Mel Kiper 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers select Darqueze Dennard
By Matt Shetler
With just hours remaining before the 2014 NFL Draft kicks off, all of the experts are chiming in with their last minute predictions.
Jan 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerack Darqueze Dennard (31) reacts during the 100th Rose Bowl against the Stanford Cardinal. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
That includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who is targeting a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 15 overall pick.
That guy is Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard.
That should make Steelers fans happy as Dennard is one of the corners that many have been clamoring for.
Kiper has previously called Dennard ‘a Steeler’ as he feels his physical nature is the perfect fit for the black-and-gold.
"Dennard is precisely the player you might pick out of a lineup if you asked which guy in this draft would be a great fit in a Dick LeBeau defense. He can cover, is physical against the run, has great versatility, and will even come off the edge and succeed as a blitzer. I could see him going to either Detroit or Chicago, too. I wouldn’t put WR out of the question here, but the Steelers have done well targeting that position much later in recent years."
Of course this is presuming there is no trades and the Steelers are a candidate to potentially move down in the draft as well.
However if Dennard is on the board, the Steelers likely won’t hesitate to take him, although I still don’t believe that he will be there at No. 15.