I wrote yesterday that the Pittsburgh Steelers reminded me of the film "Man of Steel" in that they are both successful but not without major flaws. Specifically, the pass defense is a major area of weakness for the Steelrs and little things such as plot and pacing are big-time sore spots for "Man of Steel."
The Steelers finished the 2014 season ranked 27th in passing yards allowed per-game (253.1). Opposing quarterback completed 64.5 percent of their passes, the tenth highest mark in the league, against the Steelers defense and threw for 30 touchdowns, the fourth most in the NFL. All of this is a long-winded way of saying that the Steelers need to upgrade at cornerback.
That's why an entry in ESPN Steelers reporter Scott Brown's weekly mailbag was so intriguing.
@ScottBrown_ESPN whats the chances steelers trade back in draft 4 Byron jones in the 1st for picks. Then take orchard in 2nd & Ikpre in 3rd
— Dee Que (@dc_trini_fyah) April 2, 2015
Here's what Brown had to say of the scenario.
"Dang, you certainly thought this one out. I like your plan but not sure how realistic it is. The Steelers would have to first and foremost find a trade partner to move down in the first round, and that is easier said than done. Not saying it won't happen but history suggests that the Steelers are most likely to stay put at No. 22 overall. They have traded back once and traded up twice in the first round since Kevin Colbert joined the organization in 2000. Maybe they like Byron Jones enough to take at No. 22. He has incredible measurables, is a high-character kid and played both safety and cornerback at UConn. That combination has to intrigue the Steelers, and they could have a shot at the players you mentioned in the second and third rounds. I think most Steelers fans would be elated if Pittsburgh took two cornerbacks and an edge pass-rusher with its first three picks in the draft."
Jones has become a hot commodity recently. Both the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys have been linked to him. The Steelers have the edge with the earliest pick of the group, but it's clear that they may face some competition for the draft's top defensive backs.
