Sean Davis
Heading into the draft, it was a foregone conclusion that Davis would be the first Terp to come off the board. With the second round winding down, the Steelers grabbed the former Maryland star as they appeared to be placing an emphasis on defense through the early portion of the draft. In the first round, Pittsburgh selected Miami (Fla.) cornerback Artie Burns, which pretty much set in stone that Davis will play safety at the NFL level.
Defensive backs coach and former NFL star Carnell Lake confirmed that Davis will start out at strong safety with the organization. Currently, Robert Golden and Mike Mitchell are the only safeties with much experience, so Davis could be next in line for playing time. The former Terp likely will see the field on passing downs and could be used in a variety of ways. Due to his ability to tackle and force turnovers, Davis also could see time at safety and come up to play in the box.
Davis’ versatility should make him an asset in Pittsburgh. After all, the Steelers could use all the help they can get as they finished 30th in the NFL in pass defense (allowing 271.9 passing yards per game).
Next: An emphasis on defense in Jacksonville