Steelers' Tomlin believes 3 rookies could start on defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed numerous voids during the 2016 NFL Draft, and the defense could look significantly different than it did last year as a result.

Pittsburgh used its first three picks on cornerback Artie Burns, safety Sean Davis, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The trio will likely get a chance to start immediately, head coach Mike Tomlin said.

"I believe it's realistic," Tomlin said to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That's why we chose them where we chose them. But they have to earn it, and we'll give them the opportunity to do that."

Burns and Davis figure to be immediate starters as part of a targeted effort to improve the secondary, while Hargrave will compete against Daniel McCullers for a spot in the rotation.

While it's too early to make a considerable appraisal of the draft class, the Steelers will evaluate their players with a pretty simple criteria.

"You never know. If these guys help us win a championship, then it worked out," general manager Kevin Colbert said. "This is the only way we evaluate any class."