ESPN reporter says this pass rusher ‘won’t make it past’ Steelers’ 1st-round draft pick
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Want a late-to-the-party, out-of-nowhere prediction for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft pick? ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has one for you.
Fowler, who now covers the NFL league-wide for ESPN after being on the Steelers beat for multiple years, told 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday that Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith “won’t make it past (pick) 17. So that would imply that Pittsburgh might have interest there.”
Top NFL insider @JFowlerESPN on @937thefan on a sleeper Steelers 1st round pick: "Nolan Smith. Pass rusher from Georgia is a guy I'm watching there. The teams I've talked to say he won't make it past 17. So that would imply that Pittsburgh might have interest there."
Thoughts?
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 25, 2023
Indeed, the Steelers are currently slotted at pick No. 17. They love edge pass rushers. At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, Smith is a few inches shorter and lighter than T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker. But he is two inches taller and only four pounds lighter than James Harrison, who excelled at the position for years.
A product of the IMG Academy, Smith was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class. He is coming off a torn pectoral muscle that limited his final season with the Bulldogs to eight games. He recorded 18 total tackles (14 solos), three sacks and seven tackles for a loss in 2022. Over the course of four years, Smith totaled 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.
Via Pro Football Network, at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Smith posted an impressive 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-8 broad jump.
The Savannah, Ga., native is viewed as an uber-athletic prospect with lots of upside. But questions remain about his array of pass-rush moves, size and strength to play the edge in the NFL. That said, ESPN has him as their 16th-best player overall and the second-best outside linebacker on the board after Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.
Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith demolishes the right tackle for the sack.
This was his freshman year. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Lr7zRRAN6h
— WBG84 (@WBG84) April 9, 2023
Indeed, the Steelers need depth at outside linebacker after Watt and Highsmith. They have none. The next best player after those two at the position is probably recently reclaimed former New York Giant Quincy Roche.
A lack of quality depth at that position has been a problem in Pittsburgh ever since Melvin Ingram pouted his way out of town in the middle of 2021. Especially because Watt has been so frequently hurt over the past two seasons. Plus, Highsmith is slated to be a free agent after this year ends.
Drafting a quality outside linebacker should be a priority for the Steelers somewhere within the first four rounds. Honestly, if the Steelers already know that they either don’t want to retain Highsmith for 2024 or fear that his asking price will be too high, then this would be a logical pick. Not to mention, Watt’s contract expires after 2025.
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But I have yet to hear that the Steelers have soured on the prospect of retaining Highsmith. The next negative thing I hear about him from a Steelers coach or teammate will be the first.
Highsmith seems universally well-liked on SouthWater Street, and he has never struck me as an “I gotta break the bank” kind of guy. I think he realistically understands that, for as much growth as he has shown the past few years, the Steelers defense goes through Watt first. So I’d be surprised if that contract can’t get completed.
If the Steelers genuinely think Smith can be a better starter by Year 2 of his rookie deal than Highsmith, then so be it. Don’t sink a ton of cap dollars into Highsmith.
But something smells fishy to me about this story. I still think the Steelers’ priorities are at cornerback and offensive tackle first. I still think that they are just looking for depth at OLB and not a Highsmith replacement. And I still think they’ll keep Highsmith beyond 2023.
So I can’t see the No. 17 selection going toward an outside linebacker. That’s not a negative commentary on Smith or his abilities. That’s me scratching my head about why the team would put an emphasis on a third pass rusher when a second tackle or second cornerback may be out there for the taking if they hold at pick No. 17.
Former NFL general manager and SiriusXM draft analyst Mark Dominik gives his thoughts on the Steelers’ approach to Thursday night’s first round.
Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Dominik on Steelers Draft — 1st Round