Just a slice of humble pie: we suck and don't know anything

[tbsteel]

Trigger warning alert: this topic may cause blood to squirt out your eyelids (and shit to squirt out your ass).

I went back through my post history and was able to track down our board mock drafts dating back to 2015. It was a tough review. Do I think the Steelers had a great draft this year? No. Am I jealous of the drafts the Ravens and Browns had? In some respects, yes. Do I know what I'm talking about? Hellllll no . This is just a friendly reminder that the vast, vast majority of players we like will suck, not work out, and be running a used car dealership outside of Wheeling, West Virginia 5 years down the road.

Remember Shawn Oakman? Maxx Williams? Eli Harold? Adam Trautman? Obi Melofonwu, Derek Rivers, Bucky Hodges, Jake Butt, Shaqueem Griffin, Andrew Billings, Paxton Lynch, and all the other fallen draft soldiers lost to the suck disease. When will it end?!

So just remember when you're losing your mind about a better tackle the Steelers could have taken in the 4th round, or the late round CB that you're sure is a better pick than the guy the Steelers wasted a selection on... you're wrong. There's a 90+% chance at that point you're dead wrong. And if you're right? Well, you found the Baby Ruth candy bar in the pile of shit, congrats! But just don't be so excited to stick your hand back in the pile for more, okay?

What I'd like to see as many people do: go back and post your worst draft class from these board mocks as well as your worst overall pick in terms of value/bust factor. And just to make it so that you don't go lay down in traffic, you can also post your best individual pick as well. Here are the links:

2015 Board Mock #1: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3023

2015 Board Mock #2: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3011

2016 Board Mock: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6121

2017 Board Mock #1: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8181

2017 Board Mock #2: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8186

2018 Board Mock: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10328

2019 Board Mock: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11429

My Worst Draft:

2015 St. Louis Rams Draft:

1.10: La'el Collins, OL, LSU
2.41: Jaelon Strong, WR, Arizona State
3.72: Hroniss Grasu, C, Hawaii
4.119: Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville
6.215: Darius Davis, WR, Henderson State
6.227: Christian Covington, DT, Rice

At least Collins was a player, despite that whole "did he murder someone" deal before the draft where he dropped out the draft completely. Strong, Grasu, and Holiman were all busts. At least Christian Covington is still around and was a decent depth player but that's about it. Ugh.

Worst Overall Pick: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State, #24 overall in 2017

Took him #24 overall back in 2017. I think the Steelers would have regretted going with that dude over TJ Watt juuuuuuuuust a bit. Watt ended up lasting to #50 in that draft, picked after Tyus Bowser, Takk McKinley, Jordan Willis, and Raekwon McMillan. Ouch.

Best Overall Pick: Marcus Williams, S, Utah, 88th overall

He went #42 overall in the real draft to the Saints and has been a pretty damn solid safety for them all things considered. I'll take that as a nice W for a third rounder.

[Ice]

Pretty sure at some point I picked Ryan Mallett in the 1st, so that sucked.

Best? Who knows. Getting Wentz at 13 with no trade a few years back? I've picked the actual Eagles pick a couple times.

[Steelperch]

People have unrealistic expectations from the draft process. If you come out of it with two long term starters and a role player or two, you did your job. Nobody bats 100%. Get two good starters and a role player or two and that’s a good draft, no matter what round they came from.

[tbsteel]

People have unrealistic expectations from the draft process. If you come out of it with two long term starters and a role player or two, you did your job. Nobody bats 100%. Get two good starters and a role player or two and that’s a good draft, no matter what round they came from.

[Steelperch]

A little self scouting

2019 Oakland Raiders
1.4 Quentin Williams DE Alabama
1.24 Devin Bush LB Michigan
1.27 Deandre Baker CB Georgia
2.35 AJ Brown WR Mississippi
4.106 Bryce Love RB Stanford
5.141 Benny Snell RB Kentucky
7.218 Malik Reed Edge Nevada
Grade A
Williams, Bush, and Brown make this an easy A. Never mind the Deandre Baker and Bryce Love whiffs.

2018 Cleveland Browns
1.4 Minkah Fitzpatrick S Alabama
1.6 Saquon Barkley RB PSU
1.28 Calvin Ridley WR Bama
2.33 Justin Reid S Stanford
2.35 Mark Andrews TE Oklahoma
2.64 Rasheem Green, DL, Southern California
3 65 James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
5 138 Kalen Ballage RB AZ ST
5 150 Desean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
5 159 Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida
Grade A+.
I loved Minkah coming out. Was my #1 rated defensive player. Ridley, Barkley, and Andrews are all pro bowl caliber players on offense. Reid and Washington are steady contributors. Hamilton and Ballage are depth guys.


2017 Browns
1.1 Myles Garrett DE Texas AM
1.12 Sidney Jones CB Washington
2.33 David Njoku TE Miami
2.52 Marcus Williams S Utah
3.65 Marcus Walker DT FSU
4.108 Ryan Switzer WR UNC
4.142 Tedric Thompson, SS, Colorado
5.145 Jarron Jones, DT, Notre Dame
Grade B-
Myles Garrett is on HOF track, but whiffed on Sidney Jones. Our mock was before his injury news came out. Passed on Mahomes THREE times making this grade drop a lot.

2016 Baltimore Ravens
1.6 Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
2.36 William Jackson CB Houston
3 65 Germain Ifedi - LG - TAMU
4 105 Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Ooofffff
4 131 Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
4. 134 Jerrell Adams TE S Carolina
4 135 Jayron Kearse SS Clemson
5* 178 Victor Ochi. OLB. Stony Brook
7.220 BAL - Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida
Grade C
Treadwell is my worst 1st round miss. Oakman is embarrassing in hindsight. But coming out of a draft with Jackson, Hargrave, and Ifedi is passable.

2015 Pittsburgh Steelers
1.22 Brandon Scherff OT Iowa
2.56 Nate Orchard OLB Utah
3.87 Steven Nelson CB Oregon St
4.122 Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State
6.160 Austin Hill, WR, Arizona
6.199 Anthony Harris, FS, Virginia
6.212 Dominique Brown, RB, Louisville
7.239 Max Garcia C/G Florida
Grade B-
A bunch of misses but Scherff is a 4x Pro Bowler and Nelson has been a solid starting CB. This was not a good draft class, so in hindsight I don’t see glaring players I missed.

[jebrick]

I got fired after my 2017 draft

1.15 IND - jebrick - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
2.46 IND - jebrick - Derek Rivers, DE, Youngtown State
3.80 IND - jebrick - Marcus Maye, S, Florida
4.122 IND - jebrick - Connor Harris, LB, Lindenwood
4.144 IND - jebrick - Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
5.158 IND - jebrick - Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson
6.200 IND - jebrick - Jadar Johnson, S, Clemson

[SteelerDayTrader]

As 11-time winner and undisputed king of the SteelerFury mock draft and 7-time winner of the Steelers draft.....

I agree you all suck......lololz

[tbsteel]

I got fired after my 2017 draft

1.15 IND - jebrick - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
2.46 IND - jebrick - Derek Rivers, DE, Youngtown State
3.80 IND - jebrick - Marcus Maye, S, Florida
4.122 IND - jebrick - Connor Harris, LB, Lindenwood
4.144 IND - jebrick - Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
5.158 IND - jebrick - Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson
6.200 IND - jebrick - Jadar Johnson, S, Clemson

How did OJ Howard not work out? I loved him too. Derek Rivers was a favorite of mine as well. Marcus Maye was a very nice hit though.

[Mick]

Looking back, i should never be allowed to draft o-linemen (part of this may be just me grabbing top-of-the-board guys that i know nothing about just because i know my team needs oline). More or less happy with myself on D and RB; my WRs, and there’ve been a lot, have been bad but not bad like my oline picks bad.

I definitely stopped second guessing the FO at least at the WR position after complaining about that slow smurf we took at WR in the 6th ten or so years ago.

[shellwagnerblount]

People have unrealistic expectations from the draft process. If you come out of it with two long term starters and a role player or two, you did your job. Nobody bats 100%. Get two good starters and a role player or two and that’s a good draft, no matter what round they came from.

INdeed. I like to play the game and greatly admire the work people put into the draft ,trying to find that elusive overlooked guy who will blossom into Tom Brady II etc. It's fun, it's interesting..but it's just not something I really care about 3 days after the draft is over. MOST Of these guys aren't going to make the NFL for any length of time. It's really hard to be even a decent backup at the NFL level, let alone a 7 year starter.

Mel Kiper made it an event...I think Joel Buchsbaum (https://tinyurl.com/yfex8l6c) as well...Now it's out of control and people make insta-analysis of a player before he steps foot on an NFL practice field for the first time , let alone a game. As Steeler fans we expect the draft of 74 to repeat itself, I guess.

There's always room for criticism and I've done my fair share of that. I don't love this draft like last years but it's more about an obsession with the Oline and perceived needs that the STeelers obviously don't share. It's a long way to the start of the season..this is just the beginning of their quest to improve this team.

[ol skool]

I usually swing for the fences late or try to highlight an unknown prospect for the fuck of it, and I'll never stop doing that.

2015 #1 (Tampa Bay)
1.1 Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2.34 Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
3.65 Jaquiski Tartt, S, Samford
4.109 Donovan Smith, OL, Penn State
5.161 Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas
6.175 Craig Mager, CB, Texas State
6.181 Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State
7.217 Dean Marlowe, S, James Madison
Best QB in a horrible draft class, multi-position but oft-injured OL journey man in Erving, a good Safety in Tartt, Tampa's starting LT to this day who only missed two starts, DT in Davison who started 75 games for NO and ATL, and a depth Safety in Marlowe now on his third team. I fucking knocked this out of the park. A+

2015 #2 (Washington)
1.5 Vic Beasley, LB, Clemson
2.38 TJ Clemmings, OL, Pitt
3.69 Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
4.105 Davis Tull, LB, Chattanooga
5.141 Kristjan Sokoli, DL, SUNY Buffalo
6.182 Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis
7.222 Ryan Murphy, S, Oregon State
Beasley was 1st Team All-Pro in 2016, but didn't do much after that. Clemmings was derailed by injuries after starting 30 games over his first two years. Then a bunch of whiffs except Bobby McCain who went from depth CB to starter at Safety and is probably odd man out with Jevon Holland being drafted. B-

2017 (New Orleans)
1.11 Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
2.42 Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston
3.76 Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
4.118 Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State
6.196 Anthony Cioffi, S, Rutgers
7.229 Collin Bevins, DL, NW Missouri State
Reddick never lived up to the hype, Bowser is a good OLB for BAL, Jones looked good early on but fell apart, McNichols may finally have caught on in TEN. Whiffed late. C-

2018 (New Orleans)
1.27 Harold Landry, LB, Boston College
3.91 Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest
4.127 Leon Jacobs, LB, Wisconsin
5.147 Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
5.164 Troy Apke, S, Penn State
6.189 Daurice Fountain, WR, Northern Iowa
6.201 Greg Gilmore, DT, LSU
7.245 Marcus Martin, Athlete, Slippery Rock
Damn good OLB for TEN, stud Safety for the hated Bengals, good depth LB in Jacobs for CAR who was named the starter in before the 2020 season but tore his ACL, Apke had an injury-shortened rookie campaign but was named starting FS going into 2020 (lost his job to Deshazor Everett), then whiffs late (again). A-

Not looking at 2019 draft for New England, as I think it's still too early.

[COR-TEN]

People have unrealistic expectations from the draft process. If you come out of it with two long term starters and a role player or two, you did your job. Nobody bats 100%. Get two good starters and a role player or two and that’s a good draft, no matter what round they came from.

Everybody in every fan base wants a HOF player at every position. And the steelers fandom is infected with this virus more than others since they have 6 superbowl trophy's.

[jebrick]

Every fan base expects they know as much as the GMs and scouts about the players.

[bradshaw2ben]

I seem to do well in odd numbered years.

I picked Patrick Mahomes over Myles Garrett, so I feel pretty good about that choice.

My worst picks would take a whole page... unless something drastically changes, the player I loved the most and picked in 1st round who hasn’t made it would be Shaquem Griffen.

[tbsteel]

I seem to do well in odd numbered years.

I picked Patrick Mahomes over Myles Garrett, so I feel pretty good about that choice.

My worst picks would take a whole page... unless something drastically changes, the player I loved the most and picked in 1st round who hasn’t made it would be Shaquem Griffen.

Planting your flag in the ground and taking Patrick Mahomes where you did at the time has got to be the best pick/call in the history of all of these drafts.

[bradshaw2ben]

I did it ofr Cleveland in a twitter draft with a bunch of "draftniks" and it was roundly criticized and ridiculed. The guy who ran that draft is a Chiefs' fan and never forgot... he has become one of my biggest champions on that hellsite.

[fractalsteel]

My worst picks would take a whole page... unless something drastically changes, the player I loved the most and picked in 1st round who hasn’t made it would be Shaquem Griffen.

Back in 2015 I took Owamagbe Odighizuwa(at 20 overall) and you had a few choice words for me about snaking your pick. Ha ha, he went in the third round and is out of the league now.

[bradshaw2ben]

My worst picks would take a whole page... unless something drastically changes, the player I loved the most and picked in 1st round who hasn’t made it would be Shaquem Griffen.

Back in 2015 I took Owamagbe Odighizuwa(at 20 overall) and you had a few choice words for me about snaking your pick. Ha ha, he went in the third round and is out of the league now.

Karma. lol

[Greeksteel]

I dont know about you guys but I think I did pretty damn good if you ask me

Killed it in 2015 for the Saints with Dupree, pj williams and David Johnson.

2017 got the packers Joe Mixon, George Kittle and Ryan Switzer

2018 Bills Did pretty good nabbing 5 nfl players in Van der Esche, Maurice Hurst and DJ Moore and Durham Smythe

2019 Bust in the 1st rnd at #31 with Ximines but got some useful guys later

Best pick George Kittle in the 4th rnd in 2017

Worst pick Oshane Ximines in the 1st rnd in 2019


2015 Draft
13 New Orleans-- Greek-- Alvin "Bud" "DuFreak" Dupree, DE, Kentucky
44 New Orleans-- Greek-- P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
75 New Orleans-- Greek-- RB David F. Johnson
112 New Orleans-- Greek-- Jeremiah Poutasi, OL, Utah
147 New Orleans-- Greek-- Xavier Williams DT N Iowa

2017 Draft
1 29 GB - Greek - Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
2 61 GB - Greek - Derek Rivers, OLB, Youngstown State
3 93 GB - Greek - Howard Wilson, CB, Houston
4 134 GB - Greek - George Kittle, TE, Iowa
5 172 GB - Greek - Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina
5* 182r GB - Greek - Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee
6 212 GB - Greek - Storm Norton, OT, Toledo
7 247 GB - Greek - David Jones S, Richmond

2018 Draft
1 21 BUF - GreekSteel - Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
1 22 BUF - GreekSteel - Maurice Hurst, DL, Michigan
2 49 BUF (fr NYJ) - GreekSteel - D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
2 56 BUF - GreekSteel - C Billy Price OSU
3 96 BUF - GreekSteel - Jaylen Samuels, RB/WR/KR, NC State
4 121 BUF - GreekSteel - Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
5 166 BUF - GreekSteel - Brett Toth, OT, Army

2019 Draft
1 31 LAR - greek - Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion
3 98 LAR - greek - Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
3 99 LAR - greek - Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
4 133 LAR - greek - Wes Hills, RB, Slippery Rock
5 169 LAR - greek - Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame
6 203 LAR - greek - Malik Gant, S, Marshall
7 245 LAR - greek - Drew Forbes, G, Southeast Missouri
7 251 LAR - greek - Joshua Miles, OT/G, Morgan State

[Charles Demarr]

2017 Lions

Marlon Humphrey
TJ Watt
Kareem Hunt

By far my best draft...

[tbsteel]

2017 Lions

Marlon Humphrey
TJ Watt
Kareem Hunt

By far my best draft...

Yeah, that's absurd lol.

This board overall was down BIG TIME on Marlon Humphrey from what I remember. Arguably now the best overall CB in football. Watt was a slow riser. I don't think he was ever a first round pick in our mocks leading up to the real deal.

[Ice]

I hated on Humphrey. Some growing pains, but looks like a very nice pick RN, especially where he was picked. In my defense, I hate on pretty much all Alabama players. Except Najee. Well, except Najee now that we drafted him.

[Greeksteel]

I seem to do well in odd numbered years.

I picked Patrick Mahomes over Myles Garrett, so I feel pretty good about that choice.

My worst picks would take a whole page... unless something drastically changes, the player I loved the most and picked in 1st round who hasn’t made it would be Shaquem Griffen.

ya and u got him for the browns

[Pabst]

2015 Oakland:
4 Oakland-- Pabst Kevin White - WR - WVU
25 Oakland (via Car)-- Pabst-- Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
89 Oakland (via Car)-- Pabst-- Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas
139 Oakland-- Pabst-- Imoan Claiborne, CB/S, Northwestern St.
176 Oakland-- Pabst-- Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan State
220 Oakland-- Pabst-- Andrew Donnal, OT, Iowa

White, Claiborne, and Jones were all total busts. Considering there draft position, Brown and Donnal are 'meh' picks. Flowers was my only hit.


2015 Chiefs:
1 18 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
2 49 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
3 80 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
3* 98 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
4 118 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Markus Golden, DE/OLB, Mizzou
5* 172 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Gavin Lutman, WR, Pittsburg St
5* 173 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Andy Gallick, C, Boston College
6 193 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Andrew Donnal, OG/OT, Iowa
6* 217 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - BJ Larsen, DE, Utah State
7 233 Kansas City Chiefs - pabst - Thomas Rawls, RB, Central Michigan

Boom or bust here. Peat, Golden, and Rawls were great picks. Conley has been OK. Everyone else.....nope.

2016 Chiefs:
1 31 KC - Pabst (from PIT) - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
2 59 KC - Pabst - Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
3 91 KC - Pabst - Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State
4 124 KC - Pabst (from PIT) - James Cowser, DE/OLB, Southern Utah
5 162 KC - Pabst - KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame
5 165 KC - Pabst - Isaac Seumalo, OG, Oregon St
6 206 KC - Pabst - Kevon Seymour, CB, USC
7 247 KC - Pabst - Chase Farris, OG, Ohio State

The less said about this, the better. Seumalo is the only good pick here. Seymour has stuck around the league....so not bad for a 6th. Butler has been iffy, but seeing that Derrick Henry and Taylor Decker went shortly after makes this a bad pick.

2017 Bills:
1.10 BUF - Pabst - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
2.44 BUF - Pabst - DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
3.75 BUF - Pabst - Justin Evans, DB, Texas A&M
5.156 BUF - Pabst - Channing Stribling, CB, Michigan
5.171 BUF - Pabst - David Sharpe, OT, Florida
6.195 BUF - Pabst - Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, DT, USC

Williams and Evans would look like much better picks if not for injuries. Sharpe is still hanging around the league as a backup T, so i'm fine with that pick as a late 5th rounder. Kizer....meh. Tu'ikolovatu...meh. Stribling was a bad pick.

2017 Eagles:
1 14 PHI - Pabst - Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
2 39 PHI - Pabst (fr HOU via NYJ) - Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
3 74 PHI - Pabst - Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State
4 118 PHI - Pabst - Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
4* 139 PHI - Pabst - Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern
6 194 PHI - Pabst - Charles Walker, DT, Oklahoma
7 230 PHI - Pabst - Marquez White, CB, Florida State

First pick was a bust, but I hit a home run with White, and nabbing Elfein, Perine, and Walker in rounds 3 & 4 is a good haul.

2018 Raiders:
1 10 OAK - Pabst - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
2 41 OAK - Pabst - Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech
3 69 OAK (fr TB) - Pabst - Ronald Jones, RB, Southern California
4 110 OAK - Pabst - Fred Warner, LB, Brigham Young
6 185 OAK - Pabst - M.J. Stewart, CB/S, North Carolina
6* 210 OAK - Pabst - Will Dissly, TE, Washington
6* 212 OAK - Pabst - Darren Carrington II, WR, Utah
6* 216 OAK - Pabst - Mike McCray, LB, Michigan
6* 217 OAK - Pabst - Matt Pryor, OL, Texas Christian
7 228 OAK - Pabst - Daniel Carlson, K, Auburn

This draft is my magnum opus....Pro Bowl CB in round 1, a solid rotational D lineman in round 2. Starting RB in the 3rd. All Pro LB in the 4th. Starting TE in the 6th, and a pretty good K in the 7th.
MJ Stewart has been decent as a backup/package player, so that's a good 6th round pick. Matt Pryor started 10 games as a RG in Philly this past year. Out of 10 picks, my only misses were a pair of 6th round comp picks. This draft is an A+ home run.


2019 Saints:
2 62 NO - Pabst - Lonnie Johnson, DB, Kentucky
5 168 NO - Pabst - Darius Slayton, WR, Auburn
6 202 NO - Pabst - Tommy Sweeney, TE, Boston College
7 244 NO - Pabst - Derwin Gray, OL, Maryland

Johnson is tough to evaluate as he is stuck in the black hole that is the Houston Texans. Slayton was a great pick. Sweeney was OK in his rookie year, but had an injury plus he missed a bunch of time due to COVID in 2020.