Steelers 2015 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds v4.0

Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the free agency period will likely be unkind to the Steelers at the cornerback position. As we sit one month away from the start of the process, Cortez Allen is the only cornerback on this roster who is currently signed beyond the 2015 regular season.

Due to the lack of depth and overall talent at the position, many within the fanbase are clamoring for the front office to select one with the franchise’s first round pick.  Even if the Steelers pass on a cornerback with their first 2015 selection, one has to assume that those in charge will address the pressing need at some point on the second day of the draft.

The second and third rounds should be littered with plenty of solid cornerback talent, and a player like D’Joun Smith of Florida Atlantic would be a nice marriage of “BPA and Need” at that juncture. Although the Sun Belt Conference might not produce massive amounts of NFL talent on a yearly basis, a player with Smith’s particular skills will have teams eying the cornerback.

A three-year starter for Florida Atlantic, Smith forced opposing quarterbacks to look to the other side of the field last fall (2014: 53 tackles, 1 FF, 2 FRs, 8 PDs, 1 INT)  after an impressive junior campaign in 2013 (35 tackles, 2 FFs, 13 PDs, 7 INTs).

Smith might not possess the prototypical height or frame (5’10” 189 lbs.) or arm length which has become the rage in the NFL in recent years. However, the former Owl’s fluid hips, good footwork, instincts in off-man and zone coverage, ability to track the ball in the air and willingness to support the run would make him a legitimate addition to any NFL team with holes in their secondary.

Smith also gained a fair amount of experience returning kickoffs (2011-2014: 47 returns, 1,093 yards, 23.3 average) during his collegiate career too, and he could be an instant return man or special teams contributor for a team like the Steelers.

Next: Round 3