2014 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers select OT Wesley Johnson in 5th round
By Matt Shetler
Like mostly every other round in the Kevin Colbert-Mike Tomlin era, the fifth round has been horrific to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Would they strike out again in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft?
Nov 9, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores offensive linesman Wesley Johnson (67) prior to the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
With a need at cornerback still evident, Colbert addressed that need with Arizona corner Shaquille Richardson with the No. 157 overall pick and were back on the clock with pick No. 173 where the Steelers selected offensive tackle Wesley Johnson from Vanderbilt.
Johnson is a 6’5” offensive tackle, weighing in at 297 pounds.
He was a two-year captain at Vanderbilt who started all 26 games at LT 2012-13, allowing just two sacks.
Johnson is pretty quick and light on his feet. He has decent hands and can get to the second level pretty effortlessly.
However he isn’t built for power and needs to seriously bulk up. He’s likely a depth piece that will be likely used on the inside.
Here’s his scouting report:
"Experienced, intelligent, competitive, athletic, strength-deficient zone blocker. Has everything you want intangibly and has developmental value, but has to make significant strength gains and perfect his technique to survive against longer, more powerful NFL defensive ends. Has worked out as a center in the spring and might be most natural inside."
The Steelers have had next to no success drafting in the fifth round since Tomlin arrived in 2007, missing on picks such as: Cameron Stephenson (2007), Dennis Dixon (2008), Joe Burnett (2009), Frank Summers (2009), Chris Scott (2010), Stevenson Sylvester (2010), Crezdon Butler (2010), Chris Carter (2011), Chris Rainey (2012) and Terry Hawthorne (2013).
A couple of those guys have stuck around but needless to say none of the fifth-round selections since Tomlin has arrived has made an NFL impact.
Will Johnson add to Tomlin’s and Colbert’s fifth-round failures or will they finally have hit a home run with a fifth-round pick?
Only time will tell.
The Steelers will be back on the clock again in the sixth round with pick No. 192 overall.