The percentage of linebackers comprising the Pittsburgh Steelers collegiate visitors in advance of the 2013 NFL Draft has officially dropped to 58.3% after the Steelers entertained two more prospects that meet clear areas of need.
The Steelers worked out TCU (Texas Christian University) wide receiver Josh Boyce and UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Allen Robinson, the Steelers could look to Franklin as early as the second or perhaps the third round, while Boyce is projected as a mid-rounder.
- Franklin leaves the Bruins as the team’s top single season and career rusher, while Boyce is projected as an NFL slot receiver.
Mike Tomlin is on record saying that the Steelers need more talent at running back, after having seen both Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman fail to seize the starting job in 2012. Baron Batch is the only other Steelers running back under contract.
At wide receiver the Steelers talent in depth are better, with what remains of “Young Money” Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown backed up by veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Plaxico Burress.
But Emmanuel Sanders is a restricted free agent who appeared to be headed to New England, and both Cotchery and Burress are playing down the back end of their careers.
