Steelers Draft: Top 150 big board and players Pittsburgh could target

The NFL Draft is just days away. Here is my final 2020 Top 150 big board and players the Pittsburgh Steelers could target.

We’ve finally made it to another NFL Draft, but this year look more different than it ever has. Travel bans forced the cancelation of more than 85 Pro Days and teams were not permitted to bring players in for facility visits this year. In addition, the Steelers are without a first-round pick for the first time since 1967 and have fewer draft picks than they’ve had since 2003.

Despite all of this, there is always a good enough reason to get excited for April, and the thought of landing a potential difference-maker will keep me glued to my chair from Thursday until Saturday. Over the past four months, I have spent countless hours analyzing game film and studying draft trends. Here is my final 2020 big board, and the players the Steelers could target in each round:

1st Round Grades:

The Steelers are without a first-round pick, and all of these players will undoubtedly be off the board by the time pick 49 rolls around. Thinking of Minkah Fitzpatrick as their first-round draft choice makes all of the pain go away though.

1st-2nd Round Grades:

Here are all the players that I have 1st-2nd round grades on. These are the players I graded with immense upside but aren’t locks to be great players like my true 1st round grades. My 1-2 grades are players that should go anywhere from mid-first-round to early second-round.

While most of the players from this will be gone, there is a chance that a few of these names could make it to pick 49. More than likely, we are looking at a running back or (J.K. Dobbins or Jonathan Taylor) and possibly a wide receiver (Jalen Reagor or Brandon Aiyuk). Jaylon Johnson is a player I’m higher on than most, and there’s a good chance he could fall this far, depending on how teams view his medicals.

The Steelers will likely have more interest in a running back than receiver early this year (though my preference would be the latter). I don’t know if they have much interest in Jonathan Taylor, J.K. Dobbins is a guy they would love to have if he fell. Jalen Reagor is also an outside possibility if he slips.

2nd Round Grades:

Considering that the Steelers own the 49th selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, there’s a pretty good chance that their choice comes as one of my second-round grades. These are players who should be solid starters in the NFL, and a few of them could become Pro Bowlers down the line.

Some of the names Pittsburgh could be interested in include DT Justin Madubuike, OC Cezar Ruiz, WR Michael Pittman Jr., OT Ezra Cleveland, and OLB Josh Uche. It’s also been rumored that QB Jalen Hurts could quietly be on their radar, but that’s a longshot.

The Steelers could desperately use a tackle who could replace Alejandro Villanueva after the 2020 season, and they are rumored to have a lot of interest in Cleveland. However, I think he’s off the board. Madubuike could be a solid replacement for Javon Hargrave, and Pittsburgh will like Josh Uche’s versatility to play both outside and inside linebacker. Expect both to be possibilities if available.

2nd-3rd Round Grades:

Though the value starts to dip a bit here, the Steelers 49th overall pick may come from my 2nd-3rd round grades. These draft grades are reserved for players who should become NFL starters. However, they either don’t have as much upside as my 2nd-round players or maybe more of a risk.

Tee Higgins, for example, is a player the Steelers could be interested in. Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin were on hand at Clemon’s Pro Day before the travel bans. However, his concerningly poor testing at his Pro Day makes him less of a ‘sure thing’ at the next level.

Some other players they could be interested in drafting with the 49th overall pick include EDGE Julian Okwara, DT Marlon Davidson, DT Ross Blacklock, WR K.J. Hamler, WR Chase Claypool, EDGE Terrell Lewis, and RB Cam Akers.

Hamler and Akers could be of particular interest to them, as Hamler is an extremely young receiver with incredible speed, and Akers checks practically every box they look for in a feature running back.

3rd Round Grades:

Now we’re starting to get into the players that the Steelers could be looking to draft at pick 102. Though there is an outside chance they consider taking a player like Neville Gallimore or Austin Jackson in the second round, I think there are too many risks involved for Pittsburgh to go that direction.

Picking at 102 in the compensatory 3rd round, many of these names will be off the board. However, a few players the Steelers could target at that point include S Terrell Burgess, LB Logan Wilson, WR Van Jefferson, EDGE Jabari Zuniga, or OG John Simpson.

Offensive tackles Prince Tega Wanogho and Lucas Niang are players they would love to be able to nab at this point if they miss out on offensive tackle early, but both will be off the board before they pick in the 3rd due to the value of the position.

3rd-4th round grades:

Between their compensatory 3rd round pick and their second 4th round pick, the Steelers will have 3 selection within 34 spots of each other. Based on where Pittsburgh is picking in the middle rounds, there is a good chance they could land a player or two from my 3rd-4th round grades.

These are mostly players who will begin their careers as backups, but will have a chance to climb the ladder and become NFL starters. Some of the names they could have interest in include RB Zack Moss, RB A.J. Dillon, WR Devin Duvernay, WR Lynn Bowden, WR K.J. Hill, CB Damon Arnette, S Brandon Jones, and OG Damien Lewis.

Zack Moss presents particular interest to Pittsburgh as he fits the mold of an every-down back and has the size and durability they covet. They will also love the speed of Devin Duvernay. Both players they would likely have to get in the third round – assuming they aren’t already off the board.

4th Round Grades:

With the Steelers owning two 4th round picks this year, there is a good chance they are looking at a few of these players with their selections. My 4th round grades are reserved for prospects who will likely be role players in the NFL, but may never develop into full-time starters.

A few of the names they are sure to have interest in at this point in the draft (assuming their respective positions haven’t already been addressed) include S/LB Tanner Muse, S K’Von Wallace, OG Ben Bredeson, WR Collin Johnson, EDGE Alton Robinson, WR Isaiah Coulter, DT Larrell Murchison, EDGE Khalid Kareem, WR John Hightower, and OT Saahdiq Charles.

It’s unlikely they address the tight end position after signing Eric Ebron and restructuring Vance McDonald’s contract this offseason. Of this list, I think K’Von Wallace and Tanner Muse are two players they could have the most interest in drafting.

Rounding out my top 150 players with 5th round grades are OG Shane Lemieux (142), WR Gabriel Davis (143), TE Harrison Bryant (144), OG Kevin Dotson (145), Netane Muti (146), OT Hakeem Adeniji (147), RB Eno Benjamin (148), EDGE Jonathan Garvin (149), and RB Joshua Kelly (150).

With my 2020 NFL Draft board complete, now it’s time to wait and see what Pittsburgh has planned this week. Please be sure to give me a follow on Twitter at @TommyJaggi and follow along as I continue to provide Steelers coverage throughout the draft.