With just a week until the 2020 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers front office has finalized their draft board and finishing up prep for a draft in this new world. When anyone, whether it’s a fan or a general manager looks at a prospect, it is only natural to look for comparisons to NFL players, past or present.
Here are my comparisons for six of the top prospects for the Steelers.
QB Jalen Hurts/Dak Prescott
It would be too generous to compare Hurts to Lamar Jackson, although the athletic comparisons are valid. But in the big picture, Hurts with a year or two to sit behind Ben Roethlisberger could turn him into a quarterback every bit as talented as Prescott. Both guys are hard workers, students of the game and work their best on the move.
OL Jonah Jackson/Marshal Yanda
Jackson is not as polished as a run blocker coming out as Yanda was but make no mistake both players are physical, aggressive finishers and if Jackson can work on his flexibility has a chance to be one of the real impact offensive linemen in this draft.
WR Jalen Reagor/Tyreek Hill
31 NFL teams wish they had the type of playmaker the Kansas City Chiefs have in Hill. His ability to not only turn short plays into huge gains but the deep speed to pull the top off a defense a hot commodity. All you have to do is watch Reagor play to see just how dangerous his level of speed is and could give Pittsburgh a similar presence.
WR Tee Higgins/Martavis Bryant
Steelers fans remember Bryant as the best Steelers wide receiver who could never put it all together. Freakish athleticism, elite catch radius and deceptive strength and deep speed. Higgins is all that without the baggage that forced Bryant out of the league too soon.
LB Malik Harrison/Jaylon Smith
The Steelers need an inside linebacker who can do everything and that is Harrison. Like Smith, he’s got a thick, muscular build, hits like a hammer and is as comfortable working downhill as a run defender or blitzer as he is dropping into coverage.
RB D’Andre Swift/Nick Chubb
It’s easy to watch plays from Chubb and Swift and see the similarities to their games. Both guys playing at Georgia lends itself to comparisons and they are certainly warranted. Chubb is a little bigger and a little harder to tackle but the reason I make this comparison is Swift is underrated in the power department much like Chubb was in shiftiness. Neither player known for the other but both are complete backs.
