2014 NFL Draft: Steelers Select OLB Ryan Shazier

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With the 15th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Ryan Shazier, outside linebacker out of Ohio State.

Though many were expecting a cornerback to go to Pittsburgh, the Steelers instead selected Shazier, an outside linebacker. Shazier stands at 6 foot-1 and weighs 237 pounds. Shazier played college ball at Ohio State.

Shazier is an impressive player. He was very productive with the Buckeyes of Ohio State. Though he lacks great instincts and anticipation, Shazier still is very disruptive rushing the passer and stopping the run. Also, he is a great athlete with great speed. At the 2014 NFL Combine, Shazier ran the 3 cone drill in 6.91 seconds. He continued to show his athleticism with a 42 inch vertical jump and 130.0 broad jump. Shazier enters the NFL with a terrific combination of athleticism, speed, and skill. The Steelers picked up a skilled linebacker in Shazier. A major plus with Shazier is his ability to play all three downs, as he can rush the passer, but stop the run, too. Because of his great production at Ohio State, his athleticism, and ability to both rush the passer and stop the run, Shazier has great potential. He must improve his awareness. Shazier lacks good size and is overaggressive at times. He must improve his awareness, anticipation, and react quicker.

Overall, Shazier has an amazing blend of tackling skills and ability to rush the passer and stop the run with great athleticism for his position. He has work to do, but with the Steelers, a team that has a track record of producing good linebackers, Shazier has a bright future.

Benefits for the Steelers

The Steelers drafted a good outside linebacker at 15th overall. There wasn’t much better available. With Jarvis Jones’ injury concerns and Jason Worilds (currently only has one year left on his contract, as he signed a one year transition tag this past March) possibly leaving after this upcoming season, Shazier was a smart pick. Also, even if the Steelers sign Worilds to a long-term deal, which they should do, there are still concerns on his production and whether or not he can sustain the success he had last season. Jason Worilds looks to have a bright future, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding him. With Jones, he has major concerns with injury and longevity. Like Worilds and Shazier, Jones has a bright future, but only if he can stay healthy. Ryan Shazier provides Pittsburgh with another good pass rusher and run stopper. It’ll help the defense, as the Steelers are adding another playmaker that can force turnovers. Also, Shazier provides insurance should Worilds underachieve or leave after this upcoming season or Jones struggles with injuries.

Downside for the Steelers

One major problem with this pick is that the Steelers had bigger needs. They are lacking cornerback and wide receiver depth. The secondary struggled at times last season. Though Cortez Allen is continuing to improve, Ike Taylor is only getting older. Pittsburgh needed a cornerback badly, but passed on Darqueze Dennard and others. With the departures of Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery, the Steelers needed to provide help for Ben Roethlisberger and get him another target. Instead, they chose a linebacker who lacks awareness and will likely not be a major contributor in his rookie season.

In the end, there are more pros than cons with this pick. Shazier provides insurance, skill, and a bright future for the Steelers. When the Steelers are at their best, they’re getting pressure on the opposing quarterback, and Shazier helps them do just that. The 2014 NFL Draft is filled with good cornerbacks and wide receivers, so the Steelers could likely get one on Friday night.

Information from NFL.com was used in this article.

Xaivier Carr Jaxson is an analyst and writer for Tru School Sports. Follow him on Twitter.