Everyone is playing matchmaker in the NFL Draft world as more mock drafts come down the pipeline. The Steelers have been coupled with just about every position in the first round – guard, tackle, cornerback, linebacker, quarterback, and perhaps most common, wide receiver.
NFL.com and Next Gen Stats’ Mike Band recently weighed in with a mock draft of his, pairing the Steelers with one of the top receivers in the class, Jordyn Tyson.
“With Mike McCarthy now in charge and the Steelers still valuing receivers who can separate and finish through contact,” Band wrote. “Tyson fits as a polished, early-starter type who can round out the room alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.”
Going from a room of Metcalf, Calvin Austin and Adam Thielen to Metcalf, Pittman Jr. and Tyson would be an immediate shot in the arm for the Steelers. It’s no secret that McCarthy has a history of running 11-personnel and slinging the ball around the yard. For that to work, there needs to be more talent in the receiver room, outside of the aforementioned Pittman and Metcalf.
Tyson, as Band writes, is a perfect fit for the system McCarthy is looking to run. He’s a versatile receiver who can win quickly off the line of scrimmage and in contested situations. Unfortunately, he’s not super dynamic after the catch. Last year, he averaged just 4.8 yards after the catch, per PFF, but I find those numbers to be a bit deceiving. Tyson falls to the ground a lot to protect himself on tape, hurting that number. When he truly turns on the jets, you see some pretty eye-popping moments.
Dane Bruglar of the Athletic compared Tyson’s game to Stefon Diggs.
“He reminds me so much of Stefon Diggs,” Bruglar said on The Athletic Football Show. “His ability to create space and be a ball winner at the catch point.”
It’s pretty high praise for Tyson, and a comparison that, if it rings true, would be an easy fit into a Mike McCarthy offense.
The biggest concern with Tyson throughout the process has been injuries. Throughout his college career, Tyson has lived on the injury report. A torn ACL/PCL/MCL, a fractured collarbone and now a mysterious hamstring injury have kept him out of most of the pre-draft process.
In recent years, the Steelers certainly haven’t been afraid to draft players with injury concerns early, with Troy Fautanu and Derrick Harmon both drawing flags from teams.
The ties to the Steelers are already deeply woven with Tyson. The former Sun Devil was coached in college by Pittsburgh legend Hines Ward, so I’m sure the team has plenty of insider information on him. They have already shown interest in Tyson, reportedly meeting with him at the NFL Combine.
There’s a high likelihood that Tyson gets drafted before the Steelers are on the clock, but if he is still available, don’t be surprised if he’s the pick for Pittsburgh.
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