every 14 touches. He has receiving skills, is a decent pass protector, has some power when his pad level is right, and he has some juice. He would have gone earlier had he not gotten injured at the Senior Bowl.
He can work his way in as a change of pace or 3rd down back, and although it might break Mike Tomlin, he could even carve a role as part of a three-headed group at RB.
With the 195th pick of the 2024 SteelerFury Board Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select: