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NFL Network and NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had a pre-draft media conference call via Zoom yesterday and talked about this year's prospects and where he can see them playing in the NFL.
Jeremiah sees the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Alabama center Landon Dickerson as a fit for the Steelers, which makes sense since the team has a void to fill at center with Maurkice Pouncey retiring last month.
Dickerson is a big and physical center that isn't afraid to get nasty. He has a similar demeanor to Pouncey in those regards. However, he does have a lengthy injury history and is coming off an ACL tear that he injured in the SEC title game. Despite the red flags when it comes to being durable, Jeremiah still sees Dickerson as a perfect candidate to replace Pouncey
"He's almost the perfect Steeler. He's physical and nasty. He's fun to watch. He's quick," Jeremiah said. "He's a taller guy (6-foot-6), but we've seen the Steelers coming off a pretty good run here with a tall center (Maurkice Pouncey)."
Jeremiah also sees North Carolina running back Javonte Williams as a fit for the Steelers. He compared Williams to Browns running back Nick Chubb.
“When you watch film, you see it,” Jeremiah said via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “When you talk to the coaches at North Carolina -- some have come from Georgia -- and they say the similarities are eerie. They are all business. They are physical, great leaders, catch the ball out of the backfield and do a lot of different things.
“This kid gives you a little bit of everything. He’s 220 pounds, but he has big-time burst. ... The more I keep digging on him, the kid’s wiring is off the charts.”
Below is a summary of Dickerson by The Draft Network.
"Landon Dickerson is a well-traveled prospect that played at Florida State (2016-2018) and Alabama (2019-2020). Playing all five positions up front, he has gained experience at multiple spots. Settling in along the interior during the back half of his career, he came into his own while in Tuscaloosa. Dickerson is a stoutly built interior blocker that has a well-developed understanding of how to use his frame. Extremely strong at the point of attack, he has above average hand power, body strength, and awareness. Although a below-average athlete, he wins with acceleration out of his stance by latching on quickly and not allowing matchups to detach. At his best when asked to stay within a controlled environment that hardly ever exceeds the B gaps, he’s constantly looking for work on either side. Playing through the whistle is constant, as he has the control to steer and direct targets to desired locations. The biggest concern with Dickerson is durability. His redshirt junior season (2019) is the only year where he’s been able to finish a season healthy from start to finish. He’s sustained a laundry list of injuries: torn right ACL (Nov. 2016), ankle surgery (Oct. 2017), ankle injury (2018), ligament damage to left knee (Dec. 2020)."