2014 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers select Clemson WR Martavis Bryant in 4th round
By Matt Shetler
Jan 3, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Martavis Bryant (1) runs with the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Tyvis Powell (23) during the first half in the 2014 Orange Bowl college football game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Last year the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted a fourth-round pick by selecting Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, who will have next to no future as a Steelers quarterback.
Would they do so again?
Needless to say it has been an interesting two days of the 2014 NFL Draft for Kevin Colbert and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Colbert elected to ignore needs at the wide receiver and cornerback positions and elected to focus on the defensive front seven with Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier and Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt, culminating with Kent State running back Dri Archer in the third round.
However Colbert finally decided to get quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a weapon by selecting Clemson wide receiver Martavis Bryant with the No. 118 overall pick, a pick that I like a ton.
Bryant has been linked to the Steelers at numerous times this offseason and with him they get the tall wide receiver they have been searching for and one that can stretch the field.
Bryant, who stand 6’4″, has superb body length with a long, rangy frame. He has very good straight-line, separation speed and will make for a great red zone target.
Roethlisberger should love this guy.
He’s a big-play receiver who averaged a nation leading 19.7 yards per catch. He played opposite Sammy Watkins, the No. 4 overall pick in this draft, and caught 42 passes for 827 yards with seven touchdowns.
Bryant needs to add more bulk and had far too many drops while at Clemson, but is a guy with tremendous upside.
Here’s a look at some film on Bryant. (Note: Music contains explicit language)
The Steelers have had next to no success drafting in the fourth round since Mike Tomlin arrived in 2007, missing on picks such as: Daniel Sepulveda (2007), Ryan McBean (2007), Tony Hills (2008), Thaddeus Gibson (2010), Alameda Ta’amu (2012) and Jones (2013).
The Steelers did make one good fourth-round pick back in 2011 when they selected cornerback Cortez Allen.
The jury is also still out on safety Shamarko Thomas, also drafted in the fourth round last season.
Will Bryant add to Tomlin’s and Colbert’s fourth-round failures or will they finally have hit a home run with a fourth-round pick?
Only time will tell.