Steelers Prospect Watch: Miles Killebrew

When will the Steelers target a safety in the NFL Draft?

With the NFL Draft next week, we enter the home stretch of draft preparation.  All signs point to the Steelers upgrading their secondary with multiple picks in this draft, but who will they choose?

Something this draft does not lack is hard hitting safeties.  We have already profiled a few of these safeties, but only one can end up in the Black & Gold.  One hard-hitting safety that I have yet to discuss is Southern Utah’s Miles Killebrew.

Like many safeties in this draft, Killebrew plays with a violent mean streak.  A 4 year starter, he recorded over 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons (101 in 2014 and 132 in 2015).   Often mistaken for a linebacker, Killebrew has the physique and ability to be a hybrid linebacker in the NFL, similar to the role Deone Bucannon plays with the Cardinals.  He is also able to play center field role in the middle of the secondary.

Killebrew loves to play around the line of scrimmage.  He shows great instinct on the snap of the ball, being able to shed blocks with quick hand movement and strong upper body; he put up 22 reps on the bench at the combine.  Though he did run a slow 40 at the NFL combine, Killebrew has been clocked running a 4.5.  That speed however does not show up on film sometimes.

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As a tackler, Killebrew is sometimes too aggressive due to the high motor he plays with.  His technique will suffer from time to time because of this, but a little coaching in the NFL should fix this weakness.  Killebrew must also learn to control is momentum when coming downhill on a ball carrier

The Steelers are still in the market for another strong safety this late in the offseason.  The only player at the position is Shamarko Thomas, who has disappointed since being drafted out of Syracuse.  Even though the Steelers already have a head hunter type safety in Mike Mitchell, Killebrew brings a lot more upside and potential than Mitchell does.

Next: Steelers Mock Draft: 7th Round (Part 2)

If the Steelers decide to draft Killebrew on Day 2, he will make an immediate impact with the Black & Gold, possibly even start on opening night at Washington.