NFL Draft results 2014: Ryan Shazier joins Steelers at No. 15
Ryan Shazier is a Steeler after Pittsburgh selected him with the No. 15 pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted Ohio State outside linebacker Ryan Shazier with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Shazier ranked No. 26 overall on SB Nation's top 200 prospects big board, which placed him No. 3 among all outside linebackers. He trailed only Khalil Mack of Buffalo and Anthony Barr of UCLA.
Shazier was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2013, as well as a First-Team All-American. He started all 14 games for the Buckeyes, recording 144 tackles and seven sacks that season. The previous year, he started 12 games and put up 115 tackles and five sacks. That was his first season as a full-time starter, and he's improved noticeably each year.
In our scouting report of Shazier, Dan Kadar wrote about Shazier needing to become a better pass-rusher:
As draft cohost Matthew Fairburn said on an MtD podcast, Shazier is a good blitzer, but he’s not a good pass-rusher. What does that mean? Shazier isn’t the type of outside linebacker who should be relied on to rush the passer on a consistent basis. He’s not Von Miller. However, he can really fire off the edge and get to the quarterback, particularly if it’s just a running back trying to block him. A defensive end in high school, Shazier does display some decent pass-rush moves, namely a dip. Ohio State also lined Shazier up with his hand on a few times in 2013. He’s just not strong enough to consistently be relied on as a pass-rusher.
Combine results
Height: 6’1
Weight: 237
Bench press: 25
Vertical jump: 42
Broad jump: 10’10
20-yard shuttle: 4.21
3-cone drill: 6.91
Shazier didn't participate in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine due to a minor hamstring injury, but he impressed big time in the jumping drills. His numbers were very solid all around, but he did make up for his lack of 40 by running it at Ohio State's pro day. He was unofficially timed at a blazing 4.38, which is excellent for someone at his position.
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