Players still available for round 7

[panfanman]

Why Benny should be the pick.

 

• The "Michigan" Pedigree: He played in a pro-style system that prioritizes gap discipline. He isn't going to try to be a hero and leave a lane open; he’s going to hold his ground so your linebackers can fly to the ball.

 

• The Rotation Factor: At 6'3" and 300 lbs, he has enough mass to spell Lee Hunter at Nose Tackle but is athletic enough to play the 3-technique (lining up over the guard) next to Derrick Brown.
• High Motor: Scouts consistently rave about his "unending effort." When everyone else is tired in the 7th round of a game, Benny is the guy still fighting through double teams to get a hand on the quarterback or bat down a pass.

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

One of the more baffling picks the Steelers have ever made. They're consistently good in large part because they don't usually do dumb poo like that. 

I think they were grasping to replace Big Ben.  thought maybe a local QB would take his spot.

[DaveThePanther2008]

L. Robinson from Navy went to Cincinnati.  Being a fan of the midshipmen and a 25 yr VET.  He's a great pick up for a 7th round pick.  Nice.  

[DaveThePanther2008]

The pick is in.  Jackson Kuwatch from Miami (OH).  Guru's fill me in.

[TheSpecialJuan]

I’ve started a UDFA thread 

[Htarnation4.0]

We need a qb but guess that's done

[LinvilleGorge]

It wouldn't be a draft unless we pick a guy I've literally never heard of before. At least we waited until the 7th round to do it. LOL

[DaveThePanther2008]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

It wouldn't be a draft unless we pick a guy I've literally never heard of before. At least we waited until the 7th round to do it. LOL

Really  Ranked 387.  There must be something DM sees in him.  Gotta be a Dawg thing, has to be. 

[panfanman]

Drafting a player ranked 387th overall when we are in the 7th round (where picks usually fall between 220 and 260) definitely feels like a "reach" on paper, but there is some fascinating logic behind why the we might have pulled the trigger on Jackson Kuwatch.

In the 7th round, teams often stop looking at "Big Boards" and start looking at specific traits and special teams value. Here is the breakdown of why he likely ended up in our draft class:

1. The "Late Bloomer" Factor

Kuwatch was a walk-on at Ohio State before transferring to Miami (OH). He had almost no production until 2025, when he absolutely exploded:

• 109 tackles
• 10 tackles for loss
• 5 sacks
• 82.1 PFF Grade (which is elite for a linebacker)

Because he only had one year of elite production, the national "ranking" algorithms (like the one showing 387) are often slow to catch up, but NFL scouts saw a 6'4", 235 lb athlete who finally "figured it out."

2. Testing vs. Ranking

His rankings might be low, but his Pro Day numbers were top-tier:

• 3-Cone Drill: 6.95 seconds (This would have ranked 2nd among all linebackers at the Combine).
• Vertical/Broad Jump: He showed elite "explosive" traits that suggest he can cover ground quickly.

Teams often take a flyer on a guy with "top-of-the-class" agility in the 7th round, regardless of where a website ranks him.

3. The "Special Teams Ace" Profile

At 6'4", he has the frame to be a "wedge buster" on kickoffs and the speed to be a gunner on punts. Most 7th-round linebackers are drafted specifically to never see the field on defense, but to play 20+ snaps a game on Special Teams.

4. Direct Team Interest

The Colts and Broncos were both heavily scouting him leading up to the draft. If the we knew another team was planning to sign him as a "priority undrafted free agent," we might have used that 7th-round pick just to ensure we didn't lose him to a bidding war after the draft ended.

The Verdict:

We essentially traded a "depth" pick for a high-upside developmental athlete. He’s the classic "Dan Morgan" player—gritty, high-motor, and a former walk-on with a chip on his shoulder.

He might not be a starter on Day 1, but with his 3-cone speed and 6'4" frame, he’s a prime candidate to become a core special teams leader for us.

[Jon Snow]

7 minutes ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

Really  Ranked 387.  There must be something DM sees in him.  Gotta be a Dawg thing, has to be. 

Special Teams 

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, panfanman said:

Drafting a player ranked 387th overall when we are in the 7th round (where picks usually fall between 220 and 260) definitely feels like a "reach" on paper, but there is some fascinating logic behind why the we might have pulled the trigger on Jackson Kuwatch.

In the 7th round, teams often stop looking at "Big Boards" and start looking at specific traits and special teams value. Here is the breakdown of why he likely ended up in our draft class:

1. The "Late Bloomer" Factor

Kuwatch was a walk-on at Ohio State before transferring to Miami (OH). He had almost no production until 2025, when he absolutely exploded:

• 109 tackles
• 10 tackles for loss
• 5 sacks
• 82.1 PFF Grade (which is elite for a linebacker)

Because he only had one year of elite production, the national "ranking" algorithms (like the one showing 387) are often slow to catch up, but NFL scouts saw a 6'4", 235 lb athlete who finally "figured it out."

2. Testing vs. Ranking

His rankings might be low, but his Pro Day numbers were top-tier:

• 3-Cone Drill: 6.95 seconds (This would have ranked 2nd among all linebackers at the Combine).
• Vertical/Broad Jump: He showed elite "explosive" traits that suggest he can cover ground quickly.

Teams often take a flyer on a guy with "top-of-the-class" agility in the 7th round, regardless of where a website ranks him.

3. The "Special Teams Ace" Profile

At 6'4", he has the frame to be a "wedge buster" on kickoffs and the speed to be a gunner on punts. Most 7th-round linebackers are drafted specifically to never see the field on defense, but to play 20+ snaps a game on Special Teams.

4. Direct Team Interest

The Colts and Broncos were both heavily scouting him leading up to the draft. If the we knew another team was planning to sign him as a "priority undrafted free agent," we might have used that 7th-round pick just to ensure we didn't lose him to a bidding war after the draft ended.

The Verdict:

We essentially traded a "depth" pick for a high-upside developmental athlete. He’s the classic "Dan Morgan" player—gritty, high-motor, and a former walk-on with a chip on his shoulder.

He might not be a starter on Day 1, but with his 3-cone speed and 6'4" frame, he’s a prime candidate to become a core special teams leader for us.

Not sure where that AI slop came from but I don't think NFL scouts saw an athlete who finally figured it out or he wouldn't have lasted until the 7th round and the NFL banned the wedge on kickoffs nearly 20 years ago.