Steelers 2015 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds v1.0

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Many things have contributed to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current dumpster fire of a situation at the cornerback position.

Prospects failing to develop, age and injuries ravaging once reliable veterans, piss-poor free agent signings/extensions, and a general lack of interest in actually drafting difference-makers with high round choices have crippled the depth chart for this franchise.

Ike Taylor looks like he has one foot already in the glue factory after an underwhelming and injury-plagued 2014 campaign. Veteran William Gay, who will turned 30 this January, is only signed through the 2015 season. Backups Brice McCain and Antwon Blake will be unrestricted free agents this spring, and former starter Cortez Allen was nothing short of god-awful last fall after he inked a hefty offseason extension.

Even if the Steelers make a foray into the free agent market this spring, playing time will almost assuredly be available during training camp. With this pressing need in mind, a cornerback with P.J. Williams’ skill-set would provide Pittsburgh’s secondary with a much needed boost.

Not only is the former Seminole (2014: 74 tackles, 9.5 tfls, 1.0 sack, 1 int, 1 fr, 1 ff, 11 pds) one of the best cover and press-man corners in this draft class, his technique, awareness, and ability to contain receivers in zone coverage is quite good to boot. Williams also has a solid frame (6′ 196 lbs.), can blitz off of the edge, and will line up outside the numbers as well as in the slot.

Although he does not possess the speed or the ball-skills of a Trae Waynes or Marcus Peters (both of whom will likely come off the board before him), Williams has more than enough tools to become a fantastic starter in the NFL. Best of all, he would be a tremendous marriage of BPA, need and overall value at number 22 overall for this franchise.

Next: Round 2