Steelers 2015 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds v4.0
Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Acquiring and retaining outside linebacker depth will be one of the Steelers’ top priorities during the upcoming months. Jason Worilds, Arthur Moats and James Harrison will be free agents after March 10, and Jarvis Jones has a whopping 4.0 sacks under his belt through his first two professional seasons.
I would personally be ecstatic if the Steelers could find a way to ink Pernell McPhee, a pending free agent from the Baltimore Ravens, if Jason Worilds leaves as a free agent next month. Heck, even Jabaal Sheard from Cleveland would be a solid pickup. If neither of those moves happen and Worilds does head elsewhere, then the Steelers will be in serious need of some help at the strongside outside linebacker spot.
Luckily for general manager Kevin Colbert, this year’s draft class features plenty of talented edge rushers. Best of all, they might be able to wait until the draft’s second day to find an intriguing prospect like Preston Smith of Mississippi State.
An experienced player (47 games, 24 starts) who was a jack-of-all-trades type of contributor on the Bulldogs’ defense throughout his career (2014: 15.0 tfls, 9.0 sacks, 15 QBHs, 2 FFs, 2 INTs), Smith would provide some help to Pittsburgh’s defense as an outside linebacker. The former defensive end (6’5″ 270 lbs.) has active and powerful hands, can disengage and set the edge against the run with his long arms and possesses an array of pass rushing moves to go along with his deceptive athletic ability.
Smith will likely not be drafted higher than the third round due to his lack of a natural position. Moreover, he will definitely need to keep his pad level consistent, show that he has the type of athletic ability to beat NFL tackles on the edge and illustrate that he can contribute in pass coverage if he is selected by a franchise with a base 3-4 defense. Questions aside, a classic “tweener” with Smith’s unique set of skills and ability to pass rush from multiple spots is what Pittsburgh’s defense could definitely use.
Next: Round 4