2020 NFL Draft: Late-round sleepers the Pittsburgh Steelers should target

Tight End

Whether or not the Steelers target a free-agent tight end this offseason, they should still be looking for a developmental tight end during the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite this year’s draft class being exceptionally skimpy at the tight end position, there is always a diamond in the rough somewhere, just waiting for a smart scout to notice their potential.

General manager Colbert attempted to address this position last season by bringing in Nick Vannett from the Seattle Seahawks. It did not work out so well, as he scored zero touchdowns and had just 128 yards receiving. He is a free agent this offseason and considering the deficit of available tight end talent this year, there may be a bigger contract somewhere else for him.

The lead tight end for the Steelers has been Vance McDonald. He is under contract until 2022 but has found it hard to stay healthy, failing to complete a 16-game season since entering the league. When he is on the field, he is one of the toughest players on the offense to tackle. But can the Steelers afford to pay him, knowing his history of injuries?

The Steelers offense likes to keep a tight end to be the sixth blocker at the line of scrimmage. Considering Roethlisberger’s age and recent injury, that is a smart move. But they should be looking for another big tight end to add to the roster during the upcoming draft.

If the Steelers are willing to go off the beaten trail, they should be looking at Florida Atlantic University tight end Harrison Bryant in the 2020 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds Bryant has the requisite size and speed to compete at the next level.

Like Vannett and McDonald, Bryant is a tall, athletic tight end that can dominate linebackers and slot cornerbacks with his size and physicality. By far the biggest receiving target at FAU, Bryant became the focal point of the Owls offense in recent seasons. He finished 2019 with over 1,000 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, playing a mix of tight end and slot receiver.

Bryant was coached at FAU by former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, who also spent time as a tight ends coach for USC. Bryant was able to succeed with a coach that saw his potential and maximized his abilities, making him the team’s leader in receiving yards in 2019. If NFL general managers can get over the fact Bryant was playing against Conference USA defenses, they will see a tight end with NFL characteristics.

Cole Kmet from Notre Dame is another interesting prospect in this year’s draft class. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Kmet came out of high school as one of the top tight end talents in the country. But he failed to find a consistent role on the team, earning just 176 yards on 17 receptions during his first two seasons.

In 2019, Kmet was used far more often, earning 515 yards on 43 receptions. His size and physicality made him a tough receiver to tackle last year, brushing off defensive contact with relative ease. He is fast for a tight end of his stature, but Notre Dame preferred to use him primarily as a check-down option with the ability to get yards after contact.

This last part may scare away scouts and general managers, as Kmet is not much of a deep threat. In five games last season, Kmet failed to gain more than 35 receiving yards. Since 2019 was his first season of meaningful production, some general managers may be apprehensive of drafting a tight end with such an unproven record.

His tape from 2019, along with his measurements, will make him a draft target with a ton of raw potential though. If the Steelers feel confident in their ability to develop and integrate a new tight end, they have a good chance of finding Kmet available during Day Three draft selections.

The final late-round tight end prospect that might intrigue the Steelers is Cincinnati Bearcat Josiah Deguara. Unlike the two previous tight ends, he is on the shorter side at 6-foot-3. While not incredibly physical, he does specialize in blocking at the line. A trait that should intrigue the Steelers scouting office.

While not overly impressive as a receiving option, his route-running is well above average, putting a ton of effort into his movements and breaks. He can pull linebackers out of zone coverage, opening up other parts of the field for the quarterback.

Deguara had 504 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2019, which is the best tight end production the school has had since Travis Kelce, according to the Bearcats team website.

Deguara may not be a Week One starter in the NFL, but he has the blocking skills the Steelers look for and could serve as a developmental tight end for the Steelers in 2020. If he can acclimate himself to an NFL workload, he could be a rotational tight end for the team in 2020.