The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming into the 2014 draft after missing the playoffs yet again and the team has a number of needs on both sides of the ball and that makes players Eric Ebron, CJ Mosley, Brandin Cooks, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Kelvin Benjamin targets for Ben Roethlisberger's team heading into the event in May.
The Steelers struggled running the ball last season and that could be an option for the team in the draft as well, as the running back position is deep this year with names like Carlos Hyde, De'Anthony Thomas, Andre Williams, Lache Seastrunk, Bishop Sankey, Jeremy Hill and Tre Mason. The Steelers likely will wait to pick a running back until later in the draft because that's how RBs are judged now and with their first round pick everyone is predicting that the team goes with defense.
The team ranked 21st in rushing yards allowed per game and ninth in passing yards allowed and while that was in the top 10, the team lost Ryan Clark and the secondary is getting older and that is why some have speculated Clinton-Dix could be the pick. The linebackers need a boost after losing LaMarr Woodley and with those players also getting older and that could put his teammate into the mix in CJ Mosley, who is expected to be a mid-first round pick.
Ebron is an athletic freak and with Heath Miller getting older he could be an option, while Kelvin Benjamin and Brandin Cooks could be replacements for Mike Wallace, who left before last season. The team has nine draft picks this year and three of those are compensatory selections, including the third round pick and that gives them some flexibility coming into things. Cooks could be a great option, as he was wildly productive last season and has big play ability.
The Steelers went 8-8 last season and they nearly made the playoffs after getting some help from other teams in Week 17, but they ultimately missed out and now Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin are looking to get things back on track this season. The team went 4-4 against the division but just 6-6 against their conference and now they have the chance to rebound in 2014. The team ranked 28th in rushing yards per game last season with just 86 per contest and that is why they could look at a running back at some point, even with the team taking Le'Veon Bell last year.
The draft has some solid backs, as Carlos Hyde is a tough runner and a good option to be the first off the board and at number 46 in the second round he could be an option. Hyde rushed for over 1,500 yards last season for Ohio State and he also can catch the ball a bit out of the backfield. Thomas or Mason could be good duos with Bell, as the latter is a tough runner and the first two names have blazing speed and that is something the Steelers have lacked. Jeremy Hill had over 1,400 yards last season, while Andre Williams broke the 2k mark for Boston College and that could push him up as well.
