2017 NFL Draft analysis: Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers love to draft young players and that trend continued this year. Three of their top four picks were underclassmen, including the second-youngest draft pick in franchise history - USC receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who does not turn 21 until July. Running back James Conner, who was drafted in the third round, is 21 and outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the first-round pick, is 22.

"Very rarely is that the variable; the deciding factor," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "If two guys are extremely close in potential, which could be, we value young guys because we like their upside. But very rarely is it that significant of a variable where it's the ultimate decision maker."

Nonetheless, the Steelers make a habit of taking underclassmen. Three of their past four first-round picks left college early, including linebacker Ryan Shazier (2014) and cornerback Artie Burns (2016).

Round 1/30 -- T.J. Watt, OLB, 6-4, 252, Wisconsin

Like his brother J.J., a three-time NFL defensive player of the year for the Houston Texans, T.J. is a converted tight end who switched to defense in the middle of his college career. He started only one season for the Badgers, but he produced 11.5 sacks and impressed enough that he became a first-round talent. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hesitated calling him raw; rather he said he's inexperienced, which is OK since he can learn behind veteran James Harrison as a rookie.

Round 2/62 - JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, 6-1, 215, Southern Cal

The Steelers know Martavis Bryant is one strike away from another long suspension and they're not entirely pleased with the development of Sammie Coates. So they invested a second-round pick in Smith-Schuster and add the talented wideout to an already crowded position group. Smith-Schuster is a big target and projects as a possession receiver in the NFL. That's something quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can use in the final years of his career. He doesn't turn 21 until July and is the second-youngest player ever drafted by the Steelers.

Round 3/94 - Cameron Sutton, CB, 5-11, 188, Tennessee

The Steelers wanted to add a corner that was adept at playing man coverage and Sutton fits the bill. He projects as a slot corner in the NFL although Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake said they'll wait to make a final determination on his position until they see him in person. He was a four-year starter in the SEC and only allowed three touchdowns in his college career. He also had three touchdowns as a punt returner, and the Steelers have been searching for someone to replace Antonio Brown in that role.

Round 3/105 - James Conner, RB, 6-1, 233, Pittsburgh

Conner is a physical runner who should be a short-yardage specialist in the NFL. The Steelers needed a backup for Le'Veon Bell and Conner can fill that role and more. He ran for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore when he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year. He sat out the 2015 season after injuring his knee and then was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. He received 12 chemotherapy treatments and was deemed cancer free last summer. As a junior, he rushed for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Round 4/135 - Joshua Dobbs, QB, 6-3, 216, Tennessee

Dobbs will be perceived on the outside as the replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, but the Steelers simply wanted to add a developmental quarterback to the mix. Dobbs was an accomplished player in the Southeastern Conference, and he threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a senior. He set the Tennessee record for career rushing yards (2,160) and some have compared him to former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick last spring who led the Dallas Cowboys to the playoffs in his rookie season. Dobbs and Prescott even share the same draft slot - No. 135 overall.

Round 5/173 - Brian Allen, CB, 6-3, 215, Utah

The Steelers drafted two defensive backs for the fourth time in the past five years. It's yet another sign they would like to upgrade a secondary that continues to have its share of struggles. While third-round pick Cameron Sutton is expected to challenge for playing time as a rookie, Allen is viewed as a developmental pick. He is a converted receiver with only 13 career starts on his college resume. The Steelers are intrigued by his size, but they know his learning curve is steep. He never played defense at any level before switching to cornerback before the 2015 season.

Round 6/213 - Colin Holba, LS, 6-4, 248, Louisville

The Steelers must really like their 90-man offseason roster because they used a sixth-round pick on Holba, a long snapper. Not only is Holba a long snapper, but he will be competing against Greg Warren, one of the best in the business, for a roster spot. Not even Holba could believe the Steelers called on draft day. "Being a specialist, very rarely do guys get drafted," Holba said. "It's beyond my wildest imagination."

Round 7/248 - Keion Adams, OLB, 6-2, 245, Western Michigan

The Steelers began the draft with an outside linebacker and ended it with another one. Adams came onto the NFL radar last fall when he earned second-team all-Mid-American Conference honors as a senior. The Steelers need depth at the position. In addition to James Harrison likely entering his final season, reserve Arthur Moats is entering the final year of his contract. If Adams doesn't make the 53-man roster he could be stashed on the practice squad in hopes that he develops into a roster-worthy player in 2018.