Goddamn I hope you're wrong.
I very well could be but making an educated guess its pretty easy to figure out what positions they'll likely take.
-To my knowledge they haven't cut, traded, or let an offensive linemen walk. All the injured guys are coming back and yes shockingly hurt players recover w/ modern medicine and the best med staffs in the world. There's always a chance they could take some depth fodder toward the end but it won't be prioritized.
-ILBs are becoming a dinosaur position. Plus their history shows they just don't target those early, with Earnest Jones their highest pick in 2021 as a 3rd rounder (a super late one at that) and he's a good player. Using a high pick and having 2 good ILBs isn't the modern NFL.
-Why would they take a QB? The whole "grooming a QB for tHe FuTuRe" is a myth and honestly can't remember the last one that was actually "groomed".
-safety see previous posts and my other reply here
-And no you don't take returners high
-They will take a runner high because they right now they only have Cam Akers, Ronnie Rivers, and Kyren Williams. 1 guy that has injury, fumble, and was almost traded and 2 other guys that haven't done anything. The team needs a RB.
-They will take a WR high b/c one guy is looking for a trade, and even if Allen Robinson isn't traded both he and Van Jefferson are FAs after this season leaving only Cooper Kupp, Tutu Atwell, and Ben Skow as the top 3. This is how the team operates, taking guys to sit and develop. If there's a stud WR they should take him. Plus the importance and value on WRs has never been higher.
-They will take a pass rusher high because they let go of Leonard Floyd and literally have no rushers except for Michael Hoecht.
-They will take a corner high for obvious reasons.
You need safeties, we are short at that position, we have 11 picks. Taking a safety is still on the table IMO. Not saying it is happening but not a position group that is off the table with our extreme lack of depth and experience in that group
I believe McVay & Snead draft them at a much higher than average rate too 6 or so since 2017 and only 3 left so we do draft them.
Yeast, Lake, Fuller, Burgess, Johnson, Rapp, Scott,
I guess we will see but I think we are leaving open many options in this draft
Lets just hope we get some immediate contributors and good developmental players that eventually contribute.
I am pretty intrigued by what we may do with so many positions groups needing attention
If they take one it'll be late unless they're confident there's a stud there. Never said they don't draft safeties but they are lower, back ends of draft. Taylor Rapp being a high-ish 2nd rounder and how did that turn out? A decent player and gone after 4 years.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is a stud safety. How are the Steelers defense doing the past couple years? Kyle Hamilton was a 1st rounder and the Ravens D was doo doo too. Meanwhile the Rams played with 7th rounder Nick Scott in the damn Super Bowl lol