Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…
Nick Bolton (Inside Linebacker), University of Missouri, Junior
OVERVIEW:
Death, taxes, and the Steelers drafting a linebacker; these are all things we can count on. In a somewhat coincidental visit, Steelers linebackers coach, Jerry Olsavsky, met and worked out with Bolton at the Mizzou Pro Day a week after Vince Williams' release. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was on hand to meet with Bolton as well. Olsavsky also spoke with Bolton’s family and agent, Tommy Condon. With a decimated linebacker corps going into 2021, the need for middle linebacker help in Pittsburgh is prevalent. Bolton may be the puzzle piece we need.
PROS:
Bolton is a fiery, intense player at the linebacker position. At 6’0” and weighing about 232 pounds, Bolton is a bit undersized for an NFL middle linebacker. However, this translates into Bolton being incredibly versatile at the linebacker position. His strength is his physicality and being able to pursuit the ball carrier or quarterback and disrupting the play. At the Mizzou pro day, he chalked up a 4.59 second 40-yard dash and 24 reps at the 225 pound bench press. This proves that Bolton has the speed to effectively cover NFL tight ends, while being able to deliver powerful hits with closing speed. This would fit well in the Steelers’ zone blitz scheme. Coach Olsavsky and Tomlin came away from Missouri impressed with what they saw from Bolton.
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CONS:
Because of his size, Bolton is forced to chase down ball carriers, as opposed to meeting them at the line of scrimmage. He tends to get lost in the middle of the field, and may get beat on an outside run if he is too far removed from the line. Bolton has been known to be inconsistent in shedding blockers and may get bogged down easily on run plays. Between his size, mixed with inconsistent separation on blockers, and topped with below-average lateral movement, Bolton may find trouble early in adapting to the NFL.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Middle to Late 2nd Round
Bolton currently sits as the 7th ranked inside linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft. With that being said, there are several teams who are also in dire need of a potential year one starter at inside linebacker. To give an idea for example, the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons are all teams ahead of the Steelers who need a starting linebacker. Bolton is not one where the Steelers will trade up to grab (see Devin Bush in 2019), but he is definitely one to keep an eye on as we near closer to the third round.
VERDICT:
I like Bolton. With the Steelers’ shopping list growing more and more each day, Bolton at inside linebacker would be a great fit. We saw last year how depth at linebacker is crucial, especially with the mic’d helmet. Bolton could provide that instant year one roster depth, and develop into a reliable, durable NFL linebacker. Should he be available to the Steelers after the second round (yes, I’m still banking on the Steelers going RB/OT in the first 2 rounds), then I say go get him. If Bolton is available after the 2nd round, I consider that a steal for whoever lands him. NFL scouts were impressed by his pro day performance, and there is no doubt he’d provide immediate value to any NFL roster.
Where do you think Bolton will land in April? Let us know in the comments below!
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