Pittsburgh Steelers: Why the Team Should Trade up in the Draft

Pittsburgh Steelers: Why the team should trade up in the draft
by Ryan Petrovich
http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/ar..._head_16208599

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft. However, if the Steelers want to make sparks fly they’ll trade up.
The Steelers have made some noise this offseason by signing multiple names during free agency. The team’s added defensive help by signing linebacker Arthur Moats, safety Mike Mitchell, nose tackle Cam Thomas and cornerback Brice McCain. On offense the team’s added depth to the receiving core with Lance Moore and Darrius Hayward-Bey while picking up running back LaGarrette Blount.
The moves are far from over as the draft nears there’s many different roads the Steelers could take. One path the team might want to venture down (or should I say up) is a trading up from the 15th pick.
This draft has a lot promising talent in various positions. The Steelers focus remains to be on drafting a receiver or addressing the defensive secondary.
Let’s take door number one, a receiver.
This year’s draft bolsters talent like Texas A&M’s, Mike Evans, Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, Penn State’s Allen Robinson and many more.
The loss of receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery were tough to swallow but the additions of Moore and Hayward-bey eased the burden slightly. The draft’s another area the Steelers might look to enhance Ben Roethlisberger’s arsenal.
The big-name receivers like Evans and Watkins are projected to go within the first 10 picks and wouldn’t be in the Steelers reach. If the team really wanted to get one of these young studs then they’d need to trade up. Evans or Watkins would provide tremendous help to the Steelers’ offense.
If they truly want a receiver who seems to be proven to be an immediate impact, trading up is a must.
On to door number two, a cornerback.Detroit Lions
Even tough the Steelers were able maintain veteran cornerback Ike Taylor, there’s plenty of helpful young talent provide much needed help to the Steelers’ defense.
Oklahoma State’s, Justin Gilbert, Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, TCU’s Jason Verrett are among the top prospects at the cornerback position.
Same stipulation apples to some of these corners. Gilbert and Dennard could very well be top 10 picks and again the Steelers would need to trade up in order to add them to their roster.
I personally think a cornerback should be the team’s priority especially after adding depth to the receiving core during free agency. If the team traded up and got Gilbert it would be a excellent pick.
Unless the draft becomes quarterback heavy and these skilled positions fall into the later picks of the first round then the Steelers won’t get their hands on these players.
I do not believe the Steelers will trade up but it’s out there. The Steelers can still have a solid pick at number 15 but if they want one of the best position players in this draft, trading up is the only option.