When a defense allows the third-most yards per play in the previous regular season, the subsequent draft would figure to bring to reinforcements.
Such was the case for the Steelers, who selected six defensive players in eight picks in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Half of the defensive selections were defensive backs: Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson (Round Two), Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant (Round Four) and Louisville safety Gerod Holliman (Round Seven). Golson and Grant have a chance to vie for roles right off the bat, while Holliman has a chance to make the roster, what with safety not one of the Steelers’ deeper positions.
The Steelers began the draft selecting an edge-rusher, Kentucky’s Bud Dupree, in Round One. Other front seven picks were Miami (Fla.) outside linebacker/defensive end Anthony Chickillo (Round Six) and Central Michigan defensive tackle Leterrius Walton (Round Six). Dupree, Walton and Chickillo all face a learning curve as they learn the Steelers’ defense, but if they can play, there are reps to be had.
Whether the Steelers’ defensive picks pan out remains to be seen. But leaning defense was the play in 2015, and it may have been the only one, given the depth chart.
