Steelers Mock Draft: Pittsburgh loads up the trenches early
By Tommy Jaggi
The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and Pittsburgh has needs to fill on both sides of the ball. Here is my updated seven-round Steelers mock draft.
The Steelers are looking to fill a number of depth needs via the NFL Draft, and finding a replacement for Javon Hargrave’s role is something that could very well be at the top of their list.
Pittsburgh has trends we can normally follow. They covet youth, athleticism, and Power 5 school players in the first few rounds. However, in such an unusual offseason, it’s impossible to predict whether or not their checklist will remain the same.
With the draft quickly approaching, here is my latest seven-round Steelers mock draft:
2nd round: Justin Madubuike
Defensive tackle, Texas A&M
This is a name I have heard the Steelers have a lot of interest in if he is still on the board. And why wouldn’t they? Justin Madubuike is strong at the point of attack and knife in the backfield to make plays. At 6’3” and 293 pounds, he’s lighter than Hargrave coming out, but he carries his weight very well.
Madubuike may not start at nose tackle right away for the Steelers, however, he could slide in on any nickel and dime packages and get after the quarterback as a 3-technique. With Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, and Chris Wormley, Pittsburgh is currently a team full of big, long 5-techs who can’t offer the rapid penetration of a player like Madubuike. He makes a lot of sense for the Steelers if he is still on the board at this point.