2020 NFL draft: RB Cam Akers NFL draft profile

Steelers Wire draft profile featuring RB Cam Akers (Florida State).

Five-star running back Cam Akers was highly-recruited out of Mississippi’s Clinton High School and the top RB in the nation in 2017.

When Akers came to FSU, he had big shoes to fill — those of Dalvin Cook, who went on to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 draft. Akers may not have lived up to Cook’s numbers, due in part to a porous offensive line and overall team performance, but he did break his predecessor’s freshman rushing record with 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns.

The multi-talented RB finished his Seminoles career with 2,875 yards rushing on 586 attempts for 4.9 yards per carry and 27 TDs. He tacked onto that 486 yards receiving and seven scores.

Cam Akers | RB | Florida State University

Height | 5-10

Weight | 217

Class | Junior

College Bio

Career Stats

The Steelers need to address the running back position in the 2020 draft. James Conner is in the final season of his contract and one injury away from not getting an extension. The fact that he hasn’t played a full season since being drafted does not bode well for him.

Jaylen Samuels nor Benny Snell, Jr., have shown they have what it takes to be “the guy”. Akers has just the body of work to lead the run attack and, in certain situations, can be used in special plays as a passer to throw off the opposition.

Akers is being projected as the No. 4 RB in the draft meaning the Steelers would have to take him with their first pick (49).

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2020 NFL draft: TE Hunter Bryant NFL draft profile

Steelers Wire draft profile featuring tight end Hunter Bryant (Washington Huskies)

A product of his hometown Washington Huskies, Hunter Bryant enjoyed an All-American caliber season in 2019 with 52 catches, 825 yards, and three touchdowns. He sorely needed it as his freshman and sophomore seasons were riddled with knee injuries.

When healthy, the hybrid receiver/tight end can pose problems for defenders. Bryant can bust seams to outrun linebackers before he explodes into routes. His speed allows him to weave around tacklers for YAC. Bryant’s ball skills earned him an average of 16.4 yards per catch in college, and he hopes to carry that over to the pros.

Hunter Bryant | TE | University of Washington

Height | 6-2

Weight | 239

Class | Junior

College Bio

Career Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been unsuccessful in the pursuit of their next Heath Miller. If the Steelers are willing to take a gamble with Bryants’ injury history, he could end up paying dividends. There’s no definitive answer on whether they will take the $7.127 million cap hit and keep Vance McDonald or decline the $5.5 million option and move on.

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2020 NFL draft: WR Tee Higgins NFL draft profile

Steelers Wire draft profile featuring wide receiver Tee Higgins (Clemson Tigers)

Tamaurice “Tee” Higgins, a projected first-round wide receiver, graduated Tennessee’s Oak Ridge High School as a five-star recruit. He initially committed to the University of Tennessee before changing to Clemson University.

Higgins appeared in seven games his freshman year and entered his sophomore season as a starter. Following a spectacular performance in his junior year, Higgins announced he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson University

Height | 6-4

Weight | 216

Class | Junior

College Bio

College Stats

In 30 starts (43 games) at Clemson, Higgins compiled 2,448 yards on 135 receptions. He scored a touchdown on 20 percent of his catches at Clemson, which resulted in being tied for the most receiving touchdowns in school history (27) with NFL stars DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins. Higgins left Clemson as the only player in school history to record double-digit touchdown receptions in consecutive seasons.

Higgins can play in all three receiver spots — X, slot, and Z — which makes him a valuable asset to any team.

In a draft class that is chock-full of talented receiver prospects, Higgins has all the tangibles — size, speed, and pass-catching — to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

Several teams are looking to upgrade at the receiver position, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently without a first-round pick. As we know, though, anything can happen. The Steelers are known to draft receivers high, and 2020 will be no different. Should the unlikely happen and Higgins is still available at 49, Pittsburgh will have themselves a towering target for Ben Roethlisberger. The versatile receiver would be an excellent addition to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dionte Johnson, and James Washington.

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