The way disinformation flows through the NFL this time of year, coaches and scouts have it all over the Navajo Code Talkers.
You just cannot decipher what any of them says.
Yet there is one unalterable truth when it comes to the Steelers: They need an inside linebacker more than anything else. They are desperate to replace injured Ryan Shazier and anyone who saw their defense in the playoff loss to Jacksonville knows why.
It does not mean they will draft one in the first round Thursday night because that will depend on what happens with the 27 picks above them.
By all reasonable accounts — if you can use the word reason when trying to solve the draft — there are two linebackers rated as first-round picks who could be available when the Steelers’ turn comes at No. 28. Or not.
They are Leighton Vander Esch of Boise State and Rashaan Evans of Alabama, or vice versa depending on your outlook.
It says here if one of them remains undrafted when the Steelers’ turn comes at No. 28, they will pick him. If both are still on the board, Vander Esch will be the one.
Vander Esch is 6-4, 256 pounds with 4.65 speed, a versatile linebacker who can play inside or out, cover receivers or plug the run. A walk on at Boise State, he really had just last season as a starter because of injuries in 2016. He also has a neck issue that reportedly caused some teams to stay away. The Steelers are not concerned about his medical, although general manager Kevin Colbert naturally refused to discuss it at his Monday draft press conference.
What he did discuss was the decision of whether to try to fill a team need vs. taking the higher rated player overall.
“Any given year there will be players that will have a better chance contributing than others,’’ Colbert said, “and if those players are equally graded, or graded closely, sure you’ll gravitate towards those.
“Again, if you reach to take a player that might play quicker, even though he is not as good of quality as the one you are passing up, you’ll make a huge mistake that you will someday regret.”
That said, the Steelers often draft for need, as they did last year when they chose outside linebacker T.J. Watt in the first round, as they did in 2016 when they drafted cornerback Artie Burns in the first round. Maybe they did make a mistake when they drafted outside linebacker Jarvis Jones in the first round to fill a need, but that draft was terrible for everyone.
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The Steelers are at the mercy of others if they want to draft their inside linebacker in the first round. Both Vander Esch and Evans might already have been snapped up. They could try to trade to move higher in the first round to get one.
This draft is expected to be top-heavy with trades on the first night, especially with all the teams that want quarterbacks and the five or six quarterbacks who could get drafted Thursday.
Colbert said every position is on the table for them to draft in the first round, including quarterback. If the top linebackers are gone and they go elsewhere, it’s possible (likely) they will draft an inside linebacker in the second round, perhaps Darius Leonard of South Carolina State.
“It’s a good class,’’ Colbert said. “The inside linebackers are changing as the college game has changed. There are probably more kids available in this draft . . . [but] the inside linebacker position has changed and there’s probably more specialist-type guys than unique top players.”
The loss of Shazier to his spinal injury for the 2018 season and maybe forever not only created a hole in their defense but set them back in the draft. Otherwise, they truly could take the best player on their board in the first round — a cornerback, safety, lineman, even a wide receiver.
But there is little doubt inside linebacker is their biggest need. And it says here that Leighton Vander Esch can be the linebacker who does just that. They may need to trade up a few spots in the first round, however, to get him.
ED’S PICKS
1. Cleveland: Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California — Looking for next Bernie Kosar, Browns draft fifth QB in first round since 1999.
2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State — Could use QB, can’t pass up best RB in a decade.
3. New York Jets: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA — Former coach Jim Mora says he’ll make Hall of Fame (like Joe Namath?)
4. Cleveland: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State — Talent-stocked Browns could make dramatic move.
5. Denver: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma — John Elway still looking for the next John Elway.
6. Indianapolis: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame — The task is to start protecting Andrew Luck.
7. Tampa Bay: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama — When you need a safety and this guy is available, you grab him.
8. Chicago: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State — Best cornerback available.
9. San Francisco: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia — Could be Tremaine Edmunds also.
10. Oakland: Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech — Raiders take the LB the 49ers pass up.
11. Miami: Derwin James, S, Florida State — Dolphins also may grab a QB here.
12. Buffalo: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming — Still looking for the next Jim Kelly.
13. Washington: Vita Vea, DT, Washington — Vea won’t have to change the name of his team.
14. Green Bay: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa — Aaron Rodgers not happy with this choice.
15. Arizona: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama — Taking some pressure off aging Larry Fitzgerald.
16. Baltimore: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame — Fills a glaring need and top-rated tackle.
17. L.A. Chargers: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland — Need linemen, need to sell tickets more.
18. Seattle: Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College — Seahawks, though, may trade down from here.
19. Dallas: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU — Home-grown receiver to replace Dez Bryant.
20. Detroit: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama — Looking for the next Ndamukong Suh.
21. Cincinnati: Billy Price, C, Ohio State — Home-grown and a perfect need fit.
22. Buffalo: James Daniels, C, Iowa — Can also play G; Bills wish he could play both at same time.
23. New England: Connor Williams, OT, Texas — Patriots find Nate Solder’s replacement at left tackle.
24. Carolina: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M — Fills a glaring need.
25. Tennessee: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama — Ex-LB Mike Vrabel makes linebacker his first pick.
26. Atlanta: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida — Although the Falcons need help on O-line.
27. New Orleans: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina — Saints draft the best player left on their board.
28. Steelers: Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State — Neck issue scares off some as Steelers fill their biggest need.
29. Jacksonville: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville — Strong defense just got stingier.
30. Minnesota: Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia — Need a starting guard and he falls into their laps.
31. New England: Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State — Gronk making noise, so Patriots do too.
32. Philadelphia: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU — With LeGarrette Blount gone, Eagles get pick of second-best back.
First Published: April 25, 2018, 11:30 a.m.
