Steelers 2015 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds v1.0
Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
The signing of Shawn Lemon aside, the Steelers will need to add/retain depth at outside linebacker this offseason. As of now, veterans James Harrison, Arthur Moats and Jason Worilds are all set to become unrestricted free agents during the spring.
Compounding my fears surrounding the outside linebacker spots is the fact that Jarvis Jones enters his third professional season with little to show off on his resume.
The 17th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft has produced very little and been injured for extended periods during his first two years. Not helping Jones is that his development into a potent pass rusher leaves more questions than answers at this juncture of his career.
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Even if the Steelers address the outside linebacker position via free agency, do not discount general manager Kevin Colbert from selecting a pass rusher if a “BPA” scenario unfolds in the middle of the draft. One player who could intrigue the Steelers if he falls on the second day of the draft is Nate Orchard of Utah.
While many will complain that Orchard (6’3″ 252 lbs.) lacks the raw athletic ability, pass coverage skills and overall upside of those who will be selected before him in the draft, Pittsburgh’s brass could find a steal in the Utah pass-rusher (2014: 84 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 21.0 tfls, 3 ffs, 1 fr, 3 pds).
Technically sound, strong, smart, and armed with a stout 3-4 outside linebacker frame, Orchard could be just the type of player the Steelers need to add to the mix at a position with minimal bodies by the time the regular season starts. Thus, grabbing Orchard in the second or third round would be a fantastic move for this franchise.
Next: Round 4