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Strackbein Says: With the 28th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft…

By Noah Strackbein

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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We are 24 hours from Draft Day, and every rumor, mock and expert advise is flying off the shelves like bread and water the day of a snow storm.

This close to the big day, most teams will know how they expect the opening round to go. 2018 isn’t providing that luxury. From start to finish, the fans, teams and players are sitting just as clueless as they were two months ago.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting in that same boat. Like a sinking ship, every league front office is scrambling trying to create their final draft board with realistic expectations. The problem, is that no one has any idea how the draft will play out come Thursday night.

Making the 28th pick even more of a challenge that it already is. Pittsburgh would love to find their inside linebacker and Ryan Shazier replacement, but the two men they’ve named all offseason could either fall to them or be gone five picks before them.

Then, they have this quarterback named Mason Rudolph sitting pretty as a backup option. But the need for quarterback is so strong some mock drafts say he’ll be the sixth one gone before the Steelers are even on the clock.

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And finally, a running back. Don’t yell, it’s a real thought. Derrius Guice can turn into a Steeler overnight and everyone knows it in the back of their head. Pittsburgh has a reason they haven’t gotten a deal done with Le’Veon Bell and money isn’t it.

But he’s still not a guaranteed pick. He’s probably third or fourth on their draft board. The way this draft is looking, though, he could be the only option when their altering 10 minutes begins to count down.

So, expect nothing, and everything. The way this is going to pan out is likely going to be this –

  • Leighton Vander Esch isn’t an option. The Dallas Cowboys are in love with him, and despite concerns regarding his neck injury, they’re going to draft him at No. 19.
  • Rashaan Evans is a realistic option. The biggest concern here is New England selecting him 23rd just to get under the skin of Pittsburgh. And make their defense better too, I guess.
  • Pittsburgh doesn’t want Mason Rudolph. They should want him, but they don’t. Ben Roethlisberger’s successor isn’t coming to Pittsburgh this season, because the way they look at it, they have two years after this to find someone. Even though they realistically don’t.
  • Derrius Guice is a stretch but not as much of one as you’d expect. Pittsburgh has genuine interest in him according to Jeremy Fowler. He’s the reason this team hasn’t paid Bell. If he’s around at No. 28 and no one else is, or they believe they can pull a linebacker off in the second-round, do not be surprised if his name is called. Don’t be surprised by the amount of Twitter shade Bell will put out there, either.

Next: 15 greatest 1st round picks in Steelers history

The skies will clear as the pick approaches, but not by much until it’s two or three selections away. Before that, sit back, eat your bag of Doritos and wait. It’s about to be one of the most exciting drafts of the decade. Enjoy it.

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